U.S. Congressman Greg Pence recently participated in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss his concerns with the CLEAN Future Act.

This week, Pence is back in Indiana touring the sixth district he represents looking for specific feedback on how the CLEAN Future Act will affect business efforts in the state.

“We are getting out to the constituents as we’re moving toward a CLEAN Energy Bill, and we debated that last week, so we are trying to get input from people out here in the district and how it will impact them,” said Pence after a visit Tuesday to Integrity Biofuels in Morristown.

Pence met with Integrity Biofuels owner John Whittington and plant manager Guy Herrell to discuss how biodiesel is a viable fuel alternative.

“We were talking about the renewable energy sector and bringing him up to speed on our current status here,” said Whittington. “How we are well poised to continue taking advantage of renewable energy going forward, whether we are in production or a distribution point.”

Jeff Brown photos

U.S. Congressman Greg Pence (R-06), left, tours the Integrity Biofuels facility in Morristown Tuesday with plant manager Guy Herrell, center, and owner John Whittington.

Founded in 2006, Integrity Biofuels, 780 Industrial Drive, produces biodiesel fuel that can be used in most diesel equipment without modification.

The fuel can be used to reduce global warming gas emissions, reduce tailpipe emissions and is nontoxic, biodegradable, and suitable for sensitive environments, according to a company pamphlet.

“A nice thing about biodiesel that I have always liked is the plug-and-play,” said Whittington. “If the market conditions merit it and it makes sense, you can run it without changing your engine or any modification of your vehicle. And if it doesn’t, then you don’t. I like that choice.

“I think renewable fuels are here to stay and will be a part of our energy portfolio no matter what. It’s figuring out the happy balance of the economics as well as the other characteristics such as the cleaner burn.”

Pence, who is from Columbus, Indiana, understands that agriculture is a vital industry in the state, and as corn is crucial to the production of ethanol, soybeans are crucial to biodiesel production.

“I am learning more about biodiesel and am trying to figure out the difference between renewable and biodiesel and how those two things are going,” said Pence. “Our soybean farmers are the beneficiary of this and it’s a real great alternative.

“When we talk about electrifying the transportation industry, the technology and the distribution system isn’t there. It’s here as we see with the railroad tracks and the tanks. The distribution already exists for renewable and biodiesel.”

Pence assures that information he received Tuesday in Morristown will be taken back to Washington D.C. for more discussions.

“By meeting with the congressman, we can educate him a little with what we are trying to do here with our specific plans and new policy changes that may be coming into play,” said Whittington. “It seems like it is a hot topic again. It’s going to be part of our future energy choices.”