US voters head for polls; ethanol in the balance; polling locations

US voters head to the polls today in the US Presidential election, in which biofuel policy has marked a major differentiating point between the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. Brooke Coleman, leader of the New Fuels Alliance, termed Obama’s position on biofuels “infinitely better” than the McCain policy, but most agricultural groups are supporting McCain and prominent biofuels CEOs such as POET’s Jeff Broin have declined the opportunity to endorse either candidate.

Greentech reports that Verenium VP John Howe said that “the specific policy proposals the Obama campaign has advanced would provide a very powerful stimulus to the growth of this industry,” and McCain’s ethanol subsidy opposition “runs contrary to a longstanding pattern of bipartisan support for biofuels development,” did not endorse a candidate. Sen. McCain joined an effort earlier this year to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The Digest encourages all voters to get out and support the candidate of their choice. Numerous critical congressional seats are up for grabs, and there are renewable energy provisions on the ballot in Florida among other states. Here is a link to finding your polling station.

The California and Oregon Farm Bureau Federations are supporting McCain, while the American Corn Growers Association has endorsed Obama. The National Corn Growers Association did not endorse a candidate, but CEO Rick Tolman said that Obama support was strong because of ethanol, but that there was strong support for both candidates among the NCGA membership

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