Even Al Gore Opposes Ethanol Subsidies

Yesterday, former Vice President and emperor of global warming alarmism Al Gore admitted that it was a mistake to support ethanol mandates and subsidies. Gore blamed the political dynamics, i.e., that the ethanol industry is one of the most powerful special interests around.

Total U.S. ethanol subsidies reached $7.7 billion last year according to the International Energy Industry, which said biofuels worldwide received more subsidies than any other form of renewable energy.

And those subsidies are on top of mandates to produce ethanol. Yet ethanol has also been shown to reduce fuel mileage, increase carbon emissions, increase smog, lead to water shortages, and increase food prices.

Yet not only does the federal government continue to offer tax credits, grants, and mandates to subsidize the ethanol industry, but the state of Pennsylvania does as well. In fact, Pennsylvania lawmakers, after a push from Gov. Rendell, approved a mandate that would require every gallon of gasoline sold to contain up to 10% ethanol—even after the evidence about the harmful effects of ethanol production were clear.