Oil Company Front Group Distorts Truth in Michigan Radio Ads to Avoid Responsibility for Carbon Pollution: Facts Show Low-Carbon Fuel Policy Would Create Jobs in State's Auto and Agricultural Sectors

An oil company-­funded ad campaign in Michigan and other Midwest states is distorting the truth in order to keep Michigan addicted to imported oil.  The ads are part of a $1 million dollar effort to strong‐arm Senators Levin & Stabenow, along with other supporters, into opposing a federal Low-­carbon Fuel Standard.  Michigan’s Senators rightfully claim that car companies aren’t the only industry that should be required to cut emissions.  They understand that low carbon fuels, such as advanced electric batteries and cellulosic ethanol, are good for Michigan’s economy.   

 In the ads, posted at SecureOurFuels.com, the group claims that gas prices would increase and jobs would disappear.  Independent analyses find just the opposite: Michigan’s economy would benefit from a Low-­Carbon Fuel policy.  In January, researchers from Michigan State University found that implementing an LCFS in Michigan could create up to 11,000 jobs and add more than $3 billion to the state’s economic activity.  Most of those savings would come from replacing imported petroleum with energy sources produced here in the state.   

 “The oil industry is trying to keep us addicted to oil and keep our state’s economy down by denying the opportunity to grow jobs in the electric vehicle and advanced biofuels sectors,” stated Charles Griffith, Clean Vehicles and Fuels Director at the Ecology Center.  “A low-­carbon fuel standard is a great way to spur innovation in the development of new transportation fuels and technologies that also help reduce our carbon footprint.”   

“Michiganders are sick of mistruths and factual errors from the oil industry,” stated State Rep. Lee Gonzales, sponsor of state legislation to enact an LCFS.  “Independent analysis clearly shows that developing low-­carbon fuels would be good for the state’s economy.”   

The advocates point out recent commitments by 16 different companies to invest $5.7 billion to manufacture electric batteries in Michigan for the next generation of automobiles, such as GM’s upcoming Chevy Volt.  Those efforts are expected to result in more than 30,000 new jobs over the next ten years.   
     
“We applaud the efforts of our elected officials to help our state become leaders in the use of the alternative fuels that will go into the cars soon rolling off Michigan’s assembly lines,” said James Clift, Policy Director of the Michigan Environmental Council.  “Our leaders need to keep rejecting the false claims and 19th century logic of the oil industry.”   

For More Information, go to: http://www.ecocenter.org/cleancar/cleanenergy.php   

The Ecology Center (EC) is a membership-­based, nonprofit environmental organization based in Ann  Arbor, Michigan.  Founded by community activists after the country's first Earth Day in 1970, the Ecology Center is now a regional leader that works for a safe and healthy environment where people live, work, and play.