The 2016 Minnesota Caucuses : Candidate Viewpoints On Ethanol (Republican)

  • Friday, 26 February 2016 14:31

Yesterday, we highlighted where the Democrat presidential candidates stand on the RFS and the ethanol industry. With the 2016 Minnesota Caucuses just days away, we take a look today where the Republican presidential candidates stand on biofuels.

Donald Trump 

Donald Trump 1

"Ethanol is terrific, especially with the new process. And I am totally in favor of ethanol 100 percent and I will support it."

VERDICT : FOR THE RFS AND THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY

Sen. Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio1

While Rubio has voted against ethanol before, he has said the following:

"If there's ever an area where I've been willing to use government to assist an industry, it's been agriculture because it's an industry that faces unfair global competition and if we lose the industry you can't get it back."

VERDICT : FOR THE RFS AND THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY

Sen. Ted Cruz

Cruz1

While there's no lack of news stories that highlight Cruz' opposition to the RFS, he says consumers would use fuels with higher blends of ethanol if there was access. 

"If allowed full market access, mid-level ethanol products like E25 or E30 could prove quite popular with American consumers, who are increasingly concerned with fuel economy."

VERDICT : AGAINST THE RFS BUT FOR THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY

Gov. John Kasich

John Kasich 1

Despite being against the RFS when he was a member of Congress in 1999, Kasich's position on ethanol has since evolved.

"..when I became governor, we have ethanol in our state and we have many people that work in ethanol. So, we have to be careful, and this is why, I'm not going to fix it by putting people out of work. And the subsidies don't exist anymore. It's just part of that mix. And far as I'm concerned it's fine. Let it stay the way it is."

VERDICT : FOR THE RFS AND THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY

Dr Ben Carson

Ben Carson1

"..as far as the Renewable Fuel Standard is concerned, there were certain promises that were made that extend out until 2011. And many people, you know, invested a lot of time, energy and resources based on those promises that were made. Those promises have to be kept. But after that time, we should be aiming toward, you know, everyone standing on their own two feet. And that means that nobody else, petroleum or anybody else, gets any advantage either."

VERDICT : FOR THE RFS AND THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY

To find out where the Democrat candidates stand on the RFS and the ethanol industry, click here.