NY Times probes ties of Obama advisers to ethanol industry

The New York Times probed the connections between Senator Barack Obama and the ethanol industry in an article that concludes: “Mr. Obama is running as a reformer who is seeking to reduce the influence of special interests. But like any other politician, he has powerful constituencies that help shape his views. And when it comes to domestic ethanol, almost all of which is made from corn, he also has advisers and prominent supporters with close ties to the industry at a time when energy policy is a point of sharp contrast between the parties and their presidential candidates.”

Obama background

On a campaign stop, Barack Obama told KPC News,  “Oil companies have not invested in the refinery capacity expansion that we need, given all the profit that they are sitting on…It is important to recognize that we aren’t going to be able to simply increase supply. We have to decrease demand. That’s why I place such a heavy emphasis on increasing fuel efficiency standards in cars. If you increased fuel efficiency in cars to 40 mpg we would save the equivalent of all the oil we import from the Persian Gulf….Long term we have to invest in research on biodiesel, biomass and new forms of ethanol as well as pursuing the possibility of cars that are plug-in hybrids that could get 100 to 150 miles per gallon.

In Indiana in March, Sen. Barack Obama said in a campaign stop in Terre Haute that “Corn-based ethanol is not optimal. I’ve been a big supporter of corn-based ethanol. I come from a corn state — Illinois — and it’s a good transitional technology, but the truth is, it is not as efficient as what the Brazilians are doing with sugar cane.”

In later campaigning in Pennsylvania, he called for more research, development and production of biodiesel, wind, solar and clean coal.

Newsday had contrasted the biofuels policies of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. Obama has been a consistent supporter of corn ethanol subsidies and mandates, while the paper said that she opposed the measures because of the potential impact on New York fuel prices until two plants opened in New York in 2006. Obama had supported the 2005 Bush energy bill, but Clinton had opposed it on the grounds of $14 billion in oil and coal industry subsidies.

McCain vs Obama comparison

A comparison of the Obama and McCain approach to renewable energy was published in the Wall Street Journal. Among highlights: McCain support for renewable energy investment, but record of limited support for mandates and incentives; McCain opposition to the Brazilian ethanol tariff; Obama’s $150 billion investment plan in alternative fuels; Obama support for a 25 percent mandate for alternative energy from electricity by 2025; McCain’s support of incentives for nuclear energy. Obama supports an 80 percent emissions reduction by 2050, while McCain targets 60 percent (based on 1990 levels).

The Miami Herald published a comparison of the climate change policies of the key remaining US Presidential candidates.

Emission caps: Obama, McCain

Higher fuel efficiency standards: Obama

Pro nuclear power: McCain

Mandates and inentives for ethanol: Obama

Hybrid car development: McCain, Obama

Ethanol tariff repeal: McCain

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