The American Petroleum Institute (API) will be running additional advertisements criticizing biofuels and the ethanol industry is once again fighting back.

“Once again, API has decided to perpetuate misinformation to protect their bottom line. They will do anything to protect their record profits and market share, even at the expense of consumer savings and a cleaner environment,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.

“This recent series of ads are nothing more than fear mongering and misleading information. Time and again, the facts show that there is no substantial correlation between ethanol production and food prices,” continued Buis. “If Big Oil wants to point the finger at those who are driving up food prices, they should look no further than a mirror. In fact, a 2013 World Bank study has proven that crude oil prices are responsible for at least 50 percent of the increase in global food prices since 2004.”

Buis notes that marine and small engines are warrantied to use up to 10 percent ethanol and are not legally allowed to use E15 or other higher ethanol blends. He said the campaign has been designed to scare consumers, E15 is voluntary for use, and any suggestion that consumers are required to use E15 in small engines is completely misleading and false.

While the ads lay blame on the biofuels industry for additional environmental damage, Buis said that Big Oil a long history of ignoring environmental damage they are directly responsible for. “The sheer nerve to accuse biofuels of causing environmental harm on the 25th anniversary of the massive Exxon-Valdez spill, and the present-day oil slick off the coast of Texas, as well as another spill in Lake Michigan just yesterday, shows that Big Oil has a complete disconnect with reality and only cares about lining their pockets at the expense of the American consumer and our environment,” concluded Buis.