McCain, Senate Republicans Want EPA To Review Ethanol Mandates

CBS News/Politico ^ | May 5, 2008 | Daniel W. Reilly

[GulfBreeze]

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McCain, Senate Republicans Want EPA To Review Ethanol Mandates

May 5, 2008

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(The Politico) Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) joined 23 other Senate Republicans in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency asking the agency to consider waiving ethanol mandates.

Congressional debate over the use of ethanol has intensified in recent weeks, as rising food prices have caused some lawmakers to finger the increased growing of corn for fuel as a potential cause.

In the letter sent on Friday, Senate Republicans argue that the EPA has the power to waive or restructure an Energy Bill passed last December requiring a large increase in ethanol production by 2022.

"American families are feeling the strain of these food-to-fuel mandates in the grocery aisles and are growing concerned about the emerging environmental concerns of growing corn-based ethanol," the letter stated.

"It is essential for the EPA respond quickly to the consequences of these mandates."

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires fuel companies to blend 15 billion gallons of ethanol into the fuel supply by 2015, however the law gives the EPA the authority to waive portions of the law at its discretion.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, called the ethanol mandates "a policy blunder" and demanded "dramatic and necessary actions" to change the law.

Senate Democrats acknowledged the need for a conversation about the effects of ethanol on food prices, but cautioned against drastic changes.

"The volume on the food vs. fuel debate is getting louder by the day," said Bill Wicker, a spokesman for Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

"This is a complicated matter, with many moving parts, and we think it's best for folks to catch their breath and get better educated on the complexities before charging ahead with changes."

Copyright 2008 POLITICO

[Damocles]

Repeal ALL the ridiculous mandates and let the market function...

[Cicero]

Senate Democrats acknowledged the need for a conversation about the effects of ethanol on food prices, but cautioned against drastic changes.

Translation: "We've bought the farm state vote and we're not about to give it back."

[Uncledave]

Good.

[muleskinner]

A very good move by McCain.

[ChinaThreat]

“This is a complicated matter, with many moving parts, and we think it’s best for folks to catch their breath and get better educated on the complexities before charging ahead with changes.”
This quote struck me....almost to the floor.

The problem is, the environuts should have taken this advice to theirselves long before now. This is why we are in such a mess and its getting worse.

[doodad]

If for no other reason than my car runs like poo on the crap.

[truthguy]

No food stock based ethanol. If ethanol can work with cellulosic okay-go for it . Let market decide if cellulosic can work, no long term subsidies!

My opinion is that synthetics are the way to go but let market decide.

[Ann Archy]

CALL A DAMN PRESS CONFERENCE like the DEMOCRATS DO!!!

[Ann Archy]

And start blaming the Democrat Congress for this mess!

[griswold3]

Let me get this straight.
DC regulated, mandated etc and created this mess and now they have to regroup and come up with a solution to the mess they’ve created?

Wouldn’t we be alot better off without them?
There is so little left of free market enterprise.

[NEPA]

Gas mileage absolutely sucks with ethanol blended fuel. Gas is expensive enough, by using the 10% ethanol you're just throwing away money.

Fortunately I live in an area where we have a choice. I choose not to use ethanol.

[SERKIT]

My Energy Manifesto:

* Cease all ethanol production. It requires more energy to make than it yields and the unintended consequence is higher food costs. Corn production shifted from feed-corn to subsidized corn for ethanol. Just say "no" to ethanol!

* Immediately create only ONE "blend" of gasoline and cease regional blends which are stupid, costly, and meaningless. Even if this is the "cleanest" blend, just make it ONE and be done with it. Trucking custom blends around the country is wasteful.

* Drill for oil in Alaska, Gulf of Mexico, and other sites in the CONUS as a matter of national security.

* Construct state-of-the-art refineries and/or retrofit current and dormant ones and crank up production.

* Make all “carbon credit” scams unlawful.

* Construct SEVERAL, regional Pebble-Bed Reactors (or other similar designs) that are not considered "breeders", are rechargeable, and cleaner than any current nuclear generator design.

* Use the residual heat from the reactor above to process motor fuel from coal and/or shale. Even though Clinton "stole" some of the best coal reserves, we still have a lot to use.

* Become independent enough to make the cartels (i.e. OPEC) inconsequential.

* Convince local taxing bodies to lift or cap the sales tax on gasoline so that as gas prices go up, the local tax collectors don’t see a windfall revenue jump at the expense of the consumer. The Federal government could compel the states (and locals) to cap the fuel taxes.

[mmichaels1970]

The problem is, the environuts should have taken this advice to theirselves long before now. This is why we are in such a mess and its getting worse.

I believe the goal is communism. In my opinion, many of these "environuts" know exactly what they are doing. I'm sure many will not be satisfied until we are brought to our knees.

[Red Badger]

McCain, Senate Republicans Want EPA To Review Ethanol MADNESS!.......THERE, FIXED IT.......

[bobjam]

Only one kind of government insists we wash our trash (prior to recycling) and burn our food.

[kenmcg]

Just one man’s opinion; it is absolutely sinful to destroy food for fuel. Especially since we have so many fuels available for our own consumption. It’s hard to get excited about McCain when he says he’s against drilling in ANWR because “it’s so pristine.”

[Wally_Kalbacken]

No bailouts for stranded ethanol infrastructure investment!

[doodad]

Not just the mileage (which was already bad), but I really need a tune to the mix. I feel like I am leaving a ton of horsepower behind and judging from the carbon, running rich.

[GulfBreeze]

I think the radical environmentalists have something far worse and evil even than communism in there hearts.

I don't believe that they will be happy until the extinction or near extinction of mankind has been accomplished. Like the angel of light they preach their good deeds but their ultimate hatred and target of destruction always lies with God's most precious creation. Mankind.