WASHINGTON, DC – Sixty-eight percent of American voters support country-of-origin labeling on gasoline, according to poll data released today by Growth Energy, the U.S. coalition of ethanol supporters.
The polling data was released in conjunction with an announcement by U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, that he intends to introduce legislation mandating that all gasoline sold in the U.S. carry country-of-origin labeling (COOL). Growth Energy launched its Labelmyfuel.com initiative last August, in an effort to create more market transparency for American consumers of foreign petroleum.
“Congressman Braley’s bill would let U.S. drivers know where they are sending their dollars when they gas up. If the oil is from Venezuela, or Abu Dhabi, or Saudi Arabia, let people know. Americans deserve to know where their money goes – whether it stays here or goes overseas,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “Growth Energy’s polling shows that the American people want to know where their fuel is from – and this bill would give them that information. Knowing that 68 percent of people in America support COOL for Fuel tells us that Congressman Braley is on the right track.”
Growth Energy’s national poll of 1,200 voters, conducted by McKeon & Associates, asked the question: “Would you favor or oppose country of origin labeling for gasoline so consumers would know where their fuel comes from?”
The poll showed 68 percent favored COOL for fuel, 15 percent opposed and 17 percent don’t know. The poll has a 4.1 percent margin of error.
As much as 60 percent of all American gasoline is refined from overseas oil. The reliance on imported oil comes at a cost to taxpayers of at least $50 billion to protect oil shipping routes. Anywhere from $20 billion to $30 billion is drained from the U.S. economy each month – money that could be spent in the United States to create jobs if it were invested in renewable, low-carbon ethanol.
“In truth, that reliance on foreign oil means we are subsidizing the economies of other nations, when we could use that money right here at home, spurring on our own economy,” said (Ret.) Gen. Wesley K. Clark, Co-Chairman of Growth Energy. “Think about what our economy would look like if we invested that money here, instead of sending it overseas. We could do that if we invested in ethanol.”
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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.