Continuing our spotlight on the candidates running in this year's election, we head to Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District today where incumbent candidate, Rep. Tom Emmer, is up against Ian Todd. While this district does not have any ethanol plants, it is home to 14 companies that work with Minnesota's ethanol industry and 60 fuel retailers that offer higher blends of ethanol.
Tom Emmer (R)
Q. The Renewable Fuel Standard calls for the use of increasing amounts of ethanol to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Do you support the Renewable Fuel Standard?
A. Yes.
Q. This year, the EPA has granted RFS waivers to 48 small refiners for the years 2016 and 2017, representing an estimated 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol. Do you support the EPA's actions? If no, will you pressure the EPA and the Trump Administration to halt issuing RFS waivers for 2018 and beyond, to identify the recipients of the 2016 and 2017 waivers and lastly, to reallocate the 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol that were lost due to the 2016 and 2017 waivers?
A. Waivers should only be granted in strict adherence with current law. I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure any loopholes are closed and any unnecessary exceptions are ended moving forward.
Q. At present, E15 cannot be sold in the summer months since Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) regulations have not kept pace with the addition of E15 into the fuel market. Would you fix this problem by a Congressional Act, similar to how E10 (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline) was handled? Or, would you try to expedite the solution by pushing the White House and EPA to use existing regulatory authority to give E15 the same RVP treatment as E10?
A. I would use all options at my disposal, legislative or administrative, to address this issue.
Q. The number of stations offering E15 in Minnesota has increased exponentially the last two years (nearly 300 at present) and a big reason for this increase was the financial assistance provided by the federal government's Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership program for storage and dispensing equipment upgrades. Would you support renewing funding for this program so that even more stations in Minnesota can offer E15?
A. I am supportive of legislation on this issue and will explore other ways to accomplish this.
Ian Todd (D)
Q. The Renewable Fuel Standard calls for the use of increasing amounts of ethanol to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Do you support the Renewable Fuel Standard?
A. Yes.
Q. This year, the EPA has granted RFS waivers to 48 small refiners for the years 2016 and 2017, representing an estimated 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol. Do you support the EPA's actions? If no, will you pressure the EPA and the Trump Administration to halt issuing RFS waivers for 2018 and beyond, to identify the recipients of the 2016 and 2017 waivers and lastly, to reallocate the 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol that were lost due to the 2016 and 2017 waivers?
A. No, the EPA handing out waivers is irresponsible and directly opposed to our economic security. There is no disproportionate economic hardship that warrants allowing billion dollar industries to ignore regulation that assists our farmers and mitigates environmental damage. I will pressure the EPA and the administration to stop providing waivers, identify the recipients of the previous waivers, and push for reallocation of the failed obligation of 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol.
Q. At present, E15 cannot be sold in the summer months since Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) regulations have not kept pace with the addition of E15 into the fuel market. Would you fix this problem by a Congressional Act, similar to how E10 (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline) was handled? Or, would you try to expedite the solution by pushing the White House and EPA to use existing regulatory authority to give E15 the same RVP treatment as E10?
A. I believe the most effective approach would be by Congressional Act. The current administration has shown considerable favoritism with petroleum industries, so while I would approve of any and every attempt to have the administration act, I have doubts that's likely to happen. E15 has a lower RVP than E10; keeping it off the market is purely political in nature.
Q. The number of stations offering E15 in Minnesota has increased exponentially the last two years (nearly 300 at present) and a big reason for this increase was the financial assistance provided by the federal government's Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership program for storage and dispensing equipment upgrades. Would you support renewing funding for this program so that even more stations in Minnesota can offer E15?
A. Yes. Privately owned stations are relatively abundant and often in trouble. I would fight to ensure strong provisions in the BIP to ensure the money is used primarily for locally owned stations that are in greatest need of assistance while larger franchise stations without the same need are considered secondarily.
Candidates and Biofuels Election 2018 Archives:
US Rep MN 5: Ilhan Omar
US Rep MN 3: Dean Philips
US Rep MN 2: Jason Lewis Vs Angie Craig
US Rep MN 1: Dan Feehan Vs Jim Hagedorn
MN District 04B: Paul Marquart
MN District 27B: Jeanne Poppe
MN District 16B: Marinda Kimmel Vs Paul Torkelson
MN District 55A: Brad Tabke
MN District 27A: Peggy Bennett
MN District 08A: Bud Nornes
MN District 24A: John Petersburg Vs Joe Heegard
MN District 28B: Gregory Davids Vs Thomas Trehus
MN District 23A: Bob Gunther Vs Heather Klassen
MN District 22B: Rod Hamilton Vs Cheniqua Johnson
MN District 18B: Ashley Latzke Vs Glenn Gruenhagen
MN District 12B: Paul Anderson Vs Ben Schirmers