United States: Biofuels balancing act

BARACK Obama's policy on biofuels development shows the president walking a tightrope between demonstrating that his credentials are greener than his predecessor's and keeping the country's powerful maize-growing lobby happy. An early May draft ruling promises the introduction of tough requirements for cuts in greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by biofuels in the future. But the White House plans to leave blending targets for the use of maize and grain-based ethanol in fuel set by the George Bush government in place for the moment. This will ensure a market for mid-west cereal growers, whose profit margins are under pressure as demand for energy – and, therefore, biofuels – has fallen during th