Comments on H.R. 4500 and H.R. 4622

Sections of H.R. 4500 and H.R. 4622 are identical. If either is enacted, within 180 days of enactment, each Federal agency operating a fueling station for Federal civilian gasoline motor vehicles would be required to dispense only gasoline incorporating 10 percent alcohol by volume. In addition these bills would establish a program within 60 days for the accelerated procurement and installation of wind systems for power production in Federal facilities.

Issues surrounding the use of alcohol fuels have caused the following concerns. Sufficient amounts of alcohol may not be available to meet the demand created by the initiative. The bills ignore the possibility of using fuels containing more than 10 percent alcohol by volume. Finally, these bills would not allow the use of alcohol produced from coal. Concern has also arisen in response to the accelerated procurement of wind systems. The latter sections of the proposed legislation require the Secretary of Energy to initiate and conduct an application and system design study with appropriate Federal agencies to determine the potential use of wind system at specific Federal installations. The study according to the bills, is to include an analysis for wind energy systems, as well as those which would be cost effective at expected future market prices. A detailed plan for installing wind energy systems at Federal agencies is to be presented to Congress within 12 months following the enactment of the act. It appears that in regard to each bill, one section would require an almost immediate program for installing wind systems in the Federal sector while another section would require within 12 months the development of a detailed plan for installing such systems at Federal agencies. This situation could lead to the program being implemented before a detailed plan is developed. To avoid this situation, a detailed implementation plan should be developed and submitted to Congress before initiating the purchase and installation of wind energy systems at Federal facilities.