The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging Congress to ensure full funding of fuels research programs to provide the necessary scientific basis for increasing ethanol blending.

In a letter this week to leaders of both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development, RFA President Bob Dinneen outlined concerns with the budget submitted by President Obama with respect to higher level ethanol testing. Specifically, Dinneen called on Congress to support full funding of the Biomass and Biorefinery Systems program’s Utilization of Platform Outputs R&D subprogram as well as funding for the Vehicle Technologies program’s Fuels Technology subprogram, which were cut or eliminated in the president’s budget.

“President Obama recently reaffirmed his commitment to both current ethanol technologies and next generation opportunities in his biofuels plan released in February,” said Dinneen. “Congress should take this opportunity to ensure these critical fuel research programs are fully funded and to allow America’s ethanol industry to reach its full potential to displace petroleum use in motor vehicles.”

The RFA is calling for the full $24 million for the Vehicle Technologies program’s Fuels Technology subprogram and for an additional $5 million appropriation for the Biomass and Biorefinery Systems R&D subprograms.

Read the letter here.