The Eagle Post - Let People Make Big Fuel Choices

Op-Ed

By Rand Paul

I firmly believe the protection of the environment and energy security are not mutually exclusive endeavors. The Obama administration's heavy-handed regulatory burdens continue to afflict individuals with higher costs and fewer choices across the Commonwealth and country. I, however, advocate a different approach -- instead of federal bureaucrats picking winners and losers, I believe American consumers should have a real choice at the fuel pump.

In the past decade, our country has seen dramatic new developments in technology that allow us the ability to conserve and diversify our domestic energy supply. From the shale gas boom to the development of new alternative fuels that are both clean and renewable, America is rich in energy resources and opportunity. This should be good news for the consumer, the environment and for our energy security as a country. Yet, we are still unable to take full advantage of these opportunities.

Government intervention in the energy sector impacts everything from fuel sales to how fuels are taxed, inevitably, driving up costs and holding back new technologies. Through this intervention Washington has unnecessarily limited consumer choice and constrained the wider availability of new fuel options, such as natural gas or E85 ethanol.

That is why I, along with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), introduced the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act of 2015 (S. 889) earlier this year. This bill will help reform and remove unnecessary regulations to free up the alternative fuel market for further development and expansion.

The Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act would further remove regulatory burdens that are blocking higher ethanol blends, such as E15, from entering the marketplace. Our bill would also allow Americans to convert their vehicle to run on different fuels without jumping through expensive and unnecessary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hoops and it would reform the administration's fuel economy rules that are hampering clean technology innovation in the auto industry.

Instead of more government mandates, we should work to create a more competitive business atmosphere. Through competition and consumer choice, the Fuel Choice and Deregulation Act allows fuel producers and automobile manufacturers to innovate and bring new products to market that will lower costs for consumers, increase domestic energy production and protect the environment.

The Commonwealth Agri-Energy ethanol plant in Christian County is now more than 10 years old and has become an important part of our community. By getting Washington bureaucrats and their rules out of the way, Christian County could become the center of a new boom of economic opportunity for Kentucky and the country.

I am proud to serve as your Senator and will continue working for smarter federal policies that do not hamper market competition, but rather enhance consumer choice and bring economic opportunity to the hard-working men and women of Kentucky.

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