Judging by the SkunK's scientific polls on this very blog, More than half voted for a McCain win. However, since my sample was slightly less than the 120M who actually voted you have to expect a slight error in my pre-election polling. Now that President-elect Obama has won the actual election, the SkunK thought it time to explore the winner's history with ethanol and alternative energies. This is not a political blog and if you try to guess the SkunK's politics, religion or favorite sport's team I guarantee you would be wrong. In fact, I happen to agree with all of you on all three subjects! (Maybe my fence straddling here means I have a political future - NOT!) However, future USA government policies will likely have a direct effect on the value assigned by the marketplace on the Greenshift Corporation, and knowing the intentions of our President-elect is very important- so the SkunK will take a skip through this political minefield.
First of all, one must always remember that President-elect Obama represents Illinois, the second largest corn producing state, and his policies are pro-ethanol. Here are three major points concerning Ethanol (and the potential to influence GERS) in his energy policy:
1. Flexible Fuel Vehicles: Mandate all new vehicles are FFV by end of first term in office.
2. Next Generation of Sustainable Biofuels and Infrastructure: Cellulose ethanol, biobutenol and other new technologies that produce synthetic petroleum from sustainable feedstocks. Require at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2030. Invest federal resources, including tax incentives and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies.
3. National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. The standard requires fuels suppliers in 2010 to begin to reduce the carbon of their fuel by 5 percent within 5 years and 10 percent within 10 years. Incentivize increased private sector investment in advanced low-carbon fuels and (utilize) a sustainability provision to ensure environmental conservation.
To get the full details of the (campaign) plan that also includes non-ethanol energy related policies, go to the link below and click on the "New Energy for America Plan" PDF link.
More Details On Obama's Ethanol Policy
Here is a recent anti-ethanol article, but full of details on Obama's policy. Watch for the name "Heather Zichal", the Obama campaign's senior energy adviser to be in the news and to be an appointment in the new administration?
1. Obama will maintain Bush's goal requiring fuel producers use at least 36 billion gallons of biofuels in 2022.
2. Ethanol will receive at least as much support as from the current administration, including tax credits to spur consumption.
3. Plans to spend $150 billion over 10 years to develop renewable fuels and to create 5 million so-called green collar jobs.
4. Plans to require at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels be produced by 2030.
Obama said corn-based ethanol isn't "our best strategy'' because of its impacts on food, adding the current additive will usher in commercial production of cellulosic. He very much sees it as an important bridge fuel and important source of revenue for many rural communities but something that is the beginning of hopefully a greater investment and greater commitment to advanced biofuels. Obama also supports the 54-cent-a-gallon tariff that the United States slaps on imports of ethanol made from sugar cane
Here are two articles that show Obama's early "connections" and "commitment" to the Ethanol Industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/us/politics/23ethanol.html?hpCongratulations to all sides of this contest. Senator McCain gave the best concession speech in a generation; a class act and a true American hero.
SkunK
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