Bill Promotes Flexible Fuel Vehicles

Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., introduced a bill this week that would require all motor vehicles sold in the United Stated to be "flexible fuel" — capable of using conventional gasoline, E85 (85% ethanol) or any mixture of the two.

The Renewable Fuels Association and National Corn Growers Association sent a letter to Dayton praising the bill. "[T]hese provisions offer the best opportunity to expand the use of E85 to the driving public. In today's marketplace, with ethanol selling for so much less than gasoline, the availability of E85 is a tremendous benefit to consumers, but only if their vehicles are capable of using ethanol. Your legislation assures that all consumers would have that ability," their letter said.

The groups also added that with the nation's growing reliance on imported energy from unstable regions of the world, "it is extremely timely that we seek innovative ways to increase consumption of domestically produced renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Expanded FFV production would enhance our nation's ability to confront future energy crises and give consumers an important tool to moderate fuel prices," the letter said.