ADOPT-A-DEALER - Green America

C o - o p A m e r i c a : C l i m a t e A c t i o n
ADOPT-A-DEALER
Changing the Face of Automakers One Dealer at a Time
WWW.CLIMATEACTION.ORG - WWW.COOPAMERICA.ORG
The Chevy Volt concept car is a unique plug-in
hybrid without a gasoline drive engine.
This Toyota Prius was converted by
CalCars.org to be a plug-in hybrid
electric vehicle that gets over 100 MPG.
THIS TOOLKIT CONTAINS:
1. Tell Your Dealers: Plug-in Hybrids Are Our Future
2. Why Adopt A Dealer?
3. Adopting Your Dealer
• Stage One: Getting Started
• Stage Two: Sustaining Pressure
Appendix A: Climate Action Talking Points
Appendix B: Dealer Survey
Appendix C: Sample Dealer Letter
Appendix D: Corn Ethanol Fact Sheet
Appendix E: Top Mega Dealers
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 1.

1. TELL YOUR DEALERS:
PLUG-IN HYBRIDS ARE OUR FUTURE
THANKS FOR JOINING THE ADOPT-A-DEALER PRO-
GRAM! This is an exciting time to launch a campaign to
slow global warming and break America’s oil addiction. This
packet will give you everything you need to contribute to
global change by working in your own community. By
“Adopting a Dealer,” you can help get America on the road
to energy security, a strong economy, a safe environment, improved
national security and long-term sustainability.
Co-op America, Global Exchange, Rainforest Action Network
and many others are working together to convince the
auto industry to dramatically improve fuel efficiency and
eliminate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. The single biggest
step towards breaking our oil addiction is for the automobile
industry to produce cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars.
The technology exists today to make cars that go much farther
on a gallon of gas, and it’s time for the automakers to
put those cars on the road.
The Adopt-a-Dealer program is a joint project that makes it
easy for anyone to be a part of the solution. Auto dealers are
an important link in the chain of oil addiction and global
warming for two key reasons. First, they have influence over
the auto executives in Detroit. Second, it’s in the dealers’ best
interest for the automakers to send them more fuel-efficient
vehicles, so they aren’t stuck with gas-guzzlers sitting unsold
on their lots.
Imagine if dealers could sell plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
(PHEVs) instead of Hummers! As compared to the 12-mpg
Hummer, today’s PHEVs can get more than 100 miles per
gallon. They can even drive as far as 40 miles without consuming
a single drop of gasoline. Instead of producing these
ultra fuel-efficient vehicles, the automakers are promoting
half measures and false solutions. They are avoiding increases
in fuel economy and instead producing more “flex-fuel” vehicles,
which are designed to run on gasoline or ethanol. Producing
a gallon of corn ethanol uses almost a gallon of fossil
fuel. Since the U.S. derives about 97 percent of its ethanol
from corn, flex-fuel vehicles that rely on ethanol are not a
viable option for emission-free vehicles. Check out our fact
sheet in Appendix D to learn more about corn ethanol.
OIL ADDICTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE ARE AMONG
THE GREATEST THREATS WE FACE IN THE 21ST
CENTURY. We have a strong history of American innovation
and the motivation to challenge the status quo. We can
work together to get auto dealers on board to speak up for
their and our best interests. We thank you for joining us in
an ambitious campaign to bring about an ecological U-turn
in the auto industry. Let’s get on the road to recovery!
12 MPG VS 100 MPG
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 2.

2. WHY ADOPT A DEALER?
DEALERS ARE THE KEY.
Dealerships exist as the retail face of automakers. Without
them, the automakers can’t sell their vehicles. The dealers help
the manufacturers track consumer interests. When dealers complain,
manufacturers listen. And who do the dealers listen to?
Us, their customers, of course!
The Adopt-a-Dealer program is an innovative way for anyone
and everyone to get involved in the movement to motivate
automakers to be a part of the solution instead of the problem.
Dealers are in a unique position to tell the manufacturers
that producing the most fuel-efficient cars possible is good for
America and good for business. So, let’s get to it and let dealers
and automakers know that consumers are clamoring for the
most efficient vehicles.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET
DEALERS WORKING WITH US.
Due to current uncertainty and upheavals in the U.S. auto industry,
dealers are seeing issues of oil independence and fuel
efficiency not just as moral issues, but as essential to their own
survival!
