Big Oil argues 'ethanol is worse for climate' in advertising pitch

Washington

CLIMATE change has a new evangelist: Big Oil.

In its bid to roll back government mandates for the use of biofuels, petroleum producers have run out a series of arguments: It harms engines; it raises food costs; it's bad for boats; and the mandate is government interference in the economy.

To persuade President Barack Obama to abandon ethanol, the oil industry and its allies will try a new television advertising pitch, starting on Monday: Ethanol is worse for the climate than petrol.

"Mandating corn for ethanol doubles greenhouse-gas emissions compared to petrol over 30 years," according to a new television advertisement sponsored by an odd…