GoodFuels

Halfway There

U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) this week introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act, which would require that half of all new automobiles starting in 2012 be flex-fuel vehicles warranted to operate on gasoline, ethanol, and methanol, or be warranted to operate on biodiesel. The requirement would be increased to 80 percent by 2015.

National Corn Growers Association Vice President of Public Policy Jon Doggett joined the senators in a press conference Tuesday to introduce the bill. “The Open Fuel Standard Act is an important piece of legislation,” said Doggett. “Flex-fuel vehicles are aptly named because they give consumers a choice. Corn producers are committed to producing more corn on fewer acres using better technology to achieve the goals of the Open Fuel Standard Act.”

This is a good start, but my question is, why just 50 percent and why four years to require that? It seems like it would be very easy for Congress to mandate all vehicles sold in the United States be flex-fueled, starting at least a year or two from now. Heck, they’re mandating light bulbs, why not flex-fuel vehicles? It would cost virtually nothing and require that Europe and Japan start getting on the flex-fuel bus that American auto makers are driving. Most importantly, it would open up the market for ethanol and really give consumers a choice when it comes to fuel.

But, at least it’s a start. Let’s see if it goes anywhere.