Governors meet and discuss ethanol

Over the weekend, the nation’s governors gathered for their summer meeting and the agenda included a forum to discuss the nation’s energy policy. It was no surprise that ethanol mandates and subsidies were discussed at length. The major theme to come out of the forum was that there needs to be a shift from grain-based ethanol - either immediately or at least much quicker than the current pace.

Two governors were very vocal about their concern about corn-based ethanol. West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin said “I truly do not believe that a food-based product should be used for energy, where almost all energy needs are met by coal. It should be used for human consumption.” South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford added that the EPA requirement is “a totally bogus government mandate.”

Others governors supported moving away from corn-based ethanol to cellulosic ethanol. At the summit, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm proposed using more wood products found in her state. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania noted that his state “could be to cellulosic ethanol what Iowa was to corn-based ethanol.”

As the debate continues, let’s hope more governors realize the consequences that grain-based ethanol has created and help find solutions to the problem.