WHAT’S A MEGA DEALER?
While many auto dealerships have traditionally been familyowned,
there is a growing trend towards consolidation in the
industry. In fact, these mega dealers own dozens and sometimes
hundreds of dealerships across the country. Consequently automakers
listen very closely to them.
Since these mega dealers have multiple locations, people nationwide
can strategically organize around the same dealership
chain and work together to be very effective! We have
good research on these companies and can help you find a local
mega dealer.
The top mega dealers in the U.S. are Auto Nation (with 257
dealerships), Penske (with 178 dealerships), Group 1 (with
105 dealerships), Sonic Automotive (with 149 dealerships),
Lithia (with 104 dealerships), and Ashbury (87 dealerships).
See Appendix E for more dealer information. AutoNation is
already on board, so now it’s time to focus on Penske Automotive
Group (PAG), formerly called United Auto Group. They
are the world’s second largest dealership group, with 311 retail
franchises, primarily in the United States, Puerto Rico and the
United Kingdom. Penske’s crown jewel is Longo Toyota; located
in El Monte, California. Longo has held the title of largest
Toyota dealership in the United States since 1967.
If community members across the United States and Canada
start a dialogue with the manager of their local Penske dealership,
we can convince the company’s CEO to publicly support
dramatic and immediate improvements in fuel economy. The
key is to ask that the local manager communicate his or her
support for fuel economy back to the Penske corporate headquarters
in Bloomfield, Michigan. If enough local managers do
the same, we can convince the CEO to relay the same message
on to the major automakers in Detroit.
MEGA DEALERS HAVE POWER.
Now that we’ve won support from AutoNation, the biggest
corporate dealership group in the U.S., it’s time to focus our
energies on the other Mega Dealers.
All dealers are important, whether they are affiliated with a
mega dealer or locally owned and operated. Read on to find out
how to tailor your strategy to your community’s situation.
The U.S. auto industry is caught in a downward spiral of oil
addiction that is devastating the sector’s economic future. In
recent years, credit rating agencies, banks and the stock market
have all attributed Detroit’s poor economic performance
to its over-reliance on gas-guzzling cars,
trucks and SUVs. But, while American
consumers flock to more fuel-efficient
brands in the face of sky-rocketing gas
prices, the car manufacturers are deflecting
the consequences of poor planning
onto their workforce and dealer network.
In fact, several automakers have
publicly stated that they plan to downsize
their dealer base. Many dealers are becoming
more vocal than ever about what the
industry needs to do to turn itself around.
We know it; analysts know it; and dealers
are starting to agree – the only “way forward”
is through innovation that prioritizes
increasing fuel economy.
THERE IS A HISTORY OF DEALERS SPEAKING UP AND HAVING A BIG IMPACT.
One brave dealer, Adam Lee, president of Lee Automalls in Maine—one of the state’s top dealers—has
boldly spoken out in favor of fuel efficiency in the auto industry:
“These cars that Detroit bets their future on, and my future, are not selling. [Automakers] need a notso-gentle
nudge in the right direction of producing cleaner cars. I am afraid that if they don’t pick up
the pace not only will global warming continue to get much worse, I will be stuck with a lot full of
cars that no one will buy; or even worse: This country will no longer have a domestic car industry.”
In May 2006, after months of grassroots organizing at dealerships, AutoNation (the largest corporate owner of dealerships
in the U.S.) became the first major car dealer to support the campaign and call on the automakers to make ultra fuel-efficient
PHEVs. CEO Mike Jackson called the PHEV “a vehicle that I believe the American consumer will not just consider,
but buy. We look forward to selling it.” Jackson continues to be a vocal advocate for fuel efficiency. This campaign victory
garnered significant national media attention, and stirred things up throughout the whole auto industry.
Adopt-a-Dealer can move even more dealers to support viable options to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse-gas
emissions. In the coming year, we will continue to focus on this strategy as a catalyst for change in the U.S. auto industry.
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 3.

3. ADOPTING YOUR DEALER
Here are the steps you can take to enlist
dealers in the effort to break our oil addiction.
GETTING STARTED
1First, locate the dealership in your area that you want to
adopt. Your first priority should be a mega dealer — but if
there is no mega dealer in your area, that’s OK — read on
to find out how to approach your locally owned dealership.
