Published: 04-01-08
WASHINGTON DC - Today Congressmen Mike Conaway (TX-11) and Jeb Hensarling (TX-5) introduced a bill (H.R. 5656) to repeal a section of the Energy bill that raises concerns over economic and national security. Specifically section 526 states in its entirety:
“No Federal agency shall enter into a contract for procurement of an alternative or synthetic fuel including a fuel produced from nonconventional petroleum sources for any mobility-related use other than for research or testing unless the contract specifies that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and combustion of the fuel supplied under the contract must on an ongoing basis be less than or equal to such emissions from the equivalent conventional fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources.”
Section 526 was included in the Energy bill primarily to repress the Defense Department from purchasing coal-based jet fuels which environmentalists insist produce more greenhouse gases than traditional petroleum. However this theory is not proven and does not account for our current ongoing improvements in carbon-capture technologies.
“The DOD does not need to waste time studying fuel emissions and be held-up by this confusing and irrational section” said Conaway. “We must work together to find real solutions to our energy crisis and continue down the road to energy independence. This section does nothing to advance that.”
Canada is the largest United States oil supplier. By including this section in the energy bill we will slow the importation of fuel from Canada one of our country’s most reliable allies and economic partners.
“Section 526 is simply not good public policy. It is not in our best interest to limit the ability of the Pentagon access to fuels from our allies while forcing increased importation from unfriendly unstable countries. This section puts our country at risk and has the potential to have dangerous implications. It is essential that this section be repealed.”
