Daschle signs up for fuels coalition
Source: Kevin Bogardus, E&E reporter • Posted: Thursday, June 16, 2016
Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has signed up to represent the High Octane Low Carbon Alliance, according to lobbying disclosure records released by the Senate this week.
The former Senate majority leader, along with Ilia Rodriguez, once with the Center for American Progress and an ex-Daschle aide, have been lobbying for the alliance since April 29 on fuel composition and quality issues. The two lobbyists are both with the Daschle Group, a public policy advisory firm that is part of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC.
The alliance is affiliated with several trade associations, including the Renewable Fuels Association, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Marcellus Shale Coalition and Fuel Freedom Foundation, according to records.
Asked why his trade group joined the alliance, RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen said in a statement to Greenwire that he does not want his members and others’ fuels crowded out as carmakers contend with tougher pollution rules.
“As automakers move toward higher compression ratio engines in their effort to meet more stringent CAFE standards, we want to make sure that the higher octane those vehicles will require do not exacerbate and, indeed, are helpful toward the nation’s important climate change objectives as well,” Dinneen said.
“High octane/low carbon fuels should be the objective, and we are working with like-minded organizations to assure that fuel policy and regulations can accommodate such fuels.”