(Ethanol Producer Magazine/Renewable Fuels Association)  By an overwhelming majority, American voters are supportive of the key federal policy driving renewable fuel innovation in America today – the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  In a poll commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and conducted by American Viewpoint, 61 percent of adults polled said they supported the RFS.

“Poll after poll consistently demonstrates that Americans of all stripes believe we must be pursuing the production and use of renewable fuels to reduce our dependence on imported oil,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen.  “The RFS is a critical component to the continued growth and innovation of this industry.  The RFS ensures that ample supplies of renewable fuels like ethanol are available today and that new and promising renewable fuel technologies will have a market in the future.

…When asked how likely they would be to purchase a fuel with more domestic ethanol when available (specifically E15), 58 percent of respondents said they were very likely or somewhat likely.

Participants in the poll responded very favorably to the continued efforts to bring cellulosic ethanol production to commercial scale through the use of targeted tax policies.  Sixty-five percent said they supported such incentives to help expand cellulosic ethanol production.  By comparison, 69 percent said they opposed tax subsidies and other incentives for petroleum companies.

…The following are the exact questions posed to poll participants and their responses.

As you may know, there is currently a renewable fuels standard that requires a certain amount of the fuel produced each year to come from ethanol, biodiesel and other renewable sources that aren’t fossil fuels in order to reduce foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.  Do you favor or oppose this requirement?

Favor:  61 percent
Oppose: 27 percent
Don’t Know: 12 percent
As you may know, much of today’s gasoline that you purchase is blended with 10 percent ethanol, known as E10. The government recently tested and has approved selling fuel for all car models year 2001 and newer gasoline that is blended with up to 15 percent of ethanol, known as E15. How likely are you to purchase a fuel that includes more domestic ethanol when it is available?

Likely:  58 percent
Not Likely: 33 percent
Don’t Know: 5 percent
Some have considered the government giving incentives to help fund the expansion of a new technology known as cellulosic ethanol, which is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses and other non-edible parts of plants. Do you favor or oppose these incentives?

Favor:  65 percent
Oppose: 23 percent
Don’t Know: 10 percent   READ MORE