Birch Run, MI – Cars and trucks that come with a tax credit worth up to $4,000 and run on cheaper, cleaner gas – some of which even comes from your local farmer instead of the Middle East? Sounds good, but it must be one of those tiny tin cans, you say.

Nope.  Try a Ford Escape or F-150, a Chevy Avalanche or Silverado, or maybe even a Chrysler Town and Country minivan for you family oriented folks.

“These vehicles are available today and have the ability to dramatically reduce our reliance on foreign crude oil that puts our economy at risk, our environment at risk, our national security at risk and our pocketbooks at risk,” said U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-Midland).

Camp, along with representatives from Michigan’s Big Three automakers and the Michigan Corn Growers Association highlighted ethanol fueled vehicles and the federal policies pushing the automobile market towards cleaner cars at a two-pronged event today.

The first stop was Birch Run’s own Dixie Motor Speedway where Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler showed off a sampling of their E85 vehicles, which are fueled by a gas mixture made up of 85 percent ethanol.

Ethanol is a clean-burning, high-octane fuel produced from crops such as corn. Because it is domestically produced, ethanol helps reduce dependence upon foreign sources of energy, according to Camp.  Combined with unleaded gasoline to make E85, ethanol can decrease the cost of fuel, increase the octane rating and decreases gasoline’s harmful emissions 

“If we are going to kick our addiction to foreign crude oil, we need a solution that runs from field to freeway,” said Camp.  “My tax incentives, which have been signed into law, are designed to do just that.  By providing incentives at every step of the process we can start the shift to alternative fuel vehicles today.”

Camp said the timing is right for such a move.

“Anyone filling up their tank and watching the pump prices rolling right past $40, $50 and even above $60 knows we need to address the problem now.  Frankly, with prices at this level, I am surprised that gas stations haven’t starting installing defibrillator kits.”

Camp, as a senior member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and in conjunction with the nation’s automakers and farmers, has led the passage of key tax incentives to lower the cost of moving to new fuels.  His credits include:

• A tax credit for automakers and manufacturers to conduct more research and development that leads to new technologies like alternative fuel vehicles.
• A credit for our corn and soybean growers who put acreage into ethanol and biodiesel.
• A credit worth up to $4,000 that makes buying a more expensive alternative fueled car or truck more affordable (credit does not apply to E85 vehicles since they are priced the same as traditional gasoline models). 
• And, a credit for gas stations that install new pumps.

“My message today is this: your government, your automakers and your farmers are working together to help us kick this habit.  Together, we have laid the ground work, provided the incentives to get more Americans into these flex fuel vehicles.”

Michigan is aspiring to become a national leader in ethanol plant production and refueling stations.  There are already five ethanol plants in the state and 12 re-fueling stations – a number Camp would like to see grow dramatically in the coming years.

“These cars provide an economic stimulus for Michigan agriculture and automakers,” said Camp.  “With the support of the federal government, our farmers and manufacturers are building new economic opportunities, creating innovative solutions that address the nation’s energy needs, and providing consumers with the products that deliver fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and better performance.”

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