The American Petroleum Institute unveiled a new "multi-faceted" advertising campaign designed to erode public support for the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires ethanol to be blended with gasoline.

According to API, the new campaign will include TV and online ads that show "how higher ethanol mandates can hurt consumers and threaten to reverse America's energy renaissance which has made the United States the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world."

"This mandate and the high ethanol blends it will bring can result in damaged engines and fuel systems potentially forcing drivers to pay for costly repairs, according to extensive testing by the auto and oil and natural gas industries," API Downstream Group Director Frank Macchiarola said. "This broken RFS mandate could also raise prices at the pump."

The Renewable Fuel Standard has long been a target for API and the oil industry in general. The regulation has stayed in place largely because of support from farmers, with corn being the primary crop used to manufacture most ethanol consumed in the U.S.

The campaign will target 11 states. Many of them are critical battleground states in the upcoming presidential election, including Ohio, Florida and Virginia. http://bit.ly/2biskKg

Groups that represent the ethanol industry, such as the Renewable Fuels Association, will likely oppose API's efforts, but as of Thursday morning no organization had issued statements reacting to the launch of the campaign.

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