WASHINGTON, DC . . .  Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX/4) signed a discharge petition to bring legislation to the House Floor that would repeal the current ban on federal agencies’ ability to purchase alternative fuels.  This discharge petition is the third of seven that House Republicans will put forth on legislation to bring down the cost of gasoline by increasing American energy production. 

Hall signed the discharge petition on H.R. 5656, a bill that he is also cosponsoring.  This measure repeals section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that prohibits federal agencies from contracting for non-conventional, or alternative, fuels that might emit higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions than conventional petroleum sources.  The section was added to the 2007 Energy bill largely to stifle the Defense Department’s plans to buy coal-based jet fuels.

“New technologies such as carbon-capture hold the promise of producing coal-based fuels that produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions,” Hall said.  “We need to promote these technologies and not stifle them.  Our national security depends on our energy security, and certainly our Defense Department should have the authority to procure unconventional fuels to reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil.”

Coal, oil shale and tar sands are all abundant in the United States and Canada.  Canada is currently the largest U.S. oil supplier, sending 1.8 million barrels of crude oil and 500,000 barrels of refined products per day to the U.S. in 2006.  About half of Canadian crude is derived from oil sands.  Section 526 could prevent this flow of fuel from one of our nation’s most reliable allies.

“Alternative fuels are a necessary part of the mix to bring down energy costs and increase energy independence,” Hall added.  “The Federal government should take the lead on this effort, and repealing section 526 is a necessary step in that direction.”