Herseth for Congress

Herseth Promotes Biofuels In Yankton
By: TERA SCHMIDT, Yankton Press & Dakotan
June 1, 2006

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-S.D.) stopped in Yankton Wednesday to fill up her tank.

Herseth, who recently introduced a bill (HR 5372) to increase biofuels as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil, pumped E-85 fuel into a flex-fuel vehicle at the Cork n' Bottle -- the only local gas station that sells a blend of 85 percent ethanol.

Herseth praised Cork n' Bottle owner Gene Jensen for his decision to offer the renewable fuel to Yankton area customers.

"It is important that we do more to not only boost the production capacity of ethanol and biodiesel fuels but also look at continuing to keep Detroit moving in the same direction to get more flex-fuel vehicles out on the roads," she said. "And it's also important to keep working with people like Gene Jensen at the Cork n' Bottle, who have taken the initiative to install an E-85 pump in addition to carrying biodiesel for the last couple of years."

HR 5372, which was sponsored by Herseth and co-sponsored by 30 other representatives, was referred May 11 to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, Science and Ways and Means.

Herseth said she hopes her efforts will encourage more gas stations across the country to install E-85 pumps.

"There are incentives we can offer to other gas stations around the country to make sure that E-85 is available across the country," she said. "We currently have 45 (E-85) pumps in South Dakota compared to six in Michigan and maybe two or three in Virginia."

Herseth's recent biofuels bill focuses on increasing the biofuels mandate to 20 percent by 2015, which would double the percentage of renewable fuels sold in America in six years, increasing the amount of renewable fuels by six times; providing incentives and requirements to automakers to increase the number of flex-fuel vehicles that run on E-85 and the number of gas stations that carry E-85 and biodiesel; an investment in basic biofuels research; and providing federal incentives to encourage diverse ownership so that independent, locally-owned facilities and cooperatives can compete with large oil companies.

Herseth said more bio-refineries are needed throughout the country, she added that research and development of new feedstock processes should be explored.

"The more ethanol we can produce, the more consumers benefit," she said.

Herseth said she has spent time talking with automakers about the possibility of not only creating more flex-fuel vehicles but also making those vehicles more fuel-efficient.

"There is definitely more work to do. The domestic automakers have a niche that may help them compete with foreign companies," Herseth said.

Until those improvements can be made and more flex-fuel vehicles are available, Herseth said it is important that South Dakota consumers at least purchase 10-percent ethanol that can be used in any vehicle.

"If you own a flex-fuel vehicle, it's important to fill up with E-85. But I hope that all of you are at least using E-10 blend in your tanks," she said.

Paid for by Herseth for Congress