Biofuels Drive Innovation

by Wesley K. Clark (Denver Post) ... It is no accident that spikes in the cost of fuel have become further and farther between, despite near ceaseless turmoil in many regions of the world. Oil production has played a role, but we’ve also become the world leader in biofuels, which helps to diminish the impact of rising crude imports from places like Iraq and Nigeria.

Each summer, the Environmental Protection Agency accepts comments from the public before laying down final targets for how much renewable energy will be available to consumers in the year ahead. The window for comments is now open, until August 31, and I urge my fellow Americans to join me in telling regulators to set ambitious goals that will accelerate our progress toward clean, homegrown biofuels that promote self-reliance and reduce the distortion of U.S. national security policy caused by our dependence on imported oil.

Thanks to responsible policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard, American drivers finally can choose to use fuel that’s produced above the ground, not below it. And this isn’t just good for our national security — it’s good for the climate, as well.

EPA proposed to cut goals for cellulosic and advanced biofuels, which sends a chilling signal to investors in second-generation biofuels. These investments are imperative for our nation to continue building on innovations in first-generation ethanol and to drive new, exciting growth opportunities in rural America, where both grain and cellulosic material, like cobs and stalks, are abundant. READ MORE