(September 14, 2010) Washington - Commenting on today’s OPEC Anniversary, Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen issued this statement:

"The world oil cartel, known as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded 50 years ago today. While there may be cause for celebration in the capitals of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela and other member countries, here in the U.S. it is time to thank America’s renewable fuels industry for staunching the flow of OPEC oil. OPEC’s hostility to America’s ethanol industry is clear. Ethanol displaces OPEC oil. In 2008, the International Energy Agency stated, “biofuels have become a substantial part of faltering non-OPEC supply growth, contributing around 50% of incremental supply in the 2008-2013 period.” This is precisely why OPEC Secretary General Abdalla El Badri issued a stern warning to western countries against developing biofuels. Biofuels threaten OPEC’s oil dominance. Without the growing production and use of biofuels in the U.S. and around the world, IEA calculates that more than one million barrels per day of new oil production would be required. Thanks to forward thinking U.S. policy promoting the production and use of biofuels, the U.S. can celebrate 50 years of OPEC not by cutting cake, but cutting even more oil imports."