The House of Representatives passed its first energy legislation late Thursday, a bill authorizing $10 million for federal research and development programs that would help biofuels to stay competitive.
The Advanced Fuels Infrastructure and Development Act, a bipartisan bill written by Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., passed by a vote of 400-3, and should move to the Senate next.
The bill aims to help current infrastructure for petroleum-based fuel become more compatible with biofuels. Biofuel blends could cause corrosion or sediment buildup in today's pipes and tanks.
The legislation would also direct the Environmental Protection Agency - with help from Department of Energy and the National Institute of Standards of Technology - to work on new technologies to help retailers use alternative fuels with their current infrastructure.