As GOP Presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson continues to campaign across the state in the weeks before the Feb. 1 Iowa caucus, one of the most prominent issues he addresses in each of these agriculturally-based communities is on his thoughts on renewable energy and the misconception that the ethanol industry has been subsidized by the government. In a recent visit to Carroll, Carson told the standing room only crowd that the United States has tremendous energy resources.
He said we all agree that we want to preserve the environment and pass it on to the next generation in at least as good of condition as we found it. However, we can’t use political ideology in policy development.
In regard to the Renewable Fuels Standard, Carson said it is wonderful to be able to use ethanol, or natural gas, petroleum, sun and wind power and we need to further develop hydroelectric power, but government involvement is not necessary.
That said, Carson added, the RFS has made agreements that extend into 2022 and people are depending on those promises. They should be kept and then eventually, all government subsidies for virtually everything should be phased out.
