WASHINGTON, DC – Growth Energy, America’s leading ethanol organization, dismissed the most recent attack on its efforts to increase the use of domestic, renewable fuels as an “attempt to divert attention” from ethanol’s value as a cost-effective, domestic transportation fuel that creates U.S. jobs, cuts greenhouse gases and reinforces our economic and national security.
“I see the usual critics, rehashing the same old message, not supported by facts. These are the special interest groups that tried to blame America’s hard-working farmers and ethanol for record-high food prices last year – without the facts. They’re trying to do it again, even though commodity prices for feedstock for ethanol are trading below the cost of production for farmers, roughly half of the prices farmers saw last year, while the food manufacturer’s profits continue to soar. This is an attempt to mislead policymakers and America’s consumers for their own agenda,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, a coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters.
“We welcome any objective observer to look at the science behind our waiver to EPA – science which overwhelmingly supports the use of E15 in today’s autos. The facts are there, and undisputed. Instead of erecting new barriers that prevent our nation from breaking the addiction to foreign oil, we need policies that promote production of sustainable biofuels, like ethanol. America has suffered long enough. It is time for us to move forward and develop our own sources of energy at home, create U.S. jobs, improve the environment and reinforce our national and economic security,” Buis said.
Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver to EPA seeks an increase to 15 percent ethanol blended into gasoline. Today’s 30-year-old regulation allows blends up to 10 percent ethanol. But advances in fuel technology have proven higher blends of ethanol are better for the environment at little or no cost to engine performance, and are cheaper for consumers. An increase to E15 would avoid the importation of 7 billion gallons of foreign gasoline, and the creation of as many as 136,000 U.S. jobs.
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About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.