Grainnet

Washington, DC–-Detroit’s Big Three automakers met with President Bush March 26 to focus on efforts to reduce America’s gasoline consumption.

During the meeting at the White House, the heads of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler laid out their plans to increase the production of flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) capable of using ethanol blends up to 85 percent (E85).

Specifically, the Big Three reaffirmed their commitment to manufacture 50 percent of all their new cars as FFVs by 2012.

Responding to this announcement, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen issued the following statement:

“Achieving the reductions in gasoline consumption President Bush is calling for will require all available technologies, including increasing the production and use of fuel ethanol.

"It will also require the cooperation of private industries, such as automakers and ethanol producers, to ensure that the technology and infrastructure develops to make ethanol a more significant component in America’s motor fuel market.

"The commitment of America’s automotive industry is critical to that success.

“Equally critical is the continued investment by the federal government in developing new technologies and providing the incentives necessary for the increased production and use of renewable fuels.

"As President Bush rightly noted, the federal government is using taxpayer dollars to help develop the technology that will lead America to greater energy independence.

"Like the development of the railroads and the electrification of rural America, it will take a leading role by the federal government to achieve all the goals President Bush and members of Congress have put forth.”

Last month, the Department of Energy awarded six federal grants to ethanol companies dedicated to expanding ethanol production beyond that from corn.

"Such investment will allow the ethanol industry to produce the volumes of renewable fuel needed to achieve the president’s goal of reducing gasoline consumption 20 percent by 2017.

Currently, 114 ethanol biorefineries nationwide have the capacity to produce more than 5.6 billion gallons annually.

"There are 80 ethanol refineries and 8 expansions under construction with a combined annual capacity of more than 6 billion gallons.

"In addition, more than 1,100 gas stations offer E85 for an estimated FFV fleet of nearly 6 million cars."

For more information, call Matt Hartwig at 202-289-3825.

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