Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have released the National Biofuels Action Plan (NBAP), an interagency plan detailing the collaborative efforts of federal agencies to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry.

The announcement was made by Ed Schafer, secretary of the USDA, and Samuel W. Bodman, secretary of the DOE.

“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.”

The NBAP was developed in response to President Bush’s “Twenty In Ten” goal, which calls for cutting U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 per cent over the next 10 years, by investing in renewable and alternative fuel sources, increasing vehicle efficiency, and developing alternative fuel vehicles.

The NBAP outlines interagency actions and accelerated federally-supported research efforts in the areas of sustainability, feedstock production and logistics, conversion science and technology, distribution infrastructure, blending, and environment, health and safety.