Watchdog: Maine politician claims 0.5:1 energy return on ethanol, to win passage of anti-ethanol resolution

In Maine,  State Rep. Beth O’Connor (R-Berwick) won passage of a “Resolve, To Study Motor Fuel and Fuel Additives and To Explore Alternatives to Ethanol Motor Fuel” – in the Main State House on May 26 on a 92-56 vote, after an impassioned floor speech in which she claimed that it takes nearly twice as much energy to produce a gallon of ethanol than the ethanol itself yields.

O’Connor also said that ethanol can damage small engines, causes an inflationary impact on food prices, and plays a role in depressing vehicle gas mileage. The state legislature will send a joint resolution to President Obama, congressional leaders and members of Maine’s congressional delegation urging an exemption from federal ethanol requirements for certain grades of fuel.

The “Joint Resolution Memorializing Congress to Express Disapproval of Corn Ethanol as a Fuel Additive and to Urge the Allowance of Alternatives to Corn Ethanol as a Fuel Additive” was passed by unanimous consent in the State Senate following the state House vote.