West Texas reps look to ease Air Force fuel transition, try to get around emissions rules
BY TRISH CHOATE, Standard-Times Washington Bureau
gosanangelo.com
Monday, April 7, 2008
WASHINGTON - The tab is $112,748 to fill up a B-1B Lancer.
That $3.14 per gallon of J-P8 adds up when the tank holds 35,907 gallons.
The Air Force aims to take the sting out of its prices at the pump and obtain a more secure fuel supply through alternative energy. San Angelo's congressman hopes to help pave the way by repealing a section of energy law.
"It basically was put in to prevent the Air Force from exploring coal to liquids technology for jet fuel," U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway of the 11th Congressional District said.
The bill that Conaway, R-Midland, co-authored draws frowns from environmentalists who contend coal-based fuels stomps on the environment with a big carbon footprint.
Conaway and U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, introduced House Resolution 5656 earlier this week.
The legislation proposes repealing a section of House Resolution 6 barring federal agencies from contracting for alternative fuels unless the contract says their greenhouse gas emissions are equal to or less than those of conventional petroleum.
The Air Force uses more fuel than any other federal entity and plans to certify its entire fleet for synthetic blends by 2011, media releases said.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, praised the Air Force for innovation.
"I'm looking at various options, including legislation, to remove impediments to coal-to-liquid expansion," Cornyn said.
With HR 5656, the congressmen are saying they don't care how much greenhouse gas emissions are produced, and that they're no cause for concern, said Carol Werner, executive director of the nonprofit Environment and Energy Institute in Washington.
The bill would lead to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other environmental consequences, Werner said.
Based on life-cycle analysis, coal-based fuels produce as much as 3.5 times the amount of carbon dioxide that conventional petroleum does, Werner said.
And that's from a study done by MIT, she said.
Another West Texan, U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, remained skeptical.
"The problem is they reach conclusions based on their political agenda before the study is ever done," said Thornberry, R-Clarendon, of the 13th Congressional District. HR 5656 is "a terrific idea," and the country should tap into its coal reserves, he said.
Texas, in particular, is rich in coal.
U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer of West Texas supports the bill.
Neugebauer believes the military shouldn't "be handcuffed by environmentalist groups that do not understand the full ramifications of limiting" the country's defense with the provision in the energy bill, said Michael Frohlich, a Republican spokesman from Lubbock. |
