General Wesley Clark Named
as Growth Energy Co-Chairman

February 5, 2009 - General Wesley Clark Named as Growth Energy Co-Chairman Growth Energy named distinguished four-star retired General Wesley Clark as the organization's co-chairman today, February 5, 2009 at a press conference held in Washington, D.C. General Clark will share his vision for green-collar job creation in an energy independent America.

In his new role at Growth Energy, he will steer the organization towards meeting its goals of boosting our economy through the creation of green-collar jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding ethanol use in gasoline, and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. "Ethanol is America's best renewable fuel because it can help create green-collar jobs, boost our domestic economy, and improve our environment right now," General Clark said. "By expanding our use of ethanol today, we can make immediate progress in three vital areas: greater energy independence, a stronger American economy and a cleaner environment. High-tech and homegrown ethanol has created hundreds of thousands of jobs over the past five years, and we can create even more.

Nothing is more important in this time of economic turmoil than creating American jobs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help secure our energy independence. I am pleased to be leading Growth Energy as co-chairman." General Wesley Clark rose to the rank of four-star general after nearly 40 years of service in the U.S. Army. As NATO Supreme Allied Commander he led NATO forces to victory in Operation Allied Force, saving 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing without the loss of a single American soldier. His awards and honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. General Clark is one of the most highly decorated military leaders since General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

General Clark will lead Growth Energy as it works to increase American energy independence by expanding the use of environmentally-friendly ethanol and changing the regulatory cap that currently requires the use of 90 percent gasoline, much of which comes from foreign sources and unstable regions. In 2007, the ethanol industry created more than 200,000 new jobs, contributed $47.6 billion to the nation's GDP and generated $4.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every billion gallons of ethanol produced, 10,000 to 20,000 new jobs will be created.

Growth Energy Website Redesigned The new Growth Energy site is newly redesigned and includes all the information you need to stay informed. We look forward to sharing exciting news about our efforts to make ethanol an even cleaner and greener source of renewable energy. The site is easier to navigate and includes ways you can help spread the word through quick and easy activities like sending your local paper a letter to the editor and communicating your support for ethanol to your members of Congress. Click here to view the new Growth Energy site. Thanks, Growth Energy