In response to the major ad campaign funded by Big Oil in an effort to block higher blends of ethanol into the marketplace (such as E15), ethanol advocacy group Growth Energy has launched an advertising campaign called “You’re no Dummy“. The goal of the campaign is to help Americans better understand that the oil industry is trying to stop the growth of renewable fuels for the purpose of protecting their bottom line.
“For too long we’ve had all our energy eggs in one basket,” said Growth Energy Board of Directors co-chairman General Wesley K. Clark (Ret.) who explained he saw it coming back when he was a Captain working at the Pentagon in the summer of 1973. “Renewable fuels are critical to national security.” He noted that the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is vital to national security and “we can’t let go of the Renewable Fuel Standard.”
“The campaign we have launched today is designed to do one thing – show consumers that the oil industry has attempted to deceive them over and over again and it’s time they stop being treated like puppets by the oil industry,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy during a media call. “It is time consumers are allowed a choice when they fill up at the pump – a choice that allows them to not only save their own hard-earned money, but also spend their money on an American product that creates American jobs, promotes energy independence and improves our environment.”
“We understand we’re the little guy. We know we’re the underdog. It’s David versus Goliath,” continued Buis. “But the biofuels industry will no longer tolerate misleading information and nor should the American public. While Big Oil may be one of the largest and well-funded industries on the planet – they are not entitled to use their influence to control Congress to maintain unbridled control over the transportation fuels marketplace.”
Buis said that consumers need to know they are being deceived by Big Oil and they are preventing them from having the ability to make a choice at the pump. “Our message is simple – You’re no dummy. Don’t let the oil industry treat you like one,” Buis concluded.
As part of the “You’re no Dummy” campaign, ads will air nationally on major cable news networks such as FOX, CNN, MSNBC and RFD-TV, as well as several local markets. The multi-media campaign also includes print, radio and social media.
Listen to the “You’re no Dummy” press conference here: Growth Launches You're No Dummy Campaign