(June 27, 2013) WASHINGTON — Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced HR 2493, the “Open Fuel Standard Act.” Supporters include Representatives Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Tom Cole (R-OK), Steve Israel (D-NY), Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA). Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen voiced his support for an open fuel standard.

“This is all about choice. Consumers want a choice other than petroleum. A recent poll showed that 76 percent of Americans wanted manufacturers to produce vehicles that run on fuels other than oil. The goal here is to offer consumers the most cost effective and clean energy choice possible,” said Dinneen.

Dinneen continued, “The petroleum monopoly has dominated the market for way too long and it is becoming more dangerous for our country each and every day. Ethanol has already had a large impact on decreasing America’s foreign oil dependence by eliminating the need for imported gasoline. It is imperative that American dependence on foreign oil continues to drop, and the open fuels standard is a great first step in the right direction.” 

The “Open Fuels Standard Act” would require auto manufacturers to produce vehicles that would run solely on non-petroleum based fuels or in addition to petroleum based fuels. The legislation is incremental and starts at 30 percent of all vehicles produced in 2016 and increases to 50 percent of all manufactured vehicles in 2017 and beyond.

A February poll conducted by America Viewpoint and sponsored by the RFA showed that 76 percent of Americans were in favor of fuel options other than petroleum. The poll was conducted via telephone January 24-28, 2013 with a sample size of 1,000 adults. Consumers were asked, “Do you favor or oppose requiring automobile manufacturers to build cars that will run on fuel sources other than oil, such as electricity, natural gas and bio-fuels?”