Advocacy Project: Letter to an Elected Official

Dec 12, 2011

Senator Al Fraken

U.S. Senate

309 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20500

VOTE YES ON H.R 404 2011: Renewable Fuel for America's Future Act

The proposal of Renewable Fuel for America’s Future Act is a statewide and countrywide proposal that will benefit our world we live in. To put this action into play we need to start with Minnesota. As a resident and community health student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, I strongly believe and push for the Renewable Fuel for America’s Future Act. This Act will not only benefit us in the present but also the future and their environment that they will be living in.

The Renewable Fuel for America’s Future Act will provide us the opportunity to make a change for the better for our environment and try to undo the damage that we have already done to our earth. If we make a change now, not only use will benefit for us but generations to come. Duel fuel does not have to be a thing of the future but rather the present. We just need to take a step forward and use this fuel that is being provided to us. Not only the environment will benefit but so will our local economy. It will give our local farmers the opportunity to provide the grains necessary to produce this fuel. This will spread countrywide giving our economy the boost that it has been craving.

Opponents of this bill might ague the cost of implementing duel fuel into our motor vehicles. A cost will be prevalent but in the long run will turn into a benefit for us as citizen and a benefit for the world we live in and take so much from. Its time to return the favor.

We appreciate your past support of the bill for renewable fuel for America’s future act. Implementing duel fuel in motor vehicle and providing ethanol fuel for our vehicles will not only help you and I but America. We hope that you realize the benefits of this act and vote “yes” to H.R 404. If you can provide any further information, please contact me at 444-444-4444 or healthed@helpenvironment.org.

Jamie Lakatos

Advocacy Project: Fact Sheet

FACT SHEET

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol or ethyl-alcohol is a high octane. This renewable fuel is produced by plant sugars. Ethanol in the United States is typically made from corn and other grain products.

Types of Ethanol blends:

E10: Gasoline-ethanol combination that contains up to 10% of ethanol. This fuel may be used in ANY gasoline dependent powered vehicle.

E85: Gasoline-ethanol combination that contains up to 85% of ethanol. Ethanol fuel burns much cleaner than pure gasoline plus it is totally renewable, which makes it environmentally friendly fuel. E85 must be used only in flex fuel or duel fuel vehicles.

What is duel fuel or flex fuel vehicle (FFV)?

These type of vehicles are designed by the manufacture to use any percent of ethanol in the gasoline, any where from 85% ethanol to 100% of pure gasoline. Minnesota is a national leader in the use of alternative fuels.

How can someone tell whether or not their vehicle is a FFV or is capable of duel fuel?

• Check owner's manual
• Check inside the fuel cap door
• Visit www.e85fuel.com

Sources

Sources: Renewable Fuels Association, www.ethanolrfa.org/ 

National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition/Growth Energy, www.E85fuel.com 

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center, www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ethanol/

EPAct Launches Fleets Toward Minnesota’s Alternative Fuel Future, http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/pdfs/37132.pdf

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction

The issue pertaining to this bill is the fuel that we use to run our automobiles. Proposing that our automobiles should be compatible to run off of gasoline as well as E-85. Renewable Fuels for America's Future Act of 2011 H.R.404 

Who is affected by the issue?

Everyone can potentially be effected by this bill. The environment will benefit the most from this bill because we would be able to be  more environmentally safe form of fuel. Gas companies may suffer from this act because people will not be depending on them as much when they are able to use duel fuel

What are the consequences of the issue?

The consequences of this bill would be that more resource will need to be used to obtain ethanol. Jobs may be lost but also gained if this bill passes.

What is the economic impact of the issue?

The cost would come out to build ethanol plants and employees, land use, potentially pollution from the plant. Car manufactures would bare some of the cost when they have to make their cars compatible for duel fuel. Our environment as a whole would benefit from this because we would not be using harmful gasoline as much.

What are the barriers?

The barriers would be to make sure all cars are compatible for duel fuel. So it would be a process but starting this year if the bill is passed automobile companies will start making their new models compatible for the duel fuel. It will take some time to get the ball rolling.

What are the resources?

Land would be a concern for the use of ethanol plants to be put up so the use of towns and communities would have to happen. Along with the needed resources to keep the plant running.

What is the history of this issue?

Ethanol has been slowly implemented in to our lives starting at a lower percent mixed with gasoline and as the years of gone on we can see that it is becoming more prevalent but not completely utilized.

Allies & Opponents

Many states support the use of ethanol but the percent use will very state to state because it is so much more costly.

Your Recommendation

• YES!

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

H.R 404 Renewable Fuel for America's Future Act of 2011

Title: To implement change through grants to ensure at least 50% of 2013 and 2014 model year automobiles manufactured for sale in the U.S are duel fuel. Installing blender pump fuel infrastructure to incorporate the use of "E-85 fuel" a gasoline fuel blend derived from at least 85% ethanol.

Sponsor: Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] (introduced 1/24/2011) Cosponsors (None)

Lastest Major Action: 2/1/2011 Referred to House subcommittee status: Referred to the Subcommittee of Energy and Power.

Recommended vote: YES for H.R 404 Renewable Fuels

My Political Representative(s): Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d112:3:./temp/~bdTyTb:@@@L&summ2=m&|/home/LegislativeData.php?n=BSS;c=112|

Advocacy Project: My Political Representative

President: Barack H. Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

202-456-1111(comments)

202-456-2461 (fax) 

Website: 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama

Congressman: Amy Klobucha

U.S. Senate
Democrat
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3244 or 202-228-2186
Website: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/

Congressman: Al Fraken

U.S. Senate
Democrat
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20500
202-224-5641
Website http://franken.senate.gov/

Congressmen: Chip Cravaak

U.S House Republican

508 Cannon House Office Bulding
Washington, DC 20500
202-225-6211or 202-225-0699
Website: http://chipcravaack.com/

Govener: Mark Dayton

Democrat

Office of the Govenor

130 State Capitol

75 Rev.Dr.Martin Luther King Jr Blvd

St.Paul, MN 55155
651-201-3400 or 651-797-1850
Website: http://mn.gov/governor/

State Legislator: Mary Murphy

MN House

Democrate

343 State Office BUilding

100 Rec.Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.Blvd

St.Paul, MN 55155

651-296-2676 or 800-890-5428

Website: 

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=10444

State Legislator: Thomas Baak

MN Senate

Democrate

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

State Office Building, Room 147

St.Paul, MN 55155-1206

651-296-8881

Website: 

http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_bio.php?district=06

                                        http://www.photohome.com/photos/flag-pictures/american-flag-2.html

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