Candidates' positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found. Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by party; black & white photos indicate candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria.)
Chuck Baldwin, Founder and Minister of the Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL, issued the following statement through his Communications Director, Mary Starrett, in a Sep. 23, 2008 email to ProCon.org:
Bob Barr, former US House Representative (R-GA), stated in an article titled "Bob Barr on: Energy Policy" on his official candidate website (accessed Sep. 23, 2008):
"The federal government should eliminate restrictions that inhibit energy production, as well as all special privileges for the production of politically-favored fuels, such as ethanol." Sep. 23, 2008 Bob Barr
John McCain, US Senator (R-AZ), stated in a Nov. 5, 2007 article titled "John McCain Addresses Conference on Bio Economy in Ames, IA," on his official candidate website:
"Many Iowans have heard that I oppose federal subsidies for ethanol production...Some of my opponents will describe my positions as opposition to American ethanol producers or, for some inexplicable reason, a personal dislike of Iowa. Neither is true, of course, and I appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight...
Yes, I oppose subsidies. Not just ethanol subsidies. Subsidies. And not just in Iowa either. I oppose them in my own state of Arizona...
Yes, that means no ethanol subsidies. But it also means no rifle-shot tax breaks for big oil. It means no line items for hydrogen, no mandates for other renewable fuels, and no big-government debacles like the Dakotas Synfuels plant. It means ethanol entrepreneurs get a level playing field to make their case -- and earn their profits." Nov. 5, 2007 John McCain
Cynthia McKinney, former US House Representative (D-GA), issued the following statement through her Press Secretary, John Judge, in a Nov. 2, 2008 email to ProCon.org:
"No. Ethanol should not be the main focus of alternative energy because it will lessen the food supply." Nov. 2, 2008 Cynthia McKinney
Ralph Nader, attorney, author, and political activist, stated in an article titled "Energy" on his official candidate website (accessed Sep. 24, 2008):
"From the beginning, Ralph Nader has been opposed to the subsidized ethanol industry as inefficient, environmentally damaging, inflationary, and as the primary fuel sustaining the corporate welfare kings." Sep. 24, 2008 Ralph Nader
Barack Obama, US Senator (D-IL), stated in an article titled "Real Leadership for Rural America" on his official candidate website (accessed Sep. 23, 2008):
"The economic development opportunities for advanced cellulosic ethanol technologies hold potential to revitalize rural communities across the country. Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe we must ensure that local investment continues to play a significant role as the biofuels industry continues to expand and evolve. They will create a number of incentives for local communities to invest in their biofuels refineries, including expanding federal tax credit programs and providing technical advice to rural communities that are in a strong position to open their own refineries. They will also provide an additional subsidy per gallon of ethanol produced from new facilities that have a minimum of 25 percent local capital, and he will provide additional loan guarantees for advanced ethanol facilities with local investment." Sep. 23, 2008 Barack Obama
INACTIVE CANDIDATES
(Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria appear
below in black and white and in alphabetical order by party.)