Flex-Fuel Vehicle Mandate

On July 22, 2008, U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Ken Salazar (D-CO) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) held a press conference to introduce the Open Fuel Standard Act. As drafted the legislation would require that starting in 2012, 50% of new automobiles, and starting in 2015, 80% of new automobiles, be flex-fuel vehicles warranted to operate on gasoline, ethanol, and methanol, or be warranted to operate on biodiesel. A companion bill on the House side (HR 6559) was introduced the same day by representatives Engel (D-NY), Congressmen Jack Kingston (R-GA), Steve Israel (D-NY), and Bob Inglis (R-SC). The Senate bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation while the House bill has been sent to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.