Advocates launch new RFS campaign

Source: Amanda Peterka, E&E reporter • Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Biofuels supporters today launched a new ad campaign to rally support for the federal renewable fuel standard.

The campaign by Fuels America, a coalition of biofuels, agriculture and national security organizations, includes both television and digital advertising, as well as the launch of a website, www.oilrigged.com. The organization did not give a cost figure for the campaign.The TV ads allege that oil companies are spending big to “rig the system” against American consumers and “bullying” gas stations to use more oil, rather than biofuels. The ads are expected to run for at least two weeks on cable networks.

Fuels America is urging the Obama administration and Congress to maintain the renewable fuel standard, through which U.S. EPA sets yearly levels of conventional ethanol and advanced biofuels that refiners need to either blend into petroleum fuels or purchase credits. Many members of Congress have called for either repeal or reform of the standard, while EPA recently proposed the first rollback of the yearly targets (E&ENews PM, Nov. 15, 2013).

Oil industry trade groups have led the call for repeal of the standard. Last month, the American Petroleum Institute launched an ad campaign that featured consumers concerned about harms caused by the federal biofuel mandate (E&ENews PM, March 20).

 

|