Senator Lugar's E-85 Dialogue with Oil Company and Automobile Executives

Senator Lugar maintains a dialogue with members of the oil and auto industries in order to encourage them to contribute to American energy security.

Dialogue with Oil Companies

On February 2, 2006, Senator Lugar and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) wrote to the executives of ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, British Petroleum America, Shell Oil Company, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, and Chevron Corporation that “it is clear that fuel diversity, affordability and availability are key to achieving a secure energy supply and robust economy for our nation.”

“It is obvious we also need many more service station pumps supplying E-85, since there are now only 600 of them in the entire Unites States. We would like to work with you to increase the availability of E-85 pumps substantially in order to supply the increasing demand for this fuel. Some information indicates that retail marketers of your branded products can encounter various obstacles if they seek to offer their customers E-85 or other ethanol-blended fuels. We have been informed, for example, that some company policies and practices prohibit dealers from selling E-85 or require that it be offered to consumers at separate fuel pump islands away from the branded fuel offerings.

“We invite each of you to give us your perspective on what is needed to improve the availability of E-85 to consumers. Is our information correct as to existing industry marketing policies and practices regarding E-85 and ethanol blends? If such obstacles do exist, we would hope to have the opportunity to work with you so that E-85 and ethanol blends, which meet industry standards and vehicle specifications, are conveniently offered to consumers at your branded stations across the country,” Lugar and Harkin wrote in the letter.

E-85 is motor that is 85 percent ethanol.

Senator Lugar's letter and the responses from Shell Oil Company , ConocoPhillips , ExxonMobil , Chevron Corporation , and Citgo Petroleum Corporation are viewable using Adobe Reader.

Dialogue with Automobile Executives

On April 24, 2006, following the letter to oil company executives, Senators Lugar and Harkin wrote to the executives of General Motors Company, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor North America, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Nissan North America and American Honda Motor Corporation "Our request to you is simple. Produce more FFVs as quickly as possible."

FFVs can run on regular gasoline and E-85.

"We cannot underscore enough the importance of weaning the United States off of its "oil addiction," as the Presdient put it in his State of the Union Address earlier this year. The bottom line is that we need a rapid fundamental shift away from oil in our transportation sector, and renewable fuels such as ethanol are poised to shape this transition... A concerted effort by the automobile industry, the energy sector, and government can rapidly change this oil dependance.

"The use of biofuels spurs investment in this country rather than sending many billions of dollars in income abroad to countries often hostile to our way of life. Much of the investment is in rural communities, creating jobs and economic growth. These fuels are also a proven greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy," the senators wrote.

Senator Lugar's letter and the responses from DaimlerChrysler and Nissan North America are viewable using Adobe Reader.

Senator Lugar also sent a letter on November 21, 2006, encouraging the executives of General Motors Company, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Group encouraging to increase the number of FFVs they produce. Ford Motor Company responded on December 14, 2006 and General Motors responded on January 16, 2007.