Monday, April 12, 2010 9:55 AM
Pro-Ethanol Ads Tout Benefits Over Oil
By Darren Goode, NationalJournal.com
Ethanol advocates are starting a six-month, $2.5 million television ad campaign today to tout the gasoline additive. The six ads -- sponsored by Growth Energy -- aim to distance ethanol from popular perceptions of oil by touting its environmental, national security and economic benefits.
"No beaches have been closed due to ethanol spills," reads one of the 17-second ads. "No wars have ever been fought over ethanol," reads another.
Growth Energy spokesman Christopher Thorne said the ads will run nationally on FOX, CNN, MSNBC and CNN Headline News. Thorne said the timing was not intended to coincide with any legislative or regulatory effort and has been a strategy for the group stretching back to its formation in November 2008.
But the ads do come as three senators are trying to piece together a deal on climate and energy legislation and EPA is expected this summer to announce a final rule that may lift a limit on ethanol in gasoline. EPA delayed a final decision in December so agency officials could evaluate more testing by the Energy Department on how the additive affects automobile engines in response to a Growth Energy petition.
Environmentalists -- citing air pollution tied to ethanol -- and petroleum refiners are among those fighting against raising the federal ethanol blend limit from 10 percent to 15 percent of gasoline.
Growth Energy represents several biofuels producers -- including the world's largest ethanol producer, Poet Energy. Among the coalition's leadership include former Democratic presidential nominee and retired Gen. Wesley Clark and former Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa.
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