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Ethanol and Biofuel US ethanol push a wake up call for Australia
Ethanol and Biofuel US ethanol push a wake up call for Australia
US ethanol push a wake up call for Australia
Thursday, 02 February 2006 02:10 | 
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Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Senator Ron Boswell said today, President Bush’s commitment to the further development of biofuels in America should be seen as a wake up call for Australia.
In The President’s ‘State of the Union’ Address yesterday, President Bush pledged to replace 75% of America’s oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.
“President Bush believes Americans should make greater use of home grown alternatives and committed to a US$150m program to accelerate research into ethanol extraction from biomass,” Senator Boswell said.
Senator Boswell, a constant campaigner on the need for a viable biofuels industry in Australia, said Australia should follow the US lead and continue to set increasing targets for biofuel use and imported oil replacement.
“As a Nation we should not relax once the current goal of at least 350 megalitres of biofuels has been reached, currently predicted at mid 2009. This effectively represents about 1% of the total transport fuel, and will have little impact on Australia’s reliance on foreign fuel.
“Once we have achieved our initial goal, we must continue to lift the bar until biofuels account for a significant proportion of our transport fuel use,” Senator Boswell said.
President Bush indicated current research and improving technologies could make ‘cellulosic’ ethanol more cost effective giving it the potential to displace up to 30% of America’s current fuel use.
Senator Boswell said the Industry Action Plans submitted to the Federal Government by Australia’s four major oil companies late last year, indicated a turning point in the acceptance of biofuels in the transport fuel mix.
“The Action Plans are the first time annual volumetric targets have been publicly indicated and I expect contracts with existing and new biofuel producers would soon be announced in order for the Government to see that real progress was being made,” he said.
“Increased biofuel use in the transport fuel market is an international trend, as indicated by President Bush’s commitment.
“The Nationals have been working with industry and government on the further development of an Australian biofuel industry so that all Australians, both urban and rural, can benefit from this clean -green revolution,” Senator Boswell said.
Ends
In The President’s ‘State of the Union’ Address yesterday, President Bush pledged to replace 75% of America’s oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.
“President Bush believes Americans should make greater use of home grown alternatives and committed to a US$150m program to accelerate research into ethanol extraction from biomass,” Senator Boswell said.
Senator Boswell, a constant campaigner on the need for a viable biofuels industry in Australia, said Australia should follow the US lead and continue to set increasing targets for biofuel use and imported oil replacement.
“As a Nation we should not relax once the current goal of at least 350 megalitres of biofuels has been reached, currently predicted at mid 2009. This effectively represents about 1% of the total transport fuel, and will have little impact on Australia’s reliance on foreign fuel.
“Once we have achieved our initial goal, we must continue to lift the bar until biofuels account for a significant proportion of our transport fuel use,” Senator Boswell said.
President Bush indicated current research and improving technologies could make ‘cellulosic’ ethanol more cost effective giving it the potential to displace up to 30% of America’s current fuel use.
Senator Boswell said the Industry Action Plans submitted to the Federal Government by Australia’s four major oil companies late last year, indicated a turning point in the acceptance of biofuels in the transport fuel mix.
“The Action Plans are the first time annual volumetric targets have been publicly indicated and I expect contracts with existing and new biofuel producers would soon be announced in order for the Government to see that real progress was being made,” he said.
“Increased biofuel use in the transport fuel market is an international trend, as indicated by President Bush’s commitment.
“The Nationals have been working with industry and government on the further development of an Australian biofuel industry so that all Australians, both urban and rural, can benefit from this clean -green revolution,” Senator Boswell said.
Ends
