“Ethanol is on the offense,” said Iowa’s Jim Nussle at a press conference in Washington on Monday.(Jeniece Pettitt/MNS)
WASHINGTON — More than a quarter of the ethanol in the U.S. is from the Hawkeye State, according to the Iowa Renewable Fuel Association, so it is good news for the state that a new campaign aims to drive awareness of ethanol as “America’s fuel.”
Ethanol supporters launched the industry’s first national television ad campaign Monday to promote ethanol and to clear up misconceptions.
“Ethanol accounts for 10 percent of the nation’s fuel supply,” said Tom Buis, Growth Energy CEO, at a press conference. “A lot of people don’t know that, which is why we are doing this.”
The six-month, $2.5 million campaign will air six different ads on CNN, Fox, MSNBC and HLN, according to a release. Each of the spots focuses on a different message using the following words to describe the fuel: independent, clean, renewable, peace, sensible and economic. You will see the straightforward, bright-green ads in prime-time and during shows such as “Larry King Live,” “Fox and Friends” and “Morning Joe.”
“Back home in Iowa there are quite a few farmers in the field and I’m thinking about them today when I am talking about America’s home grown energy,” said Jim Nussle, the former Iowa congressman who is now a Growth Energy board member. “For too long ethanol has allowed its opponents to define the debate when it comes to ethanol and energy security. That ends today.”
POET LLC, Sioux Fall, S.D.-based ethanol producer, also launched a television ad campaign Monday including three spots that each represent a different aspect of ethanol production. In the ads, a farmer, a scientist and a plant manager recite poetry about their role in the industry, according to a press release.
The Clean Fuel Development Coalition reports that every car on the road can operate on 10 percent ethanol blends and that ethanol replaces some of the most harmful components of gasoline, while reducing carbon monoxide emissions.
“Domestic ethanol is 59 percent cleaner than gasoline and cellulosic ethanol is 86 percent cleaner than gasoline,” Nussle explained.
As well as the clean aspects of ethanol, Growth Energy wants to get the message out about the benefits ethanol has on national security.
“We’re engaging our armed forces to secure America’s access to energy,” said retired Gen. Wesley Clark, Growth Energy co-chairman. “We’re importing almost 13 million barrels of oil a day and most of that import is going to transportation. Today with this ad campaign we’re going to make the case for America’s fuel and it’s a forceful case to ending our addiction to foreign oil.”
In 2008, the ethanol industry contributed $65.5 billion to the gross domestic product and supported more than 494,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy, according to the Iowa RFA.
Steve Roe, general manager of Marcus, Iowa-based Little Sioux Corn Processors, is pleased about the ads, which he says will educate the public about “the positive effect ethanol has on the environment, the continued fuel v. food debate and the fact that ethanol does lessen our dependence on foreign oil.”
Congress is currently considering a bill that would extend ethanol tax breaks and a tariff on imports until 2016, now set to expire at the end of 2010.