U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth

News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
For Immediate Release
Contact: Betsy Hart, 202-226-8555

HERSETH SANDLIN HELPS PASS NEW, MORE AGGRESSIVE RENEWABLE FUELS STANDARD

Historic Energy Legislation Will Ensure Further Growth for South Dakota Renewable Biofuels Industry – New RFS Requires 36 Billion Gallons by 2022

Washington, D.C., December 6, 2007 – Today, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin helped pass the Energy Independence and Security Act, an historic bill that includes a new, more aggressive Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) mandating 36 billion gallons of renewable biofuels by 2022. This is a significant increase compared to the current requirement calling for 7.5 billion gallons by 2012, and represents a renewed commitment to an energy policy that recognizes and utilizes the contributions of American agriculture, including thousands of South Dakotans who are involved in the renewable fuels industry.

Herseth Sandlin was an aggressive advocate for this strong RFS in the House, and in particular lobbied House leadership to increase the standard in its early years. The House bill includes a requirement of 9 billion gallons in 2008 – an increase over the Senate version. The bill also improves on the Senate bill by creating a separate carve-out requirement for one billion gallons of biodiesel by 2012, recognizing the growing role oilseed producers in South Dakota and across the country must play in our energy future. This would be the first-ever standard expressly for biodiesel.

Herseth Sandlin said, “Reforming our nation’s approach to energy production is more than a technological challenge, it is a tremendous opportunity for our state,” Herseth Sandlin said. “Like most South Dakotans, I strongly support expanding our commitment to the production and use of clean renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Since this congress convened, I’ve been working on securing passage of a new and more aggressive renewable fuels standard. This historic new commitment to clean, renewable energy that we can produce here at home is a clear victory for our state.”

She continued, “The structure of this new, higher standard ensures that South Dakota will continue to be among the national leaders in the production of renewable fuels using traditional methods, but it also will drive the development of new and efficient processes to turn South Dakota’s natural abundance into energy for the whole country.”

This bill also includes an increase in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard, or CAFE, to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for new cars and trucks, the first increase since 1975 – more than 30 years ago. Importantly, the bill retains a key distinction between cars and trucks, recognizing the need for farmers and ranchers to have access to higher horsepower vehicles to power their operations. By requiring automakers to increase the fuel efficiency of their fleets, American families will save $700 to $1000 per year at the pump, with $22 billion in net consumer savings in 2020 alone. In addition to that tremendous cost savings, the bill will also reduce oil consumption by 1.1 million gallons per day in 2020, and reduce greenhouse gases equal to taking 28 million of today's average cars and trucks off the road.

The bill also contains a Renewable Electricity Standard, or RES, which would require 15% of electricity generated in this country to come from new renewable sources, like wind, by 2020. Herseth Sandlin added, “The inclusion of a Renewable Electricity Standard is an important victory for South Dakota, where we have been blessed with abundant natural sources of energy, particularly wind energy” Herseth Sandlin. “This requirement will be a critical incentive for increased wind infrastructure in South Dakota as we continue our efforts to become a national leader in this area.”

The legislation passed the House by a vote of 235-181, and is expected to be considered by the Senate in coming days.

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Natural Resources. In the 110th Congress, Rep. Herseth Sandlin was one of only 15 members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.