Politicians and Energy

The ties between the Vice President and the oil industry are well known. The result of that was predictable including among other things frequent calls for offshore drilling and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That would cause a catastrophic environmental impact and the only significant benefit would be to the oil companies involved as the potential yield would only add a tiny fraction to the total global supply.
Recently it has come to light that that several of Obama's advisors and supporters have close ties with close ties to the ethanol industry. source
Ethanol produced in the US is made primarily from corn, and though few cars on the road today can run on pure ethanol it is often mixed with gasoline to about 10%. Ethanol production in the US is not without controversy. For one corn crops are highly subsidized, and ethanol production depends on those subsidies. It is far less efficient to produce ethanol from corn than from sugar cane, and it is not without environmental impact.
What would be the impact of that connection if Obama were to be elected president? Though it is far less troubling that a connection to the oil industry, any connection to a subsidized industry is disturbing. Though ethanol does have merit as an alternative fuel source, the subsidy of ethanol may have no merit, and Obama must not let his connection cloud his judgement on that issue.