The American Petroleum Institute rolled out an aggressive new ad campaign this week, aimed at ginning up support at a grassroots level to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Keeping the RFS in place is a primary objective of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. Despite Big Oil’s claims, we know that ethanol is good for the economy, good for the environment, good for energy independence, and provides a high-performance fuel at LOWER prices.

If you see one of these ads on television, online, or in your local newspaper, please send us an email at ilcorn@ilcorn.org to let us know. You may also hear the spots on the radio. The ads feature actors portraying “John Q Public” worrying about all the aspects of ethanol that API would have American consumers believe. There are no facts to their claims, but as we all know, what is believed to be “truth” may or may not be a fact.

The facts about ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard are easy to know. Get to know them so that you can share the facts and redefine the “truth” of this aspect of your family farm business.

• The Renewable Fuel Standard is a success. It’s reduced our dependence on foreign sources of oil and encouraged investment in the ethanol industry.
• Corn ethanol has reduced the average cost per gallon of gasoline in this country by over $1.00 at the E-10 blend level.
• Ethanol is the cheapest, best alternative to add an oxygenate to unleaded gasoline, displacing MTBE, a known, toxic carcinogen.
• The U.S. ethanol industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.
• In Illinois, corn based ethanol provides 54,475 jobs.
• In Illinois, corn based ethanol means $765.5 million in total public revenue each year.
• In Illinois, corn based ethanol provides $2.378 billion in labor income each year.

Find out more about ethanol at www.ilcorn.org and specifically about E-85 at www.ilcorn.org/flexfuel.