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Senator Obama led a bipartisan effort to gradually raise CAFE fuel economy standards. |
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Introduced the "Health for Hybrids" legislation essentially making a deal with US car makers that the federal government would help pay for the health care of retired employees if the car manufacturers invested at least 50% of their savings into technology to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. |
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Worked to expand the use of E85 and Other Renewable Fuels through sponsoring legislation that would provide tax credits to gas stations that carry E85 (a blend of 85 percent clean-burning, domestically grown ethanol and 15 percent petroleum gasoline). |
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Introduced legislation with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) to require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels, such as biodiesel, to be produced domestically by 2015. |
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Sponsored legislation requiring oil companies that made at least $1 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2006 invest at least 1 percent of the their total reported first quarter 2006 profits into installing E85 pumps. |
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Worked with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to introduce the American Fuels Act that would increase the domestic production, distribution, and use of biofuels, including expanded manufacture of flexible fuel vehicles, tax credits for biofuels, and a nationwide distribution infrastructure. |
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Sponsored an amendment that became law providing $40 million for commercialization of a combined flexible fuel vehicle/hybrid car within five years.
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