To find out if there is a Penske mega dealer in your neighborhood,
go to: www.penskeautomotive.com.
If Penske isn’t in your region, check out Sonic Automotive:
www.sonicautomotive.com or Group 1 www.group1dealers.
com listings for other mega dealer locations.
Can’t find any mega dealers near by? Then just check your local
phonebook for the largest locally owned dealership near you.
(Note: Since AutoNation has already signed on in support of
our campaign, there’s no need to adopt their dealerships.)
2Contact Co-op America at aad@coopamerica.org or
202-872-5302 and let us know which dealership you
have chosen to adopt. This is important because we want
to coordinate our efforts. We will connect you with other people
in your area who have identified the same dealership or, if their
effort is already well under way, suggest another dealership.
3Once you have selected a dealership, you should ORGA-
NIZE WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS who are interested
in joining you. Anyone can participate — your coworkers,
family members, friends and neighbors. Seek out local
student, environmental or peace groups that are already concerned
about the impacts of our oil addiction. While it is always helpful
to organize large numbers of people, a small group can
also have amazing persuasive power in this situation – even just
one person.
4After forming a core group of participants, SCHEDULE
A MEETING WITH THE MANAGER OR OWNER OF THE
DEALERSHIP YOU HAVE ADOPTED. Be careful not to
make the dealer feel like the meeting is going to be an attack.
This is simply a discussion between community members and
the dealer regarding what vehicles the community would prefer
to see available. You can use our survey (Appendix B) to facilitate
the first conversation.
5THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING SHOULD BE CARE-
FULLY PLANNED. You should start out the meeting with
the following:
• Introduction: Who you are & affiliation
• Why are you at the dealership? (Appendix A)
• Have dealer answer dealer survey questions (Appendix B)
• Review and share dealer letter (Appendix C)
• WRAP UP: “We hope you can join us in being a part of the
solution. If you support reducing greenhouse gas emissions
then consumers like me will come to you to purchase fuel
efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.”
The pitch should be clear and concise. Remember that the dealers
are not the enemy. You want to be firm in your demands
(see below), while always staying friendly in your demeanor. The
idea is to be hard on the issues, but soft on the people.
Also, keep in mind that dealers will treat you as if you represent
their next car sale. For that reason, place a lot of emphasis on
helping the dealer help themselves by having more fuel-efficient
vehicles on their lot.
We would like each manager of a mega dealership franchise to
agree to send a letter to corporate headquarters asking the company
to:
• Publicly support raising fuel efficiency standards to 40 miles
per gallon by 2012 and 55 miles per gallon by 2020.
• Set a goal for increasing the fuel economy of all the vehicles
that dealership sells, excluding gains attributed to “flex-fuel”
vehicles that can run on carbon-intensive ethanol.
• Make a public statement highlighting the need for the U.S.
auto industry to increase fuel economy immediately by producing
and selling hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Set targets for increasing the percentage of hybrid vehicles
sold and commit to selling plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles
when available.
• Join Plug-in Partners, a national grassroots campaign aimed
at demonstrating that there is a market for plug-in hybrid
vehicles. www.pluginpartners.org
• Accept “soft orders” for plug-in hybrid vehicles.
NO MEGA DEALER NEAR YOU? NO PROBLEM!
HERE’S HOW TO APPROACH A LOCALLY OWNED
AND OPERATED DEALER:
In these days of mega-dealers and consolidations, you have a
unique opportunity to position yourself as a friend and ally to
the local dealership. First, be sure to do some research. For example,
review their public materials, website or customer newsletter.
There is no better way to tell your story than by saying
encouraging things to the dealers. Be candid and confident in
asking for their support.
Ask the owner of your local dealership to do the same things
as we are requesting of the mega-dealers, and then add some
home-town flavor to it:
• Write an editorial in the local newspaper to publicly support
the viability of, the demand for, and the immediate need to
raise fuel efficiency standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2012
and 55 miles per gallon by 2020.
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 4.

• Send letters to their manufacturers asking them
to build more fuel-efficient vehicles and support
consumer demand for putting plug-in
hybrid vehicles on the road. (See Sample letter
in Appendix C).
6GIVE IT SOME TIME. Leave the dealer
with any information you think
might be helpful, for example on the
negative impacts of gas-guzzling vehicles. Offer
the dealer two weeks to make a decision.
Make clear that you expect a response and that
you will be back to hear their decision.
