John Thune: “I too want to commend the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono) for her commitment to promoting renewables. Mr.…”

“I too want to commend the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono) for her commitment to promoting renewables. Mr. Chairman, America needs a balanced energy policy. We need more renewables. We know ethanol cannot replace petroleum, at least not yet, but we think we can increase the market share for biofuels in this country and therefore lessen America's dependence upon foreign oil. So for that reason I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) for including in his manager's amendment a provision commissioning a study of administering a program to establish a renewable fuel standard for motor vehicle fuel sold in the United States. While I believe this Nation is ready for such a program, I am encouraged by the chairman's willingness to direct EPA and the Department of Energy to review this approach. That, I believe, is a step in the right direction. I look forward to working with the chairman and my colleagues in the House in ways that we can decrease our dependence upon foreign sources of energy and make renewable fuels, such as ethanol, biodiesel and biomass a significant part of the energy mix in this country.”