Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) has introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would explore ways the federal government could use biofuels to reduce transportation costs while lowering carbon emissions. The Comparison of Sustainable Transportation (COST) Act and the Biojet Fuel Research Act “aim to help consumers and taxpayers save money while also bolstering demand for corn, soybeans, and biofuels,” according to Rep. Feenstra.

“Especially as fuel prices continue to skyrocket, I am eager to explore ways biofuels can be utilized to reduce costs — including ways to save tax dollars within the federal government. We should not be so quick to jump to electric vehicles when E85 flex-fuel could provide an even cheaper and cleaner option. Further, the administration has repeatedly expressed interest in sustainable aviation fuel, and I will continue working to ensure biofuels are included in those discussions.”

The COST Act directs the Comptroller General and the Secretary of Energy to compare the financial and environmental costs of replacing federal government gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles or E85 capable flex-fuel vehicles. The bill then requires the Secretary of Energy to report findings to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

The Biojet Fuel Research Act directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish a working group focused on identifying research and development needs to produce biojet fuel. The working group would consist of the Bioenergy Technologies Office of the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, biorefinery stakeholders, agriculture research universities, and others.

Feenstra also recently introduced the Biofuel Cell Research Act, a bill to establish a research, development, and demonstration program for a commercially viable fuel cell system that uses biofuels as the main fuel source.