The three major ethanol producer groups are working together to combat negative publicity and keep ethanol moving forward.

Ethanol Promotion and Information Council Executive Director Toni Nuernberg says the three groups - EPIC, the Renewable Fuels Association, and the American Coalition for Ethanol - complement each other.

“All three of us have a roll to play in this industry,” Nuernberg says. “We are looking at all the initiatives under way by the different organizations, how we can work together, and make sure we’re not duplicating effort.”

EPIC’s main focus is to drive demand with consumers, while RFA’s role is to protect and promote policy in Washington DC, and ACE is the grassroots organization dedicated to expansion of ethanol production.

Because of the three different roles, Nuernberg says all three groups should be supported by the industry. “It’s all equally important and will benefit plants long-term,” she says.

EPIC has just started a major national advertising campaign, which also includes three syndicated radio programs - The Wall Street Journal, NPR Car Talk and Bill O’Reilly. Nuernberg says they are very pleased to have the support of O’Reilly in the effort.

Listen to an interview with Toni Nuernberg from the 2008 FEW here about the ethanol industry’s promotional efforts:

2008 Fuel Ethanol Workshop Photo Album

Even though gas prices are nearing $4 a gallon, ethanol is helping drivers across the country save an average of $156 per year.

That’s according to the Renewable Fuels Now (RFN) coalition and a recent Iowa State University study calculating ethanol’s impact on gasoline prices around the country. The study concluded that, by expanding the fuel supply, ethanol has made gas cheaper by 29 cents a gallon to as much as 40 cents a gallon.

RFN considered Federal Highway Administration figures on vehicle fuel efficiency and average miles driven per year to extrapolate average yearly savings thanks to ethanol in different regions of the country. They found that on the east and west coasts, where gas prices are especially high, drivers are saving an average of $142 a year on regular unleaded. In the Midwest, they are saving $241 a year.

Savings are lowest in the Rocky Mountain region, but motorists there still save as much as $104.52 per year, according to the study. On the Gulf Coast, the savings are over $150 per year.

According to a detailed breakdown by vehicle type and region, some drivers could save over $280 per year.

The first “official” action of the Renewable Fuels Now coalition was to determine where Americans stand on developing and using alternative energies. The coalition is a new umbrella organization of different associations that are working to provide accurate information about renewable fuels. Greg Krissek with ICM says opponents of alternative energies have swamped the public with misinformation about renewable fuels, particularly ethanol. But, Bob Dinneen, the president of a member organization the Renewable Fuels Association, says despite the barrage of misinformation, Americans are still strong supporters of alternative fueling options such as ethanol and biodiesel. He says the poll sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Now coalition affirms that 74 percent of Americans think the U.S. should be using more ethanol. Bob adds that 87 percent want the government to actively support the development of renewable fuels in the U.S. That’s why Greg says the next step for the new umbrella organization is to educate policy makers about the advantages of renewable fuels. He says the Renewable Fuels Now coalition wants to ensure policy makers have the correct information on alternative energies like ethanol and biodiesel as they debate the next Energy Bill and plan to expand the Renewable Fuels Standard developed in 2005.

This edition features comments from Renewable Fuels Now representatives RFA President Bob Dinneen and ICM’s Greg Krissek.

The “Fill up, Feel Good” podcast is available to download by subscription (see our sidebar link) or you can listen to it by clicking here (5:30 MP3 File):

The Fill Up, Feel Good theme music is “Tribute to Joe Satriani” by Alan Renkl, thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

“Fill up, Feel Good” is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen is pleased with new poll results that show Americans want renewable fuels and he’s excited about a new coalition that is working to make that happen.

Dinneen says the poll affirms what many in the industry have known for a long time “that Americans absolutely believe we need to be maximizing the use of domestically produced renewable fuels like ethanol.”

The poll commissioned by RFA found that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe we should increase our use of renewable fuels and even more (87%) think the government should support the industry’s development.

“Those are powerful numbers, particularly given the negative media attention and misinformation that has been out there about renewable fuels over the past several months,” said Dinneen. “Americans get it. Americans understand that we are in a crisis with respect to energy usage in this country and that we have to do more to promote domestic renewables like ethanol.”

To that end, the Renewable Fuels Association has joined with a number of other biofuels and agricultural organizations and companies to create the Renewable Fuels Now coalition.

“We really felt that we needed to get out there in a much more aggressive and public fashion in a coordinated way by pooling the resources of these various groups to make sure that we’re not conceding the field to those who misrepresent the facts,” said Dinneen. “We’re going to make sure that Americans, who do get it, continue to have access to the best, most timely and most accurate information about renewable fuels.”

Listen to my interview with Bob here:

A new coalition that supports increased use of domestically produced renewable fuels says nearly three out of four Americans want renewable fuels.

According to a new national poll released today by the Renewable Fuels Now Coalition, 74 percent of Americans believe we should increase our use of domestically produced renewable fuels like ethanol.

In addition, 87 percent of Americans maintain the federal government should actively support the development of a renewable fuels industry in this country, and 77 percent think Congress should encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their gasoline products.

Renewable Fuels Now is a coalition representing the ethanol, biodiesel, agriculture and other industries that support increased use of domestically produced renewable fuels as part of a balanced energy policy for America. The Coalition’s members include the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), 20/20 Vision, Wisconsin BioIndustry Alliance, Ethanol Producers and Consumers (EPAC), Kansas Association of Ethanol, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, IndyCar Series, Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association, Ohio Corn Growers Association, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, and Northwest Renewable Fuels Association.