The Hill News

There is widespread agreement among experts, policy makers and the public that the United States must overcome its addiction to fossil fuels to protect the environment and for reasons of national security. As in any addiction, interventions are necessary to break bad habits. Fortunately, in 2007 Congress expanded the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), requiring increased production and use of renewable fuels from multiple sources. American companies are making steady progress in creating advanced plant-based fuels. But this progress could be threatened by political uncertainty about continuing the RFS mandate.

Despite the clear intention of Congress to create the RFS, it took until March 2010 for the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize lengthy rules for administering the law. That interval coincided with economic recession, emergency economic stabilization measures to prevent bank failures, and oil prices that rose above $140 per barrel and then dropped bel! ow $40. Advanced biofuel companies, like other enterprises deploying new technology, face enormous challenges in raising the necessary capital for commercial-scale production â€" which were intensified in the recent challenging economic conditions. Still, many have made significant strides in making investments to commercialize advanced biofuel technology.

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