American Petroleum Institute Launches New Campaign

by Joanna Schroeder (DomesticFuel.com) American Petroleum Institute (API) has launched a new campaign featuring print and TV ads taking aim at E15 and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The ethanol industry responded and Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association said that Big Oil’s latest campaign is nothing more than an oil slick of misleading scare tactics.
...“API is intentionally confusing a debate about E15 with the RFS, an important policy that is reducing our dependence on imported oil while saving consumers money at the pump. E15 is not mandated. E15 is a cost-saving, environment-protecting, oil addiction-breaking fuel alternative. E15 is a choice and American consumers are in the driver’s seat. Give them an option and let them decide. That’s the way competitive markets work.”
...(Tom) Buis (CEO of Growth Energy) concluded, “Looks like API, once again, will do anything to drive attention away from record profits and skyrocketing gas prices by using junk science in an attempt to prevent a choice and savings at the pump for American consumers.” READ MORE and MORE (Reuters) and MORE (Bloomberg) and MORE (DomesticFuel.com) and MORE (Economic Times)

Excerpt from Reuters: Greco (Bob Greco, API downstream group director) declined to say how much money the API is spending but said the group is devoting "significant resources" to the ad campaign. It is targeting the Washington market as well as Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, Michigan, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia, a spokesperson said. READ MORE