Press Contact: Monte Shaw

515-252-6249

IRFA, ACE, The Auto Channel Expose the Truth on E15 and the So-Called Blend Wall

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) and The Auto Channel today held a briefing at the Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C. to examine the so-called blend wall and highlight how E15 and the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) are key parts of an “all of the above” American energy solution.

“Exposing the so-called blend wall for what it is—a Big Oil bluff—highlights how important E15 and the RFS are to achieving a more secure energy future for America,” stated IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw. “Big Oil uses scare tactics like the so-called blend wall and bogus E15 studies to protect the petroleum monopoly at the expense of the American consumer. Meanwhile, renewable fuels benefit the American consumer by lowering gas prices, creating American jobs, and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.”

Fuel retailer and owner of Midway Service in Sioux Falls, S.D. Bruce Vollan stated, “We have been offering blends of ethanol from zero to E85 at our station for nearly five years, and year after year, my customers buy an average of 20 to 25 percent ethanol.  Despite what the so-called ‘experts’ say, we haven’t had to pay a single repair bill during that time. I think we’ve shown that – given the choice – customers are smart enough to know what works in their engines, and – given the choice – they will buy more ethanol. Being able to offer my customers all of the different fuels they want is just one of the reasons I’ve been an independent retailer for nearly ten years. I couldn’t sell these blends if my station was branded.”

When discussing Big Oil’s efforts to smear E15, ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty stated, “Ethanol’s opponents have dramatically misrepresented the findings of studies about E15. We want to make sure that Congress is looking at the actual science and not just Big Oil’s distorted representations of that science.”

Auto Channel Executive Vice President Marc Rauch added, “For 180 years, the world’s top scientists and automotive engineers have known that ethanol is the best and safest engine fuel. It’s time to put this great domestic resource to serious use, and that means embracing E15 today. I’d much rather have my fuel money go to American farmers than to foreign terrorists.

Iowa is the leader in renewable fuels production.  Iowa has 41 ethanol refineries capable of producing over 3.7 billion gallons annually, with one wet mill and two cellulosic ethanol facilities currently under construction. In addition, Iowa has 12 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 315 million gallons annually.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association was formed in 2002 to represent the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry. The trade group fosters the development and growth of the renewable fuels industry in Iowa through education, promotion, legislation and infrastructure development.