National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson is asking Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye,, D-Hawaii, and Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., to support S. 3807, The American Security and Freedom Fuels Act of 2010. The act is sponsored by Senators Max Baucus, D-Mont., and John Tester, D-Mont.
This bill would authorize long-term contracts for the purchase of liquid synthetic or biomass-derived aviation or aviation blend fuels for the Department of Defense. The DOD uses 4.6 billion gallons of fuel annually, accounting for slightly less than 2% of all fuel consumed by the United States.
Johnson says in recognizing the strategic importance of domestically sourced fuel, the Department of Defense has become a leader in investing resources in development of renewable fuels. NFU policy supports a balanced energy policy that seeks at least 25% renewable energy by 2025 for the United States while also protecting our nation's environment.