7IF THE DEALER DECIDES TO SUPPORT
THESE DEMANDS, YOU’VE SCORED A VICTO-
RY! Make sure to organize a thank-you effort to express
your appreciation for the dealer’s assistance. At the same time,
make sure that your victory gets recognition in the community
and the media. Send notice back to Co-op America where we
are compiling all the successes. (We also have suggestions for
further steps dealers can take to support these issues – contact
us at 1-800-58-GREEN or aad@coopamerica.org for further
info.)-
8IF THE DEALER DECIDES NOT TO SIGN THE LETTER,
FURTHER ACTION MAY BE IN ORDER. Although the
dealer is not actually working for the automakers, the
dealership is enabling America’s oil addiction by selling the company’s
vehicles. Sometimes you may simply choose to organize
at another local dealership, or you may choose to get creative
and find ways to escalate the pressure.
SUSTAINED PRESSURE
In some situations, dealers may already be familiar with these
issues and may be ready to sign the letter to automakers right
there on the spot. But sometimes it may take a bigger effort and
a sustained community campaign. This can be accomplished
in many ways, including repeatedly scheduling meetings with
the dealership, talking to sales agents on a regular basis, hosting
community meetings, flyering at the dealership, or holding
demonstrations and protests.
The idea is to keep the pressure on the dealer until he or she
decides to do the right thing. Every time you organize an event,
make sure a delegation of community mem bers goes inside the
dealership to keep the dialogue going. You
want to let the dealer know that the community
pressure will end as soon as the
dealer agrees to send the letter to the automakers.
HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO
CONTINUE WORKING WITH
YOUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP:
• Mobilize your community to make
regular visits to your local dealership
• Ask sales agents why they don’t carry
more fuel-efficient cars.
• Hand out flyers to customers, urging
them to tell the dealer that they want cleaner,
more fuel-efficient cars.
• Continually schedule meetings with the General Manager
or Sales Manager.
• Deliver a petition to the dealer demonstrating community
concern about the limitation of of their product line.
• Present the dealer with the list of other dealers who have already
joined the campaign, so they understand they wouldn’t
be alone in voicing their concern.
• Work with local organizations to sign letters to local dealers.
Think about school boards, city councils, health organizations,
student clubs, etc.
• Write letters to local newspapers, websites, and blogs expressing
concern about fuel efficiency.
• Organize an Oil Addicts Anonymous (OAA) meeting or
teach-in at your church, school, or community center about
sustainable transportation, climate change, the pros and cons
of alternative fuels and supporting solutions like plug-in hybrid
vehicles.
• Start a petition to get local dealers to join Plug-in Partners.
• Work on a local Transportation Challenge Campaign.
• Start an Oil Enforcement Agency (OEA) group and join the
theatrical arm of our campaign. The mission of OEA is to
enforce the President’s mandate to end our oil addiction by
working to bring “to justice” those organizations and individuals
involved in oil-addiction-fostering activities; and to
recommend and support programs aimed at reducing dependence
on oil and other fossil fuels. OEA is a great tool to use
for fun actions at dealerships. You can download a toolkit at
www.oilenforcementagency.org
Let us know about your progress – and don’t hesitate to
contact us with questions or ideas! We can provide you
with fact sheets, fl yers, handouts, and further ideas for action!
Visit the campaign at www.climateaction.org to get the
Transportation Challenge, Oil Addicts Anonymous, and Oil
Enforcement Agency materials. Call Co-op America at
1-800-58-GREEN anytime or email aad@coopamerica.org .
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 5.

APPENDIX A
MEGA DEALER TALKING POINTS
WHY DEALERS?
Dealers are in a unique position to tell manufacturers that
producing the most fuel-efficient cars possible is good for
America and good for business.
WE CAN DO BETTER
The technology already exists to make our cars go much
further on a gallon of gas, but automakers lack the will to
use it. A clean energy future will mean more jobs, a cleaner
environment, and improved national security because we
will no longer be at the whim of oil-exporting regimes.
THE TECHNOLOGY ALREADY EXISTS
A recent study by the Union of Concerned Scientists
showed that the technology already exists to raise fuel
economy to 40 miles per gallon. Automakers need to prioritize
fuel economy – not bigger, heavier, faster trucks.
