Bill Text: NJ AR167 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Supports development and use of biofuels for greater national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6)
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-21 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR167 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR167-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Supports development and use of biofuels for greater national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution recognizing the value of biofuels for building a renewable fuel sector for more consumer fuel choices, and supporting the development of biofuels and a stable federal energy policy concerning renewable fuels to achieve greater national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment.
Whereas, In 2005, when the United States first adopted the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), United States oil imports as a percentage of consumption were 60%, and fell only 2%, to 58%, by 2007; and
Whereas, In 2007 Congress expanded the existing RFS in the "Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007," 42 U.S.C. s.17001 et seq. (P.L.110-140), to require 36 billion gallons of our nation's fuel supply be renewable fuel by 2022; and
Whereas, Biofuels such as ethanol are renewable fuels that have been designated as additives to gasoline to reduce harmful emissions released into the environment, the renewable fuel ethanol has replaced some hazardous chemicals in gasoline, and this replacement has reduced the use of imported oil; and
Whereas, The RFS establishes a framework for achieving the 2022 renewable fuels goal by setting forth annual volumetric targets for renewable fuel, including specific pools for ethanol, biodiesel, cellulosic fuel, and advanced renewable fuel; and
Whereas, Such targets were designed to be ambitious in order to induce private sector innovation and investment in renewable fuels distribution and production across the United States, including the production and use of new crops and feedstock materials; and
Whereas, The RFS drives innovation to improve vehicle environmental performance by requiring that renewable fuels achieve certain minimum thresholds of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions, ranging from 20% to 60%, depending on the type of fuel; and
Whereas, The private sector has responded to the expansion of the RFS with billions of dollars of investment in the renewable fuel sector since 2007, to both expand production of first generation renewable fuel and to develop and demonstrate advanced renewable fuel; and
Whereas, The renewable fuel industry is established and growing, with more than 250 renewable fuel facilities located in 36 states; and
Whereas, The renewable fuel industry supports 400,000 jobs nationwide and has helped American farmers by being an engine driving the $500 billion increase in America's farm assets since 2007; and
Whereas, Studies show that in 2011, gasoline prices were reduced by $1.09 per gallon and the average American household saved $1,200 on gasoline expenses as a result of renewable fuel; and
Whereas, Domestic production of renewable fuel has increased, making up almost 10% of our nation's fuel supply in 2013; and
Whereas, Oil imports as a percentage of consumption have dropped and were at 45% of the nation's fuel consumption in 2011, the lowest level since 1995; and
Whereas, Despite these advances, close to half of the oil used in America still comes from foreign sources; and
Whereas, Retaining access to foreign oil supplies costs American lives and billions of dollars as military assets are deployed to secure vulnerable supply chains across the world; and
Whereas, Oil is a global commodity with prices dictated by external forces like OPEC, ensuring that, even as domestic production of oil rises, our economy, our military, and every American family remains vulnerable to shifts in the price of oil; and
Whereas, Even with an increase in domestic oil production, oil prices in the United States will continue to rise, and are expected to reach by the year 2035 more than $215 per barrel, according to the International Energy Agency, a 28-member autonomous organization that works internationally to ensure reliable, affordable clean energy is available to its member countries and internationally; and
Whereas, To continue on our path towards greater energy security, the United States must continue its efforts to diversify our transportation fuel supply and eliminate our overreliance on oil; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey recognizes that:
(1) overreliance on oil threatens our economy, our security, and our environment;
(2) even if oil imports continue to fall, our economy, our military, and every American family remains vulnerable to erratic shifts in the price of oil which are dictated by global markets; and
(3) the development and expansion of the use of biofuels has a valuable role to play in building a renewable fuel sector for more consumer fuel choices.
b. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey believes that:
(1) the risk, financial cost, and military burden of maintaining access to foreign sources of oil, which make up almost half of our nation's oil consumption, is too great and should be greatly reduced if not ended; and
(2) diversifying our fuel supply with an increasing percentage of domestic renewable fuel strengthens our economy, increases our national security, and improves our environmental performance.
c. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey supports the development and use of biofuels and a stable federal energy policy concerning renewable fuels to achieve the goals of greater national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of Region II of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the President and the Executive Director of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and each member of the Congressional delegation from the State.
STATEMENT
This resolution recognizes the value of biofuels for building a renewable fuel sector for more consumer fuel choices, and supports the development of biofuels and a stable federal energy policy concerning renewable fuels to achieve greater national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment.
