Al Gore: I shouldn't have supported corn-based ethanol

By Emi Kolawole

Updated, 4:12 p.m.: Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis has released a statement in response to Gore's regrets regarding his past position on corn-based ethanol:

"The contributions of first generation ethanol to our nation's economy, environment and energy production are not a mistake, but a success story."

Growth Energy is an organization representing American ethanol producers.

Original post: Former vice president Al Gore said Monday that he regrets supporting first-generation corn-based ethanol subsidies while he was in office.

Reuters reports that Gore said his support for corn-based ethanol subsidies was rooted more in his desire to cultivate farm votes for his presidential run in 2000 than in doing what was right for the environment:





"It is not a good policy to have these massive subsidies for first-generation ethanol," said Gore, speaking at a green energy business conference in Athens, Greece. First-generation ethanol refers to the most basic, but also most energy intensive, process of converting corn to ethanol for use in vehicle engines.

Gore went on to say that "first-generation ethanol I think was a mistake. The energy conversion ratios are at best very small." Gore now supports so-called second-generation technologies that do not compete with food -- using farm waste or non-food sources such as switchgrass to make ethanol. He added that he did not expect to see a clean energy or climate bill for "at least two years" following Republican victories in the midterm elections.

(h/t Reuters)

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