AUTOMAKERS TALK GREEN
BUT DON’T ACT GREEN
Despite spending millions on marketing campaigns
painting themselves as “green”, automakers are making
less fuel-efficient cars now than they did a decade ago.
Greenhouse-gas emissions are growing, and automakers
are spending millions on lobbying against federal fuel-efficiency
increases and filing lawsuits preventing progress.
Real environmental leaders lead; they don’t deceive.
BY FAILING TO INNOVATE, AUTOMAKERS
ARE PLACING JOBS AT RISK
By failing to innovate, automakers are placing the livelihoods
of unionized American autoworkers at risk, as
foreign auto companies continue to drive technological
circles around American companies. A recent University
of Michigan study found that increases in fuel economy
would lead to a more secure economy and would safeguard
union jobs.
ARE YOUR DEMANDS FAIR?
With off-the-shelf technologies available today, we could
increase average fuel efficiency to 40 mpg. If we converted
the entire fleet of new vehicles to gasoline-electric hybrid
vehi cles, we could give consumers 60 mpg. Plug-in hybrid
electric vehicles can give us more than 100 miles per gallon
today. Not only are these demands fair and reasonable,
but they are the steps that must be taken to begin ending
our addiction to oil.
CORN ETHANOL IS NOT THE SOLUTION
Automakers like Ford and GM are exploiting a biofuels
loophole in fuel economy regulations to avoid reducing
gasoline consumption and tailpipe greenhouse-gas
(GHG) emissions. See Appendix D for a full explanation
of the problem with corn ethanol.
VOICES OF SUPPORT:
“Even the Big Three now acknowledge that high gas prices and their overdependence
on fuel-ineffi cient SUVs and pickup trucks have accelerated their fi nancial freefall. The
fi ndings of our report prove in sharp detail Detroit automakers’ long-term vulnerability to
volatile gas prices and show that improved fuel economy fl eetwide — above and beyond
current regulation — is the key not just to their survival but their success, even if the price
of gas goes down.”
– Walter McManus, Director of the Offi ce for the Study of Automotive Transportation,
University of Michigan
“More than half of Americans now say they would consider a gasoline-electric hybrid for
their next vehicle purchase.”
– J.D. Power and Associates’ 2006 Alternative Powertrain Study
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 6.

APPENDIX B
DEALER SURVEY
The Adopt-a-Dealer program is building consumer awareness
of their transportation options by being a part of the solution
to break our oil addiction and avert the global climate crisis.
With the fluctuation of high gas prices and over-consumption
of fossil fuels, automakers and dealers can become even more
competitive in the global marketplace by investing in existing
technology to build more fuel-efficient vehicles.
More than half of Americans now say they would consider a gasoline-electric
hybrid for their next vehicle purchase.
–J.D. Power and Associates’
2006 Alternative Powertrain Study.
Please complete the survey below to support us in our effort
towards solutions to oil consumption and climate change.
Thank You.
(Scale: low/less = 1 to high/more = 5)
1. Rate how the drop of U.S. car sales is affecting your
company profits.
° ° ° ° °
1 2 3 4 5
2. How significant is fuel economy to your customers?
° ° ° ° °
1 2 3 4 5
3. Please rate your awareness of issues of climate change.
° ° ° ° °
1 2 3 4 5
5. Please rate how important access to clean, fuel-efficient
vehicles is to the success of your business.
° ° ° ° °
1 2 3 4 5
6. Are you in favor of the state of California emission
standards? If you are not in California, do you think they
should be applied to your state?
° ° Yes No
7. Do you think the Big Three would compete better with
Toyota, Honda and others if they made more fuel -
efficient vehicles?
° °
Yes No
8. Do you think United Auto Workers would benefit from
automakers building more fuel-efficient cars?
° °
Yes No
9. If automakers made plug-in hybrid electric vehicles would
your dealership sell these vehicles?
° ° Yes No
10. Would you recommend to automakers to build more
fuel efficient vehicles? Why, or why not?
11. Are the cars your customers want to buy available to
you? What is the greatest purchasing trend?
12. Does your dealership purchase hybrid vehicles? Why, or
why not?
13. Do you consider your dealership a leader in fuel
efficiency?
Please share any additional comments or suggestions.
4. Please rate your relationship with the automakers.
° ° ° ° °
1 2 3 4 5
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 7.

