President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a directive establishing a Biofuels Interagency Working Group, announced additional funds for renewable fuel projects, and also announced notice of a proposed rulemaking on the Renewable Fuel Standard. "We must invest in a clean energy economy that will lead to new jobs, new businesses and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," Obama said. "The steps I am announcing today help bring us closer to that goal." The Biofuels Interagency Working Group, to be co-chaired by the US secretaries of Agriculture and Energy and the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will work with the National Science and Technology Council's Biomass Research and Development Board in undertaking its work. The group will develop the first comprehensive US biofuel market development program, which will identify new policies to support the development of next-generation biofuels, increase flexible fuel vehicle use, and assist in retail marketing efforts, the White House announcement said.
The group also will coordinate infrastructure policies affecting the supply, secure transport and distribution of biofuels, and will identify policy options to promote the environmental sustainability of biofuels feedstock production.
Obama instructed US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to begin restructuring existing investments in renewable fuels to preserve industry employment, and develop a comprehensive approach to accelerating the investment in and production of American biofuels to reduce US dependence on fossil fuels.
The President announced that USD 786.5 million will be provided to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development, and expand commercial biorefineries. These efforts will be overseen by the US Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE biomass program will leverage the agency's national laboratories, universities and the private sector to help improve biofuels reliability and overcome technical challenges, with the goal of creating advanced biofuels such as "green gasoline," diesel and jet fuels, the White House said.
The notice of proposed rulemaking on the Renewable Fuel Standard outlines the EPA strategy for increasing the supply of renewable fuels, poised to reach 36 billion gallons by 2022, as mandated by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Increasing renewable fuels will reduce US dependence on foreign oil by more than 297 million barrels a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 160 million tons a year when fully phased in by 2022, the White House said.
"As we work toward energy independence, using more homegrown biofuels reduces our vulnerability to oil price spikes that everyone feels at the pump, " EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said. "Energy independence also puts billions of dollars back into our economy, creates green jobs and protects the planet from climate change in the bargain." |