An economic crunch has taken Americans by storm and now the ethanol industry and agriculture in Iowa are taking another hit as the Indy Racing League announced a partnership to pipe foreign-made ethanol right into the heartland.
We need you to stand up! The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board have sponsored the Iowa Corn Indy 250 for the past 2 years as an event to celebrate the league running on 100% corn ethanol. To Iowa Corn’s disappointment the IRL recently announced a sponsorship agreement with APEX-Brasil to promote foreign ethanol.We urge Iowans to express their frustration at the IRL’s support of foreign fuel and ask for the IRL’s support of American made corn ethanol.
WHO: All Iowans who support American-made corn-ethanol,
WHAT: Call the Indy Racing League at 317.492.6526 or go to the website at www.indycar.com/contact to e-mail
MESSAGE: I support American corn ethanol and I am disappointed in the IRL decision to promote foreign fuel. I am calling to ask you to promote American-made corn ethanol because homegrown fuels matter to me and our economy.
NOTE: Please do not call the Iowa Speedway because it is an Indy Racing League decision.
The IRL has committed to Iowa Corn leaders that the Iowa Corn Indy 250, presented by Pioneer, will be running on 100% American-made corn ethanol.
Background
The IRL announced recently a partnership agreement with APEX-Brasil to promote Brazilian ethanol through the Indy Racing League.
On November 18, the Iowa Speedway issued a statement assuring race fans that the Speedway’s "2009 Iowa race will be burning 100% corn-based domestically produced ethanol." Terry Angstadt, president of IRL’s commercial division, confirmed the same information.
On Wednesday, November 26, Iowa Corn issued a call to action via e-mail and on the radio for all Iowans to call and tell the IRL that we support American-made corn ethanol, NOT foreign fuel.
In 2006, the IRL started racing on 100% corn ethanol. EPIC (Ethanol Promotion & Information Council) was the fuel sponsor for the 2006 to 2008 racing seasons. In 2007, Iowa Corn became the sponsor of the Iowa Corn Indy 250 when the IRL came to race at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa. Iowa Corn is the title sponsor for the 3rd year for the 2009 Iowa Corn Indy 250 that will be held on June 21, 2009.
Iowa Corn Response
The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board were both surprised and disappointed in the Indy Racing League sponsorship announcement to import foreign ethanol.
Iowa Corn has an excellent working relationship with the Iowa Speedway in Newton and with presenting sponsor, Pioneer. The Iowa Corn Indy 250 has served as a great venue to capitalize on the 30 years of ethanol market development and promotion that Iowa Corn has done and to continue to expand on corn ethanol demand. The race has also been a strong membership event for the Iowa Corn Growers Association.
We encourage those who want to express their concern to contact the IRL directly at 317.492.6526 or e-mail them directly from their website at www.indycar.com/contact
Iowa Corn is working with other corn states like Indiana where the Indy Racing League plays an important role to tell the IRL that we support American-made corn ethanol not foreign fuel. It’s our understanding that UNICA (from Brazil) is initially looking to partner with a U.S.-based ethanol company to supply the IRL with corn-based ethanol for the 2009 season.Take Away Messages
An economic crunch has taken Americans by storm and now the ethanol industry and agriculture in Iowa are taking another hit as the Indy Racing League announced a partnership to pipe foreign-made ethanol right into the heartland.
I support American-made corn ethanol and I am disappointed in the the IRL’s decision to promote foreign fuel. It is crucial to promote American-made corn ethanol because homegrown fuels matter to me and our economy.
American-made ethanol is essential to our U.S. economy, environment and energy independence. Promotion of home-grown fuels is vital to America.
What's this mean for the sponsorship going forward?
Iowa Corn entered the sponsorship agreement to promote Iowa’s corn ethanol industry, to educate consumers and build market demand for our corn-based product. Like the 2007 and 2008 races, the 2009 Iowa Corn Indy 250 will be run on corn-based ethanol. Moving forward, Iowa Corn will have the same intent – to build market demand and awareness for corn-based products such as ethanol.
The Iowa Corn Indy 250 began in 2007. It has set record attendance records as an event at the Iowa Speedway and ranks 2nd in its short time for television viewership - second only to the long-standing Indianapolis 500. The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board with presenting sponsor, Pioneer, sponsor the race because the Indy Car Series showcases the power and performance of 100% fuel grade ethanol.Iowa Ethanol Facts
Iowa’s ethanol industry can produce more than 2.6 billion gallons annually, using over 962 mbu of corn (almost 30% of the 2007 Iowa crop).
Ethanol Facts
In 2007, Iowa produced a record 2 billion gallons using 740 mbu, a production increase of 36% over 2005.
Iowans bought over 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol blends last year (1,216,034,082 gal. in 2007, of which 1,212,613,525 gallons were E10 and 3,420,557 gallons were E85). Ethanol’s market share now = 78% of Iowa fuel.
The ethanol industry creates American jobs. In the US, over 238,000 jobs are created thanks to
the American-made ethanol industry, Over 47,000 Iowa jobs are created thanks to the ethanol industry to keep our state’s economy strong.