The stakeholders of the nation’s largest ethanol producer are asking the presidential candidates to support ethanol.

More than 1,700 POET employees and investors sent an open letter to Senators McCain and Obama urging them to invest in domestic sources of renewable fuels, like ethanol. In the letter, they emphasized the positive impact that ethanol has already made in creating jobs, reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, they noted that innovations like cellulosic ethanol are just around the corner, making ethanol even cleaner and greener.

“Based on the enormous response to this letter from POET employees and local farmers, it is clear that many Americans will be voting based on their economic and energy interests this year,” said Jeff Broin, CEO of POET. “Ethanol is America’s best renewable fuel, reliable and affordable now and we hope that the next president continues to invest in this homegrown and high-tech energy solution.”

POET has 25 ethanol production facilities in seven states, including several that are still considered “toss ups” in this presidential campaign or are hotly contested, such as Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio.

The letter notes that the ethanol industry created more than 200,000 new jobs across the country, and in 2007, ethanol production contributed $47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP and generated $4.6 billion in federal tax revenues. Further, in 2007, the production and use of biofuels helped the U.S. avoid an estimated 13 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions.