Rep. Tonko Calls for a National Clean Fuel Standard
6/22/23
On June 22, 2023, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, & Critical Materials held a hearing on domestic fuels policy, titled “Driving Affordability: Preserving People’s Freedom to Buy Affordable Vehicles and Fuel.” During the Q&A portion of the hearing, subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) called on his colleagues to work on a national Clean Fuel Standard:
“…instead of these messaging bills, we should be working together on legislation to transition our federal fuels policy towards a technology-neutral, performance-based policy that incentivizes emissions reductions. A clean fuel standard would directly reward a refiner that makes those investments to be able to produce those lower emission fuels.
It could also support a biofuels producer that continues to drive down the carbon intensity of their product. And if an electric vehicle doesn’t use clean electricity, such a program would penalize it accordingly. This can all happen if we transition to a performance based standard that cares first and foremost about emissions reductions.
So I encourage the witnesses and other Members to work with us on finding consensus on such a policy. I know reaching agreement won’t be easy, but it does seem like it could address much of the dissatisfaction with the current RFS.”