How the presidential candidates rate on ethanol

The Renewable Fuel Standard remains a hot topic in the marine industry.

Even with the news last week that the EPA had finally set the fuel standards for 2014, 2015 and 2016 (no that’s not a typo), there is still plenty of concern about how the presence of 15 percent ethanol (E15) in the nation’s fuel supply can affect boaters.

American’s Renewable Future — a pro-ethanol group — has released a report card rating all of the presidential candidates on their ethanol views.

Now, of course, from a marine industry standpoint, we’d probably be taking the opposite view. The candidates that ARF ranks highest are likely to be the ones that the marine industry will least agree with on this issue (and vice versa).

All three Democratic candidates (Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley) receive a good rating from the ARF, as do Republican candidates Chris Christie, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, George Pataki, Rick Santorum and Donald Trump.

GOP candidate Ben Carson, Ted Cruz and Rand Paul receive the group’s “bad rating” for supporting ethanol efforts the least.