Q. You used to be an outspoken critic of ethanol. Do you believe now that it should be part of America's energy future? McCain: “I do, because, one, of its role in reducing dependence on foreign oil. And also when oil is $10 a barrel, it doesn't make a lot of sense; when oil is $70 a barrel, it makes a lot more sense. I'm for all kinds of ethanol. I mean, corn-based is obviously the flavor of the month -- and I'm all for it -- but we also need sugarcane-based ethanol, such as what's coming out of Brazil, and we need switchgrass biofuels. There should be a broad variety of sources of ethanol besides just corn. And by the way, I still do not support subsidies for ethanol; it's doing just fine without them.” Q. Why do you support subsidies for nuclear power, but not for ethanol? McCain: “I don't support, particularly, subsidies. I think what I strongly support is a streamlined licensing process [for nuclear plants], an ability for the investors to be confident that they'll be able to have some secure future as far as the construction of these facilities are concerned. But I'm not particularly interested in subsidies for them, or the oil and gas industry, for that matter.” (OutsideOnline.com, October 1, 2007)
"I don't support any subsidies. But I am a strong supporter of ethanol because I don't see any scenario where the price of oil is going to go back down again." (Sioux City Journal, March 8, 2007)
"Ethanol is a product that would not exist if Congress didn't create an artificial market for it. No one would be willing to buy it," McCain said in November 2003. "Yet thanks to agricultural subsidies and ethanol producer subsidies, it is now a very big business - tens of billions of dollars that have enriched a handful of corporate interests - primarily one big corporation, ADM. Ethanol does nothing to reduce fuel consumption, nothing to increase our energy independence, nothing to improve air quality." (Fortune, October 31, 2006)
Republican John McCain, the Arizona Senator declared himself a “strong” supporter of ethanol. “I support ethanol and I think it is a vital, a vital alternative energy source not only because of our dependency on foreign oil but its greenhouse gas reduction effects, ” McCain said during an August speech in Grinnell, Iowa, (Associated Press, August 1, 2006)
"Every time hardworking American families buy groceries, they feel the financial sting of misguided federal policies mandating that taxpayers support ethanol," said Sen. McCain. "It isn't a surprise that food prices are rising when more than 25 percent of the corn grown today is taken out of the food supply and instead used for subsidized ethanol production. This subsidized program - paid for with taxpayer dollars - has contributed to pain at the cash register, at the dining room table, and a devastating food crisis throughout the world. We need to put an end to flawed government policies that distort the markets, raise food prices artificially, and pit producers against consumers. We must call on the EPA to exercise its authority to not exacerbate this already bad situation." (KVII-TV, May 2, 2008.)
KEY ISSUES
