What does Ron Paul think about ethanol subsidies? Ron thinks they are unconstitutional and that allowing farmers to raise hemp is the right solution. Here is Ron's full response, as you can see in the video above, to the question "What are your views and policies on subsidizing ethanol farmers?":

What is my view on subsidizing ethanol and farmers? Under the constitution, there is no authority to take money from one group of people and give it to another group of people for so called economic benefits. So, no, I don't think we should do that. Besides, bureaucrats and the politicians don't know how to invest money. Then that money gets invested for political reasons rather than for economic reasons. I think there is a chance you might get more ethanol if you raised hemp but hemp is illegal in this country. So, in my idea of a free society, you'd be, a farmer would be allowed to raise hemp and not only would that be a good product, possibly to make ethanol, there might be a whole lot of other products you can make with hemp like Canadians do it. So, I am looking to legalize freedom, not more subsidizes and more direction of investments through the federal government because they are incapable of knowing the best investment to make.

What do you think, readers?

Related:

• You put your weed in here - the Mercedes Hempcar on YouTube

[Source: YouTube]

The late night talk shows are back! David Letterman has a beard and recently had Bill Maher as a guest. At about 7 minutes into the interview above, Bill and Dave talk about the Iowa primary and ethanol. Bill says the candidates pay "homage" to ethanol because it's made from corn and Iowa has corn. However, Bill thinks ethanol is a "boondoggle" and won't help with global warming. Then Bill pushes science forward with this funny exchange:

Bill: If the first primary was in Vermont, we'd be trying to run our cars on maple syrup. I promise you.
Dave: Now, would that work? That's not a bad idea. You are a genius my friend.

I can't wait for maple syrup cars. The highways would smell so good. To be fair, pancake sales might be hurt as the price of syrup skyrockets.

Related:

• Video: Michelle Pfeiffer talks about her EV on Letterman
• Letterman Top 10 includes Toyota's message on Gore's answering machine

[Source: YouTube]

In an interview with TechCrunch, presidential hopeful John Edwards says he will bring the electric car back from the dead. John says there is a trend of having America develop technologies like the electric car only to have other countries lead on deploying and marketing. Many candidates have mentioned hybrids and fuel efficiency but John is the first I have heard to mention electric cars. Here is his exact quote:

I will reverse the trend of having America invent transformative new technologies like the electric car and the solar panel, only to have other countries lead in deploying and marketing them.

The Edwards camp also attacked Hillary recently for her voting record on ethanol. Obama has done the same, calling her energy bill a major reversal. Hillary has explained her change in position on the growth in ethanol in her state but John's energy plan gives much more support to ethanol by calling for all cars be flex fuel and for more ethanol pumps at gas stations.

In a video below the fold, John explains that he supports the not-very-efficient corn-based ethanol right now because investment in further ethanol infrastructure won't come without such support and the investment will build a pathway for more efficient biofuels.

[Source: TechCrunch, The Courier, YouTube]

In the above video, Hillary explains her shift from voting against ethanol to supporting it in her energy plan. Hillary says she voted against ethanol on behalf of her constituents because subsidizing ethanol in the middle of the country would raise prices in New York. Hillary says she can now support ethanol because there is a broader base for ethanol in New York, which she helped create, making transportation cost no longer a factor. Here is exactly what she said:

The fact is that when we first had an occasion to vote on ethanol back in the early part of my term, I voted on behalf of my constituents. There was very credible evidence, that it would, if all we did was subsidize ethanol in the middle of the country, raise gas prices on both coasts which would have directly driven up the cost in New York and I didn't think that would be a good idea for a senator from New York and what I have been pleased about and I had a role in this, was to create a much broader base for ethanol. We now have ethanol plants in New York and so the idea that you would have only one part of the country and the transportation cost would be quite expensive because of the way ethanol has to be transported, is no longer a factor. So, I happily support corn ethanol, all forms of ethanol, research for cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel.

Hillary continues talking about visits to plants that create biodiesel from things like animal fat which she says is great and she is in favor of before she is cut off. Earlier in the video, Hillary says "environment and energy" provide the perfect platform to bring together problem solving Americans. Political tap dancing or great local representation? Sound off in comments.

Related:

• Obama: Clinton made a "major reversal" on ethanol

[Source: YouTube]

Barack Obama says that now that Hillary Clinton has changed from an anti-ethanol position to one supporting ethanol in her new energy plan, she might switch back under pressure. Here's what he said:

It's hard to believe that she is a strong ethanol supporter given her track record and this is something that represents a major reversal and what we need is consistency on these issues. ... If she's willing to shift this quickly on this issue, we don't know whether she will shift back when it gets hard.

