Why are you, too, subsidizing corn ethanol?

The Globe and Mail, Canada’s largest-circulation newspaper, ran an interview yesterday with Ken Field, chairman and majority owner of GreenField Ethanol, Canada’s leading (corn-based) ethanol manufacturer. I will bite my tongue and refrain from comment. Let’s just say that the interview says it all. And, as Dave Barry would no doubt feel compelled to add, “I swear I’m not making this up!”

Here’s a selection:

Globe and Mail: You believe the world must change, but you drive big cars. Doesn’t there need to be real pain to stop people like you from driving an SUV? [NB: Mr. Field owns and drives a Cadillac Escalade]

Ken Field: I don’t think I have to stop. I think we have to make ethanol and alternate fuels so I can have the best of both worlds.

To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How

…

Globe and Mail: Do we have to go through corn to get there?

Ken Field: Yes, just the same as we had to go through black-and-white and color televisions to get to plasma TVs. We had to have an analog camera with film before we could get to a digital camera. We had to have a radio held in our hand before we could get to an iPod.

…

To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How

Globe and Mail: But don’t you make money only because you’re subsidized?

Ken Field: Every energy source is subsidized one way or another. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the way the world was set up; it’s been like this for probably 75 years. How am I supposed to compete with all these products if I don’t get some incentives too?

You have to give Mr. Field credit at least for giving honest answers and not beating around the bush! Readers’ comments on the interview are quite funny.

And for an interesting, Canadian, perspective on U.S. energy policy, click here.