U.S. announces 'Biofuels Action Plan'

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- U.S. government officials have released the National Biofuels Action Plan, an interagency plan to accelerate development of a sustainable biofuels industry.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the plan is in response to President George Bush's goal of cutting U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 percent in the next 10 years.

"Federal leadership can provide the vision for research, industry and citizens to understand how the nation will become less dependent on foreign oil and create strong rural economies," Schafer said. "This National Biofuels Action Plan supports the drive for biofuels growth to supply energy that is clean and affordable and always renewable."

Bodman said the plan is a "strategic blueprint" showing the way to increasing biofuels production by 2022. He said the plan shows how to accomplish that goal "in cost-effective, environmentally responsible ways that utilize a science-based approach to ensure the next generation of biofuels that are made primarily from feedstocks outside the food supply that are produced sustainably."

The Energy Department said it's dedicated more than $1 billion to research and development of cellulosic biofuels technology through 2009. The Agriculture Department said it has invested nearly $600 million since 2006 for similar projects.