Election Issues: Ethanol

You may hear both candidates talking about ethanol & alternative fuel. Here is the 411 on Ethanol:

Ethanol means renewable energy and a domestic source of automobile fuel, but in America it also means corn, at least for now. And that means ethanol is a devil’s bargain.

Corn requires so much fertilizer — much of it derived from natural gas — and pesticides, derived from chemicals — that corn-based ethanol is only marginally less polluting than oil. Even if every arable acre of land in the United States was planted with corn, it would produce only about 12% of the gasoline we burn today.

Cellulosic ethanol can be made from grasses, waste wood and other crops grown on marginal lands with little or no need for fertilizers and pesticide. Many still believe in the promise of homegrown fuel.

Obama:

While Obama often acknowledges that cellulosic ethanol is a more attractive alternative fuel than is corn-based ethanol, he has been criticized for taking his cues on ethanol and farm policy from the corn growers who have contributed to his campaigns as an Illinois Democrat.


McCain:

McCain has opposed subsidies for corn growers at times, and though he's waffled somewhat on the issue as a candidate, he has talked about opposing subsidies for corn growers. He strongly opposes the tariff on Brazilian ethanol, which protects domestic corn growers. In general, he supports the use of ethanol and the development of cellulosic ethanol, but doesn't lay out many specifics about the issue in his Lexington Project energy plan.