{Date}
Contact: {YOUR NAME, GROUP NAME}
Dear {DEALER NAME},
We are here today as part of a global campaign to improve the fuel efficiency and curb the greenhouse gas
emissions of the auto industry. Please understand that our efforts are not aimed at you or your dealership, but
rather at the actions of the major U.S. automobile manufacturers.
With our troops in harm’s way and the climate crisis already affecting our lives, we’re calling on auto manufacturers
to demonstrate true leadership in increasing the fuel economy of our vehicles immediately. Fuel efficiency is not
just a moral issue; the long-term financial success of both your dealership and the U.S. auto industry as a whole
relies on the manufacturers’ ability to meet consumer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
The good news is that we have the technology and the dedication to break the oil addiction and stop driving the
planet toward climate chaos. Customers are clamoring to drive plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). We
have the solutions, but we urgently need the auto companies to implement them. Even without support from
the automakers or the government, PHEVs are already getting over 100 mpg. Imagine how efficient they could
be if mass-produced. And imagine how good you would feel about selling plug-in hybrids vehicles instead of
Hummers!
As a dealer, you have a powerful voice. The automakers need to know that the time for addressing global
warming through half measures like flex-fuel vehicles and concept cars has passed, and that you want to sell the
most viable technical solution to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and curb oil consumption. Please consider
joining with millions of concerned consumers, AutoNation (the largest dealership group in the country),
independent dealer Adam Lee of Maine, and many others to send the resounding message that the health of
our planet, the security of our country, and the vitality of the auto industry rest upon the decisions that the
auto industry makes now.
This is why we are asking you to send a letter to your CEO, {ADD NAME} asking {him or her} to: {see
appendix E, for CEO name}
• Publicly support raising fuel efficiency standards to 40 miles per gallon by 2012 and 55 miles per gallon by
2020.
• Set a goal for increasing the fuel economy of all the vehicles that your dealership group sells, excluding gains
provided by flex-fuel vehicles run on carbon-intensive ethanol.
• Make a public statement highlighting the need for action from the U.S. auto industry to immediately
increase fuel economy by producing and selling hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
• Set targets for increasing the percentage of hybrid vehicles sold and commit to selling plug-in hybrid and
electric vehicles when available.
• Join Plug-in Partners, a national grassroots campaign aimed at demonstrating that there is a market for plugin
hybrid vehicles. www.pluginpartners.org
• Accept soft orders for plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Thank you for your attention on this important matter.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
APPENDIX C
SAMPLE DEALER LETTER
This is a letter that you can deliver to the manager or owner when
you visit the dealership. Ask the dealer to send a similar letter
to their company CEO. You should consider taking the time to
personalize this message to your dealer.
Josh Russell, Rainforest Action
Network (RAN) with Ford dealer
who joined on the campaign.
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 8.

APPENDIX D
CORN ETHANOL:
Polluting Our Climate And Squeezing Our Farmers
GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT: Corn ethanol cannot cure our oil addiction.
Learn why it is not an option by debunking fi ve commonly held misconceptions.
been able to stabilize the price with subsidies. With Mexico’s
poorest receiving 40 percent of their nutrition from corn
tortillas, children and families alike are suffering from rising
corn prices due to an increase in ethanol production. 8
• Farmers and consumers in Guatemala have already been hit
by an increase in corn prices of 30 percent in the last year. 9
• With increasing corn prices, U.S. consumers may see rising
costs not only in corn, but in all products which depend on
corn as feed or include high-fructose corn syrup.
MISCONCEPTION 1:
CORN ETHANOL IS MORE ENERGY
EFFICIENT THAN GASOLINE
• Corn crops are treated with larger quantities of toxic
pesticides and fertilizers than any other U.S. food crop. 1
• The process of converting corn to ethanol consumes a
significant amount of energy and electricity. The plants used
in this conversion process are predominantly coal-powered,
which results in a large amount of harmful carbon emissions.
• When accounting for the energy needed to cultivate corn
and then ferment the starches into an alcoholic fuel, corn
ethanol requires almost a gallon of fossil fuel for every gallon
of ethanol.
MISCONCEPTION 2:
CORN ETHANOL IS A CLEAN SOLUTION TO
CLIMATE CHANGE
• When comparing CO 2
emissions,
corn ethanol results in only a 12 percent
reduction in life-cycle emissions over
gasoline, just 11 percent with E-85 2 (a
mixture made up of 85 percent ethanol
and 15 percent gasoline) and almost no
reduction if you factor in the carbon
emitted from coal-powered plants
during ethanol production. 3
• The large amount of chemicals
required to cultivate corn
results in a great deal of
nitrate run-off, which
pollutes water sources and
can cause birth defects and
other health problems.
