TOP TEN PEOPLE WHO BENEFIT FROM A WEAKENED RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD

Lindsay Mitchell

Aug 12, 2014  |  Today's News

Fuels America, a coalition of organizations committed to protecting America’s Renewable Fuel Standard and promoting the benefits of all types of renewable fuel already growing in America, has launched a new campaign in Washington, DC – “If American’s lose the Renewable Fuel Standard, who wins?”

Check out the accompanying blog post and make sure to share these stats with your friends and neighbors.  From the very realistic “Big Oil Execs,” to the very funny “The Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey,” we have to admit that Fuels America has a point.

And we hope that Washington, DC notices.

For months, the EPA has debated the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which sets the amount of affordable, cleaner-burning fuels used in America’s fuel supply. Now — thanks to pressure from oil companies and their allies — they’re on the verge of weakening the RFS. That would harm American farmers, workers, and small business owners whose jobs depend on this homegrown industry.

Like high gas prices? How about cleaning up oil spills? Are you a Koch brother? If not, you’re one of the millions of Americans who benefits from cleaner air, lower gas prices, and more fuel choices as a result of the RFS. Since 2005, the RFS has opened up the market to new fuel sources, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

The stakes on this issue are high. That’s especially true for those who would benefit from weakening the Renewable Fuel Standard. And who are they? Well:

  1. Supertankers: Cutting production of U.S. renewables means more oil imports.
  2. Big Oil Execs: Ethanol is affordable. Less in your tank means more in big oil’s wallets.
  3. Asthma Inhaler Manufacturers: Biofuels improve air quality. Cutting the RFS equals dirtier fuel and dirtier air.
  4. The Air Conditioning Industry: Cutting renewable fuel = more CO2 = climate change. Time to upsize your AC unit.
  5. Persian Gulf Realtors: Less American fuel = pumping more dollars overseas.
  6. China and Brazil: Killing the RFS means advanced biofuel investments go overseas instead.
  7. The Dowager Countess (from Downton Abbey): Afraid of change? Killing the RFS kills investment in American innovation.
  8. Oil Spill Cleanup Crews: There were 6000 oil spills in 2012. That’s 16 a day.
  9. The Koch Brothers: Filling up on fossil fuels fills up their pockets.   
  10. Gondoliers: Climate change = more sunken cities.

The only way we can counter the millions that Big Oil is spending is by setting the record straight. Weakening the RFS will hurt our environment — and hurt our wallets.