Washington, D.C. —
The Energy Bill passed by the Senate on December 14, 2007 included portions of Senator John Thune's bipartisan Alternative Energy Refueling Systems Act. Section 244 of the Energy bill authorizes the creation of a federal grant program to assist gas station owners with the purchase and installation of alternative fuel tanks and pumps. Senator Thune has been a leading advocate for expanding the availability of alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol for the past two years.
"Sadly, today less than one percent of all gas stations in the United States offer alternative fuels such as E-85 ethanol," said Thune. "Automakers are responding to the increased demand for flex-fuel vehicles, so it is absolutely critical that consumers have greater access to renewable fuels that reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy. I am pleased that the Energy bill includes the creation of a grant program that will assist consumers and gasoline retailers as we work to expand the availability of alternative fuels that are made here at home."
Subject to annual appropriations from Congress, the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Grants program authorizes $200 million in funding annually through 2014 which would enable station owners to receive federal grants for 33 percent of the costs of installing renewable fuel tanks and pumps - not to exceed $180,000 per facility.
The Energy bill is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives later this week before being presented to the President who is expected to sign the bill into law.
"Sadly, today less than one percent of all gas stations in the United States offer alternative fuels such as E-85 ethanol," said Thune. "Automakers are responding to the increased demand for flex-fuel vehicles, so it is absolutely critical that consumers have greater access to renewable fuels that reduce our nation's dependence on foreign sources of energy. I am pleased that the Energy bill includes the creation of a grant program that will assist consumers and gasoline retailers as we work to expand the availability of alternative fuels that are made here at home."
Subject to annual appropriations from Congress, the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Grants program authorizes $200 million in funding annually through 2014 which would enable station owners to receive federal grants for 33 percent of the costs of installing renewable fuel tanks and pumps - not to exceed $180,000 per facility.
The Energy bill is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives later this week before being presented to the President who is expected to sign the bill into law.