The American Coalition for Ethanol and more than 50 of its grassroots members are on Capitol Hill March 13-14 for the group’s “Biofuels Beltway March” annual fly-in.

The ethanol advocates will have more than 120 meetings with Members of Congress or their staff in the course of two days, bringing ethanol information to lawmakers representing 40 states. The group’s priorities include highlighting the effectiveness of the renewable fuel standard (RFS), the safety and affordability of E15 ethanol blends, emphasizing how ethanol helps lower prices at the pump, and other issues such as how oil subsidies create an un-level playing field and the clean octane value of ethanol.

“With a number of new lawmakers serving in Congress, and anti-ethanol forces taking aim at the RFS, this is a perfect time to bring our grassroots members to Capitol Hill to share ethanol’s success story first hand with lawmakers and demonstrate how effective the RFS has been for our nation,” said Brian Jennings, executive vice president of ACE.

ACE members will not just be meeting with Congress though; fly-in participants will also meet with EPA officials and take part in a press conference involving Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, to highlight how 100 years of oil subsidies creates distinct advantages for oil companies over ethanol in the market. You can read more about that event here.

“Corn ethanol tax incentives ended in 2011 but Big Oil has benefitted from certain subsidies for 100 years now. We look forward to working with Senator Grassley and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association to draw attention to Big Oil’s ‘Century of Subsidies,’” said Jennings. “If after 100 years oil companies cannot stand on their own, Congress shouldn’t hurt consumers by repealing the RFS and enacting legislation to deny them access to E15, a tested and affordable fuel choice.”

Fly-in participants come from various walks of life and 9 different states, representing the breadth and depth of support for ethanol across the country.

For members who are not able to be a part of the D.C. fly-in, ACE has for the third year organized a “Virtual Fly-In,” which makes it possible for ethanol supporters to send email messages to Members of Congress to coincide with the group’s face-to-face meetings.  The messages urge Congress to continue to keep the Renewable Fuel Standard intact. Messages may be sent this week through ACE’s Legislative Action Center at www.capwiz.com/ethanol.