By James Q. Lynch, the Gazette.

Gov. Terry Branstad has joined promoters of Iowa’s multibillion dollar renewable fuel industry to launch a campaign to educate potential 2016 presidential candidates on the benefits of the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The bipartisan effort, led by former Democratic Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and former Republican Rep. Annette Sweeney, will be a multimillion dollar effort to target candidates and caucusgoers alike.

“Americans of both parties know that a robust RFS creates jobs in America, reduces our dependency on foreign oil and offers more consumer choice,” Branstad said at a Statehouse news conference Thursday. Industry groups said renewable fuels accounted for about $5.6 billion in economic activity or about 4 percent of the state GDP.