Clinton has defended her record on ethanol, saying "I never was against using ethanol. I never was against the idea that we had to try these alternatives." Obama still thinks she could have done more. Again, Mr. Obama:

These are a lot of votes and over a lengthy period of time. ... If she were committed to alternative energy, there certainly would have been opportunities for her to amend the legislation or alter it in ways that would address any concerns that she had.

Tell us what you think. Could Hillary have shown more support for things like forcing cars to be flex fuel or adding ethanol pumps at gas stations? Do you think Hillary's support for ethanol after the election will be lukewarm? Do you think Hillary is right for not showing too much support for ethanol?

[Source: Des Moines Register]

Hillary Clinton's energy plan includes a fuel efficiency standard of 55 MPG by 2030. For comparison, Edwards proposes 40 MPG by 2016, Bill Richardson 50 MG by 2020 and Obama 40 MPG by 2016 but with a 4 percent increase each year. The Energy Bill, currently being debated, may be 35 MPG by 2020. Hillary's plan is not all sticks and includes some very large carrots: $20 billion of "Green Vehicle Bonds" to help U.S. automakers "retool" their plants so vehicles will hit 55 MPG.

Hillary wants to increase current renewable fuel goal from the current level of 7.5 billion gallons by 2012 to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022 and to 60 billion gallons by 2030. The energy plan calls for a greenhouse gas emissions target for cellulosic and other advanced biofuels to ensure that they move over time towards a standard of emitting at least 80 percent fewer greenhouse gases as compared to gasoline. The energy plan also include loan guarantees to spur the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol capacity.

Hillary's energy plan also calls for a $10,000 tax credit for plug-in hybrids, $2 billion investment in battery research and 100,000 PHEVs in the federal fleet by 2015. AutoblogGreen is all about green transport but there are some really good ideas about smart power grids development and new law forcing corporations to consider climate change that just might impact large automakers in a green way too.

IMHO this is the best energy plan from any of the Democratic candidates. Tell me what you think of this plan in comments. Is 55 MPG impossible or 2030 too much time? Are all those billions just a bribe to corporations to accept these new standards? Below the fold are some quotes from a PDF about Hillary's energy plan. Clinton will speak all week about energy and we will have much more as the story develops.

[Source: Hillary Clinton's website and tipster OhmExcited]

What are the chances that Fred Thompson drives around America in a pickup truck for his campaign? Not very good, I'd say. But hey, it has worked out all right for him before. Back in '94, Thompson bought a red pickup truck and drove around Tennessee to campaign for the Senate. After Al Gore became the vice president, his seat on the Senate was up for grabs, and Thompson used "non-traditional" methods on his way to winning that election. Now that he is campaigning for the Republican presidential primaries, Bill Lacy, one of his aides, says that he will again use "non-traditional" methods. Does this mean that he will buy a hybrid and drive that from state-to-state instead? It would make more sense than using a pickup, unless that pickup is one of the upcoming two-mode hybrids from GM. Still, I'd say it's not likely.

[Source: Washington Post]

Frank O'Donnell is president of Clean Air Watch and has identified key election races and issues of concern for those who vote with a green conscience. He first asks if the environment plays a significant role in voter decisions, citing conflicting polls. But he also emphasizes that in very tight races the environmentalists can make or break a candidate. Clean Air Watch is nonpartisan and won't participate in electorial politics, but O'Donnell points to the "dirty dozen" list compiled by the League of Conservation Voters. Some of the leading targets are Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) and Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI). The hottest ballot issue is Prop. 87 in California, which would tax companies drilling for oil in the state. The oil industry has put up over $60 million to fight the proposition that former Pres. Bill Clinton has endorsed. By the way, if you want a "Vote Green" button like the one shown here, visit the Majority Visibility Project Web site.

[Source: tompaine.com]

Do you think it's a coincidence that gasoline and crude oil prices are falling just before the mid-term elections? Political pundits and commentators are busy trying to piece together the makings of a conspiracy.

According to a USA Today poll, a significantly large part of the public thinks the Bush administration is deliberately manipulating gas prices ahead of the elections. What are some of the signs? Bob Woodward's new book claims a Saudi prince told the president he could bring prices down by increasing production. The Energy Department is holding off oil purchases for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which relieves pressure on inventory. And there's the investment firm that is shifting its priorities, possibly forcing investors to dump speculative positions in gasoline.

Daniel Gross goes into more detail in his story for Slate.com, basically killing any notion that a president, prince and investment firm could lower prices. He says it was just "electoral good luck."

[Source: Slate.com]