Des Moines Register
11-06-07
McCain: Ethanol subsidy unneeded
Candidates discuss warming, foreign oil, biofuels research
By TONY LEYS
Register Staff Writer
Ames, Ia. - Presidential candidate John McCain told biofuel proponents here
Monday night that he opposes government subsidies on ethanol the same way
he opposes subsidies on other products, including oil.
The Arizona senator was the only Republican among four candidates who spoke
to a few hundred participants at a renewable-energy conference at Iowa State
University's Hilton Coliseum. He said he knows his position on ethanol might
not be popular in Iowa, adding that it's what he believes.
McCain said that he believes American farmers can compete with anyone in the
world and that they do not need the subsidies and regulations that come with big
federal programs. "I trust Americans. I trust the markets. And I oppose
subsidies," McCain said.
He said America needs to cut its dependence on foreign oil and its contributions
to global warming. He favors a plan in which power plants could get credits for
reducing pollution. They could sell those credits to others. That system would
provide big incentives for use of alternative energies, including ethanol and
nuclear power, he said.
Sen. Chris Dodd said the fight against global warming should provide
opportunities for Iowa. He favors a corporate carbon tax, which, he said, would
make it more costly to burn fossil fuels and encourage sales of biofuels. "We tax
cigarettes, why not tax carbon?" Dodd said. The $50 billion the tax would raise
could be invested in alternative energy resources, he added.
Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, said he is open to discussing the possible
increased role of nuclear power. He added that he understands the safety
concerns, but that he hopes they could be lessened with improved technology.
Delaware Sen. Joe Biden said America has only 2 percent of the world's oil
reserves, which is why it imports more than half the oil it uses. Even if drilling was
allowed everywhere in the United States, the Democrat said, the country could
not increase output enough to make a dent in the high prices.
America's dependence on foreign oil winds up supporting tyrants in oil-rich
nations, Biden said. "It ties our foreign policy in knots," he said.
Biden said he would require carmakers produce many more vehicles that use
biodiesel or 85 percent ethanol. Doing so would cost only $100 per vehicle, he
said. Biden said he also would require gas stations to carry 85 percent ethanol,
which few now do.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, said biofuels research is exciting but it
has to be balanced against other needs. "It's not always easy to do that," he said.
For instance, he said, using too much corn to make ethanol can drive up the cost
of food.
A fifth candidate, Democrat John Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina,
canceled his appearance, saying he had fallen behind on his schedule while
campaigning elsewhere in Iowa.
Reporter Tony Leys can be reached at (515) 284-8449 or tleys@dmreg.com