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Increasing the fuel economy of our nation’s vehicles is vital to addressing rising gas prices and the health and environmental risks of unchecked global warming. But for transportation to truly become a climate solution, we must also reduce the heat-trapping emissions created by the fuels our vehicles burn.

Unfortunately, this desire for cleaner alternatives to gasoline has led to serious misrepresentations around today’s ethanol—a biofuel derived primarily from corn in the United States. If pursued wisely, biofuels such as ethanol have the potential to play a pivotal role in a clean transportation future. But when issues such as fertilizer use, energy for processing, and land use are taken into account, gallon for gallon, current production methods for corn ethanol could actually create more global warming pollution than today’s gasoline.

Despite these facts, today’s corn ethanol is still being marketed by many producers and automakers as an environmental solution.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) created Green Guides in 1992 to protect consumers from misrepresentations in environmental advertising, but the guide doesn’t currently cover fuel advertising. For the first time in a decade, the FTC is reviewing these guides. Please urge FTC Chairman William Kovacic to take this opportunity to address the issue of misrepresentations in today’s ethanol advertising.

Please personalize your letter, as your voice will make this action more effective. If you have seen unsubstantiated green marketing of ethanol or ethanol-powered vehicles in your area, include them in your letter!