WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) delivered the following remarks at today’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on energy supply legislation, including Barrasso’s bipartisan North American Alternative Fuels Act (S. 1026). The bill would repeal section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 which prohibits the federal government, including the U.S. military, from purchasing fuel produced from coal, oil shale and oil sands.
Excerpts of Senator Barrasso’s remarks:
“Well thank you so much Chairman Murkowski. Thank you for holding today’s hearing on legislation to boost America’s energy supply.
“Last month, Senators Manchin, Heitkamp, Hoeven, Enzi, and I introduced S. 1026—the North American Alternative Fuels Act.
“It’s a bipartisan bill that would promote the production of alternative transportation fuels here in North America and help reduce our nation’s reliance on energy from overseas.
“Specifically, our bill would repeal a provision enacted in 2007.
“This provision prohibits the government from purchasing transportation fuels which emit more carbon than conventional petroleum fuel.
“While the authors of this provision were surely well-intentioned, they have left us with a policy that makes little sense.
“In effect, the policy compels the U.S. government—including the U.S. military—to favor energy produced in the Middle East and other hostile regions of the world over energy produced here in North America.
“So I think most Americans would find this absolutely absurd.
“That’s why Senator Manchin and I are working to change this policy.
“We believe Congress should—at the very least—allow North American energy to compete on a level playing field with energy from overseas.
“We believe Congress should allow U.S. oil, gas, and coal producers to sell the full range of their products to the U.S. military.
“This will enable oil, gas, and coal producers to increase investment and jobs here in the United States.
“It will also allow the U.S. military to access additional energy resources here in North America—which will enhance our nation’s energy security.”
Background:
On April 21, 2015, Senators Barrasso, Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) reintroduced the North American Alternative Fuels Act. The bill is also co-sponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and John Hoeven (R-ND).
The North American Alternative Fuels Act would repeal section 526 of EISA. Section 526 prohibits federal agencies from contracting for alternative transportation fuels unless the contract specifies that the alternative fuel emits an amount of greenhouse gas that is less than or equal to greenhouse gas emitted from fuel produced from conventional petroleum sources. By its terms, section 526 prohibits the federal government, including the U.S. military, from purchasing transportation fuel produced from coal, oil shale, and oil sands.
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