MISCONCEPTION 3:
CORN ETHANOL CAN HELP THE U.S. FIGHT ITS
DEPENDENCY ON FOREIGN OIL
• Currently, ethanol production is equal to only about 1.5 percent
of U.S. oil imports. According to the United States Department
of Agriculture, energy provided from U.S. ethanol
will stagnate at around 3.7 percent of oil imports by 2017. 4
• Replacing the U.S.’s yearly use of 200 billion gallons of fuel
with corn ethanol would require 675 million acres. That
would require three-quarters of our current farmland to be
devoted solely to the cultivation of corn for ethanol. 3
• In all, reducing our oil dependency through corn ethanol
isn’t even remotely feasible because of the vast amounts of
farmland and resources it would require.
MISCONCEPTION 4:
CORN ETHANOL SUPPORTS SMALL FARMERS BY
INCREASING DEMAND FOR CORN
• In 2000, about 80 percent of ethanol plants were farmer
owned. As of 2006, only 20 percent of all current and future
ethanol plants are farmer owned, with large-scale agribusinesses
accounting for the majority. 6
• Therefore, the increasing U.S. corn prices will continue to
benefit large agribusinesses and actually hurt small farmers
who depend on corn for animal feed. For example, dairy
farmers have already experienced a 25 percent rise in feed
costs.
• Internationally, the U.S. accounts for 70 percent of the
world’s corn exports, and rising prices are on their way to
creating a global food crisis among countries that import
U.S. corn for food. 7
• In Mexico, the price of corn tortillas, a food staple, has
increased to three to four times their 2006 price. As a result
of trade policies including the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA), the Mexican government has not
MISCONCEPTION 5:
CORN ETHANOL IS THE BEST CHOICE WE
CURRENTLY HAVE
There are several other alternative energy choices that are vastly
more beneficial and efficient than corn ethanol:
• Cellulosic ethanol is a better ethanol choice as it is primarily
produced from industrial waste (like paper pulp) and plant
waste (like corn stalks). It takes far less energy to produce
than corn ethanol and results in an 87 percent carbon
emissions reduction over gasoline. 10
• Biodiesel made from any organic oil is biodegradable,
non-toxic and can be converted into fuel to reduce vehicle
emissions by 52 percent compared to gasoline. 11
• Gas-electric hybrids are around 20-35 percent more efficient
than gasoline cars and emit about 30 percent less CO2 ,
achieving up to 60 miles per gallon.
• Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that
are plugged into green energy sources are pollutant and
emission-free. Even when powered by dirty electricity
sources, they emit less greenhouse gas than a traditional car.
These vehicles have rechargeable batteries and have achieved
more than 100 miles per gallon. The gasoline engine in the
hybrid kicks in only once the battery is drained and therefore
reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 30-42 percent. 12
PHEVs are also more cost efficient, running on around 75
cents per gallon. 13 And it is possible now: the U.S. electrical
grid has the capacity to power the daily commutes of 73
percent of our light-duty passenger vehicles, and by charging
them at night, we could switch millions more trucks, vans,
and SUVs to PHEVs tomorrow without building a single
power plant. 14 Plug-in hybrids are our best transportation
option, and we want to see them on the road tomorrow!
Learn more about corn ethanol in the Co-op America Quarterly:
www.coopamerica.org/go/ethanol.
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 9.

1. Pollan, Michael. “When a Crop Becomes King.” The New York
Times. July 19, 2002.
2. Tilman, David; Hill , Jason; Nelson, Erik; Polasky, Stephen and
Tiffany, Douglas. “Environmental, economic, and energetic costs
and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels.” Proceedings of the
National Academy of Science 103 (30): 11206.
3. Farrell, Alexander; Plevin, Richard; Turner, Brian; Jones, Andrew;
O’Hare, Michael and Kammen1 Daniel. “Ethanol Can Contribute
to Energy and Environmental Goals.” Science. January 27, 2006:
506-508.
4. Collins, Keith. “U.S. Agriculture and the Emerging Bioeconomy.”
U.S.D.A. Presentation. Oct 2006.
