Biofuels Digest News Analysis: recap of US Presidential candidate positions on biofuels

In Washington, USA Today ran a recap on Presidential candidate positions on biofuels.

Among Republicans, Mike Huckabee has pledged to make the United States energy-independent in just 10 years and backs the 36 billion gallon ethanol mandate. Mitt Romney supports the continuation of tax subsidies but not the mandate, while supporting increased development of infrastructure and cellulosic ethanol research. Rudy Giuliani said the United States should “get ahead” of Brazil on ethanol but otherwise has not issued major policy statements. Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson don’t support biofuel mandates. McCain support repeal of the ethanol tariff and hybrid vehicle development.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Barack Obama of Illinois, Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut voted for the Senate energy bill. Clin to also supports $2 billion in additional biofuel development, while Obama proposes a $150 billion fund to finance new plant construction, and would require all new cars to be flex-fuel. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards would require oil companies to sell E85. Bill Richardson, the New Mexico governor and former U.S. energy secretary, plans to accelerate development of cellulosic ethanol.

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