By Debra DeHaney-Howard
March 28, 2005

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed S. 606, the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) bill March 16 by a voice vote of 12 to 5. The legislation, which will be incorporated into comprehensive energy bill that the full Senate is expected to consider this year, mirrors RFS legislation that passed in the 108th Congress. Last year's legislation called for 5 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2012.

Under the new bill, one of the key provisions is to increase the use of ethanol to 6 billion gallons by 2012. The bill also includes language that phases out the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive, but does not contain language that would provide liability protection to the manufactures of MTBE. At its Annual Meeting in June, the Conference of Mayors adopted policy urging Congress to not enact legislation that would provide liability protection for manufacturers of MTBE.

In subsequent Senate action, Senators Dick Lugar (IN) and Tom Harkins (IA) introduced the Fuels Security Act of 2005, S. 650, on March 17. The proposal would mandate the use of 4 billion gallons of ethanol by 2006 and 8 billion gallons by 2012. This proposal is similar to House bill, H. R. 1398, which was introduced by Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH) on March 17. Kaptur's proposal calls for at least 10 percent ethanol and five percent biodiesel be mixed into the fuel supply by 2010.