(April 8, 2011) Washington – Today U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a financial assistance initiative for gas stations who install E85 pumps. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) is moving to meet a goal set by President Obama: 10,000 new blender pumps in five years.

Bob Dinneen, RFA’s President and CEO, commented on today’s announcement, “Today’s announcement will go a long way toward providing American drivers across the nation with more choice at the pump. Ethanol, whether E10 or mid-levels blends and E85 for flex-fuel vehicles, helps lower the cost of a gallon of gasoline, reduces this nation’s dependence upon foreign oil, and supports American jobs with an American-made product. The goals of installing blender pumps from coast-to-coast teamed up with incentives to invest and innovate the next generation of advanced ethanol send a powerful signal as to how strong President Obama’s, Secretary Vilsack’s and the American ethanol industry’s commitment is to reducing by one-third this nation’s dependency upon foreign oil by 2025. Ethanol producers stand ready to work with Congress, auto manufacturers, gas station owners, and consumers to build a stronger, cleaner, more self-reliant energy future.”