Bartlett calls for more alternative-fuel cars
As gas prices in Maryland hover just under $4 a gallon, Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday to press for legislation that would require auto manufacturers to produce more alternative-fuel vehicles.
The bill, known as the Open Fuel Standard Act, would require that 50 percent of new automobiles manufactured in 2014 be able to run on non-petroleum fuels in addition to regular gasoline. By 2017, the measure would require 97 percent of new vehicles to run on alternative fuels.
“It is a certainty that we’re going to have to be burning different fuels in the future in addition to the oil we burn now,” said the Western Maryland Republican, who has long warned of the nation’s reliance on oil.
Putting more alternative-fuel vehicles on the road would drive up demand for ethanol, methanol and other fuels, creating more competition at the pump, supporters said. Though similar proposals have been embraced by lawmakers in both parties, the idea has failed in Congress in the past – partly under pressure from the auto industry.
As currently written, the measure does not include an enforcement mechanism to penalize companies that do not comply.
Supporters hope the high price of gas can give the measure some momentum in Congress this year. The average price for regular unleaded gas in Maryland is $3.80, about two cents higher than the national average, according to AAA.
“It’s a bipartisan piece of legislation whose time has come,” said Rep. John Shimkus, a Republican from Illinois.
Comments
How 'bout more alternative fuel stations? You can get E85 at only 5 places in Maryland, the neasest of which to Baltimore is in Laurel. ??????
Posted by: JH | June 2, 2011 3:13 PM
and what are these alternative fuels?, how much will they cost?, how much will the cars cost?, how much will maintenence on these cars cost?...my bet is none of these will be afordable to average american. Try opening the gulf and anwar for drilling...that will drop the price of gas way down before these alternative fule cars hit the market...IDIOTS
Posted by: JMM103 | June 2, 2011 3:27 PM
FOOLS. What link of pollution is being created by farming and manufacture ethanol and other alternative fuels?
We need a manhattan style project for alternative fuels, fund it with cuts to corporations, senators, governers, and tax higher incomes/
Posted by: AB | June 2, 2011 3:29 PM
To answer the above questions - These alternative fuels include everything as defined by the 1992 Energy Policy Act; nat gas, ethanol, methanol, biofuels,electricity, fuel cells, hydrogen, and a catch all provision for new technologies. - These fuels range in cost and performance, but one in particular, methanol, costs about $1.85 a gallon retail - The cars also vary in cost, but an alcohol fuel FFV costs about $100 more than a standard car, and the car makers often do not charge more for the, than the standard model - maintenance on these FFV's is exactly the same as for a standard car, so no additional costs there. And to the first commentators point, more fueling stations can't be built until more cars on on the road, it just isn't economically viable for the retailers. This bill will fix that by putting millions of these alternative vehicles on the road.
Posted by: Matt | June 2, 2011 3:56 PM
The only viable altfuel now is natural gas. It is abundant, clean, efficient and will work in existing IC engines with few modifications. The US has enough NG to last over 100 years at the rate we use it now. BGE runs fleets of NG vans. Honda made a NG sedan a few years back that was just a little more $ than the standard sedan. The company that made and sold the fueling station that was used for it went belly up and Honda had to scale back plans. They are only now returning it to the market in select places.
The biggest problem with NG is the environazis. NG is available by drilling and drilling today is frowned upon by the environazis. Just as ANY other altfuel will be, count on it.
Posted by: Altfuel is long overdue | June 2, 2011 3:56 PM
Bartlett broke his term limt pledge years ago-another Washington insider who needs to be fired
Posted by: Anonymous | June 2, 2011 7:03 PM
CUT TAXES!!
Federal Goverment should allow free-range use of all commodities in this county. We shouldnt have to worry about the burden of high prices. They should be given to us FREE!!
FFV are a WASTE of Tax payer money and time.
ABOLISH the state EMISSIONSPROGRAM, STOP WASTING MONEY!
Posted by: adam | June 8, 2011 4:43 PM