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January 23, 2015

Des Moines Register Ad Campaign Launched As Presidential Candidates Gather for Iowa Freedom Summit

Part of Multimillion Dollar Effort to Educate 2016 Presidential candidates and Iowa Caucus Goers about Benefits of the RFS to Iowa and the Nation

Des Moines, Iowa – Coming off a high profile launch with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad this week, America’s Renewable Future is launching an advertising takeover of the Des Moines Register website on Saturday – as Republican presidential hopefuls gather for Congressman Steve King’s Iowa Freedom Summit. 

The effort is just the first big splash of a multimillion dollar, multiplatform campaign to educate Presidential candidates and caucusgoers in both parties about the Renewable Fuel Standard.  The campaign will include a 99 county field organization, advertising, earned media, public opinion research, stakeholder engagement, digital and social media outreach.

“We want to send an unmistakable message to both parties about the remarkable, bipartisan success story of the Renewable Fuel Standard in creating jobs and making America more energy independent,” said Eric Branstad, Executive Director for America’s Renewable Future.  “Iowa’s renewable fuel production has more than doubled under the RFS, and now supports more jobs and families than ever before.  Candidates who support the RFS has always done well in Iowa, but it will be an even bigger issue in 2015 and 2016.” 

The Des Moines Register ad is available via Flickr at http://bit.ly/1JuN9cV. 

The ad -- headlined The Renewable Fuel Standard: Working for Iowa, Working for America -- focuses on the success of the RFS and of the growing importance of renewable fuels to the state’s economy as well as to America’s energy security.  The ad notes that the RFS supports 73,000 Iowa jobs, more than 50 ethanol biodiesel refineries across Iowa and has helped put foreign oil imports at a 20-year low. As a call to action, America’s Renewable Future is sending a message to candidates and caucus goers alike: “Don’t put Iowa out of business. Support the Renewable Fuel Stand… Take a stand.”

Headquartered in Des Moines, America’s Renewable Future is a bipartisan coalition of companies, organizations and individuals committed to the Renewable Fuel Standard, co-chaired by former State Representative Annette Sweeney (R) and former Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge (D) and Iowa renewable fuels industry leader Bill Couser.

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Background About Iowa and the Renewable Fuel Standard:

• The Renewable Fuel Standard is a success story for Iowa and the Nation, creating homegrown American jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.  It also gives consumers more choices at the pump – including cleaner, less expensive alternatives to regular gasoline.
• The last time there was a wide open race for the nomination in both parties was 2007, just as the RFS was beginning to take effect.  Since that time, Iowa has built 17 new biorefineries, doubled ethanol production, tripled biodiesel production, and launched commercial scale production of cellulosic ethanol with three brand new facilities.  During this period, Iowa farmers have enjoyed their most prosperous years in history. 
• From agriculture to manufacturing to trucking and ethanol infrastructure, more than 73,000 Iowa jobs depend on the renewable fuel industry, supporting $5 billion in wages to Iowa families.  There are now more than 50 ethanol or biodiesel refineries in Iowa – making it a broad based industry that benefits workers, families and communities in all 99 counties.
• Those impressive numbers tell us two things:

1. The bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard is working for Iowa and the nation.  It has ensured that renewable fuel producers have access to a market that is otherwise controlled by oil.  The policy has allowed us to replace 10 percent of our nation’s fuel supply with a clean, American-made source of energy. 
2. No candidate – in either party – can afford to ignore the benefits of the RFS for Iowa.  The renewable fuels industry has seen dramatic growth since 2007 and is going to be a bigger factor in Iowa than ever before.
   

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