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As we all know, the price of gas has skyrocketed, and so has our dependence on foreign oil. Our citizens pour their hearts into their jobs only to pour their paychecks into the gas pump.
I have introduced legislation to help reduce this dependence. My bill is part of a plan to require all Michigan gasoline to be 10 percent ethanol; and all diesel to be at least 5 percent biodiesel. It also promotes the development of alternative fuels by providing tax breaks to gas retailers and blenders who buy special equipment for biodiesel and ethanol products; and it requires the state fleet to use biodiesel fuel or American-made hybrids.
A fuel bill package, which is part of the "Fuels of the Future" plan that I have been pushing for over a year, was recently passed by the legislature, and will provide some much-needed relief at the gas pump. It will also give a boost to Michigan's farmers and agricultural industry.
Unfortunately, my amendment to include the conversion of forest products or forest residue for alternative fuels was blocked. The idea is to use some wood that is not currently used in the harvesting process (like bark, tops and limbs) to create alternative energy. This type of alternative fuel process could help improve economic development in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and I will continue to push to strengthen the Fuels of the Future package.
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