Ethanol Undergoes Evolution as Political Issue

Ethanol production has doubled nationwide in the past three years, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol trade group. It is expected to double again by the time the next president is sworn in. Much of the growth has taken place outside the Midwest, including in New York state, where five sites are under development. Plants are in the works along the East and West coasts and across the South. Ethanol production exists in the Texas panhandle, and a plant is opening soon in Arizona -- McCain's home state.

As a senator, Clinton has consistently sought to thwart this development. She has voted against ethanol interests more than a dozen times during her six years in office, opposing efforts that could have helped to accelerate the industry's growth in New York.

With vast expanses of farmland and forests, New York is ripe for producing both traditional ethanol from corn, along with a newer generation "cellulosic ethanol" from wood products.

Cornelius B. Murphy, president of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, was disappointed when the Department of Energy last month announced six grants, worth a total of $385 million, for cellulosic ethanol plants -- and none of the New York sites made the cut. In fact, not one of the winning facilities was in the Northeast. "There's a lot of ethanol money washing around, but it seems always to go to the corn states," Murphy lamented.

He said he has met with Clinton at least six times since last year, and describes the senator as "strongly supportive of using the agriculture industry to help solve energy problems."

But Clinton has not had a chance to vote for ethanol since her conversion. The last time the Senate considered ethanol-related legislation was in July 2005, when Clinton opposed the final version of an energy bill that included the cellulosic ethanol grants. She also opposed an amendment requiring refiners to use 8 billion gallons of renewable fuels per year by 2012 -- meant to be a huge boost to the ethanol industry.

In 2003, she voted four times in favor of allowing states to seek waivers to a national renewable fuels standard, and against an amendment to set that standard at 5 billion gallons per year by 2012.

A year earlier, Clinton voted to delay a similar mandate for alternative fuels. She also signed a letter to Senate colleagues raising concerns about possible environmental problems associated with ethanol.

She officially announced her position last May, during a speech to the National Press Club. Acknowledging the ethanol industry's rapid growth, Clinton said, "We need to be moving on a much faster track." She called for "immediate steps to make sure that the rapid expansion in biofuels continues and that we not only have the vehicles that can run on ethanol, but we have places where you can get them filled."

In a July 31 speech at an Upstate New York farm, Clinton explained why she had changed her mind. "You know, I've spoken out against just relying on corn in the Midwest because I want New York farmers, I want farmers around the country to participate in this."

Her enthusiasm has grown in recent months. During a January Web chat, the Democratic presidential contender told viewers, "I support all kinds of ethanol." And in a news release announcing a Feb. 26 trip to Upstate New York that included a visit to a new ethanol facility, Clinton's office noted that the senator "has long been a champion of new technologies and jobs, combating global warming, and reducing our nation's dependence on foreign oil."