Driving energy independence with clean transportation fuels
BY: ALLEYN HARNED, JANE MCCURRY, AND MAGGIE STRIZ CALNI
2/08/23 5:30pm EDT
The Hill | The United States has been on a quest for energy independence for decades, and while we as a nation have made progress, more work remains - especially as we tackle net-zero emissions goals to avoid the worst of climate change and transition our economy to be powered by clean energy.
Despite producing more energy domestically than we use, in 2021, the United States still imported roughly 8.5 million barrels of petroleum per day. And the Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed how vulnerable the global economy is to oil price volatility, a cost most heavily borne by everyday people powering their homes and filling up their vehicles.
There’s a better way. Take the transportation sector, where gas price volatility remains a major economic concern for American families and businesses, accounting for almost one-sixth of the average household expenses. If state and federal policy can evolve to meet the rapid rate of innovation happening in the transportation sector, we have the potential to ease costs for consumers, reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil, and achieve greater reductions in our carbon emissions.
A Clean Fuel Standard (CFS) is a policy that would unleash the nation’s potential for homegrown, low-emission fuel sources and realize the promise of accessible and affordable clean transportation.