'Any lowering of the targets set by Congress in the Renewable Fuel Standard will only scare investors at a time when it's crucial that companies continue investing in clean energy technology, O'Malley said.

"We should keep these standards always moving up," he said. "When you do things like reversing or lowering standards, it sends tremors through the marketplace and sends word to investors that this is an unstable future."'

I don't think that means what you think it does.

Addendum just disappointed... I haven't seen what Hillary and Bernie's views are.

I just recalled the drought and the calls for waivers

I just looked it up:


SANDERS STATEMENT ON ETHANOL VOTE
PRESS RELEASE JUN. 16 2011, 9:27 PM LEAVE A COMMENT
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For Immediate Release
June 16, 2011

Contact:
Michael Briggs
(202) 224-5141

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Senate voted to end taxpayer subsidies for the ethanol industry:

“I voted today to end the ethanol subsidy which would save taxpayers $3 billion for the remainder of this year. Subsidizing the ethanol industry not only is a great expenditure of taxpayer dollars, but it also has a negative impact on farmers and consumers in Vermont and around the world in terms of higher feed prices and higher prices for food.”
http://vtdigger.org/2011/06/16/sanders-statement-on-ethanol-vote/

That's goina be a little harder to dance around!

There are worse alternatives. Ethanol's currently not the wave of the future. Perhaps if cellulosic conversion works out it'll be better, but right not it's a sucky fuel supply. The only reason to not dislike it is because there's something that's more dislikeable. For some that's petroleum.

The point's been made that ethanol is not carbon neutral, so it really boils down to liking Big Corn or Big Oil.

...whatever his stance, you or someone else will come up with the brilliant retort that he's 'brown nosing' someone.

from 2008:

MARYLAND – Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has announced plans to build ethanol pump stations around Maryland so the state’s 1,200 flex-fuel vehicles can more easily fill up with the renewable fuel, according to www.baltimoresun.com.

The state has never been able to meet a goal set more than seven years ago under Gov. Parris N. Glendening’s administration that flex-fuel vehicles in the state’s fleet use alternative fuels half the time on average. State auditors have criticized the Maryland Energy Administration several times for falling short of that goal and making no formal timetable to meet it.

The main problem has been a lack of infrastructure. When O’Malley took office last year, the state had one ethanol pump as part of its network of refueling stations for government vehicles. Two more ethanol pumps have been added in recent months, and the governor said four more will be built in the next year. The pumps will supply E-85 fuel.

Recently, the governor announced that the state transit administration would add as many as 500 hybrid-electric buses to its fleet by 2014.

In addition to ethanol pumps in Annapolis, Baltimore, and Hanover, the state plans to place the pumps — each of which costs more than $100,000 — in Easton, Hagerstown, La Plata, and Salisbury. The state adds about 200 flex-fuel vehicles to its fleet of 9,000 light-duty vehicles annually and has negotiated bulk prices of about $2.92 for a gallon of E-85, compared with $3.14 for a gallon of regular gas.

The EPA-enforced Renewable Fuel Standard requires about 15 billion gallons of ethanol, most of which is derived from corn, to be blended into gasoline this year. About 40% of the U.S. corn crop will go into ethanol production this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said.

EPA officials weren't immediately available for comment.

The governors' petitions follow recent, similar requests by representatives of livestock producers and federal lawmakers, who asked the EPA to reduce the amount of ethanol required to be produced.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Delaware Governor Jack Markell sent a joint letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson last week in support of the livestock groups.

"Given the likely impacts to the poultry industry, not to mention the increased cost of food for consumers, of this dramatic increase in price due to the undersupply of corn, it is hard to imagine any scenario when exercising your authority would be more appropriate," Mr. O'Malley and Mr. Markell said in their letter, which was dated Aug. 9.

'The Obama administration is reviewing the country’s ethanol policy amid calls from both political parties and the United Nations to suspend annual targets as the worst drought in 56 years spurs corn prices.'

And fuck Archer Daniels Midland and their ilk.