5. Allen, Mike. “Crunching the Numbers on Alternative Fuels.” Popular
Mechanics. May 2006.
6. Steil, Mark. “New money changes ethanol industry.” Minnesota
Public Radio. February 9, 2006. Quoting David Morris, The Institute
for Local Self Reliance.
7. Brown, Lester. “Distillery Demand For Grain To Fuel Cars Vastly
Understated: World May Be Facing Highest Grain Prices in History.”
Earth Policy Institute Eco-Economy Updates. January 4,
2007.
8. Roid-Franzia, Manuel. “A Culinary and Cultural Staple in Crisis.”
The Washington Post. Jan 27, 2007: A1.
9. Rosenberrg, Mica. “High corn prices threaten Guatemalans with
hunger.” Reuters. May 2, 2007. Quoting Ian Cherret, United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization.
10. Wang , Michael. Argonne National Laboratory. http://www.transportation.anl.gov/pdfs/TA/345.pdf
11. Tilman, David; Hill , Jason; Nelson, Erik; Polasky, Stephen and
Tiffany, Douglas. “Environmental, economic, and energetic costs
and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels.” Proceedings of the
National Academy of Science 103 (30): 11206.
12. Wang, Michael. Argonne National Laboratory. http://www.transportation.anl.gov/pdfs/TA/345.pdf
13. Electric Power Research Institute. http://www.epri-reports.org/
PHEV-ExecSum-vol1.pdf
14. Kintner-Meyer, Michael; Schneider, Kevin and Pratt, Robert.
“Impacts Assessment of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles on Electric Utilities
and Regional U.S. Power Grids.” Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory. Dec 3, 2006 http://www.ferc.gov/about/com-mem/
wellinghoff/5-24-07-technical-analy-wellinghoff.pdf

APPENDIX E
TOP US MEGA DEALERS
“Changing the Face of Automakers One Dealer at a Time”
MEGA DEALER STATUS LOCATIONS HEADQUARTERS CONTACTS
257 dealerships in
AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL,
GA, ID, IL, MD, MN,
NV, NC, OH, TN, TX,
VA, WA
178 dealerships in
AR, AK, CA, CT, FL,
GA, IN, MI, MN, MS,
NV, NJ, NY, OH, OK,
RI, TN, TX, VA, PR
149 Franchises in
AL, CA, CO, FL, GA,
MD, MI, NV, NC, OH,
OK, SC, TN, TX, VA
105 dealerships in
AL, CA, FL, GA, LA,
MS, MA NH, NJ, NM,
NY, OK TX
110 SE 6th Street,
Fort Lauderdale, FL
33301
2555 Telegraph Rd,
Bloomfi eld Hills, MI
48302-0954
6415 Idlewild Road,
Suite 109,
Charlotte, NC 28212
950 Echo Lane
Suite 100
Houston, TX 77024
CEO: Mike Jackson
Ph: 954-769-6000
Fax: 954-779-3884
autonation.com
CEO: Roger Penske
Ph: 248-648-2500
Fax: 248-648-2525
penskeautomotive.com
CEO: O. Bruton Smith
Ph: 704-566-2400
Fax: 704-536-4665
sonicautomotive.com
CEO: Earl J. Hesterberg
Ph: (713) 647-5700
Fax: (713) 647-5858
group1auto.com
# UNITS SOLD
that we can ensure
to be more effi cient
NET
REVENUE
369,567 $11.2 billion
228,253 $7.6 billion
(based on merger
of United Auto
Group and Penske
Automtive)
160,387 $5.2 billion
129,198 $3.8 billion
104 dealerships in
AK, CA, CO, ID, IA, MT,
NE, NV, NM, ND, OR,
SD, TX, WA
360 E Jackson Street,
Medford, OR 97501
CEO: Sidney DeBoer
Ph: 541-776-6899
Fax: 541-774-7617
lithia.com
66,224 $1.8 billion
87 dealerships in
CA, TX, IL, MO, AK,
MS, GA, FL, SC, NC,
VA, NY
622 3rd Ave, 37th Floor,
New York, NY 10017
CEO: Charles Oglesby
Ph: 212-885-2500
Fax: 203-356-4450
asburyauto.com
104,066 $3.6 billion
(Based on Ward’s Auto, Megadealer top 100)
Co-op America’s Adopt-A-Dealer Packet 11.