On the recordJuly 1, 2010
As a result of the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout, tens of millions of gallons of oil have polluted the gulf coast. This is the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. It is also a clarion call to action--an urgent call to develop alternative sources of energy. Without a determined commitment to alternative fuels, we will never end our Nation's addiction to oil, which demands drilling in deeper and more dangerous locations, increasing the potential for other devastating consequences. I've introduced legislation with bipartisan support to encourage the next generation of biofuels--fuels made from living matter like plants and algae. Along with incentives to expand other alternative energy sources and promote energy efficiency, this proposal is exactly what the renewable fuel industry needs to get biofuel facilities built in the United States. New bio-refineries will produce clean energy and create new jobs here at home. The Biotechnology Industry Organization estimates that direct job creation from cellulosic biofuels will create over 200,000 jobs in the next decade. By working with the private sector to advance the next generation of fuels, we can and we should put our Nation on a path to safer, cleaner, domestically produced energy.
