The President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology (PCAST) has issued a report on the role of technology and emerging companies in helping to supply our nation’s energy needs.
According to a release from the Renewable Fuels Association, the report concluded that biofuels like ethanol are a vital and readily available solution to help address America’s dependence on foreign oil and that continued federal involvement is important to the sustained growth of the industry.
“Biofuels offer a clear, near-term opportunity to reduce the Nation’s dependence on oil,” the report noted. “With potential improvements in crop production and biorefineries, cellulosic biofuels could replace a significant percentage of the Nation’s gasoline use by 2030.”
Included in PCAST’s proposals for the federal government regarding increasing biofuels production and use are:
-Increase the use of E10 (10% ethanol blends) as well as encourage the use of higher percentage ethanol blends.
-Support the commercial development of cellulosic ethanol technology.
-Identify lands that would be suitable for energy crop production, i.e. cellulosic material.
-Encourage automakers to increase the percentage of flex fuel vehicles (FFV) manufactured each year.
RFA notes that PCAST also proposes a suspension of the credit offset associated with imported ethanol, which they disagree with.