Q. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is a federal law which has implications for Minnesota. Do you support or oppose the RFS? What is the basis for your support or opposition to the RFS?
A. I am a big supporter of the RFS. I was against the EPA’s proposal to reduce ethanol consumption under the RFS. I would keep the RFS as is or even improve it.
Q. Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. 239.7911) calls for the increasing use of biofuels, such as ethanol, over the next 10 years. If you were in a position where you could change the law, would you maintain it as is or modify it? Please tell us why you would either maintain the law or modify it.
A. I’m for more blender pumps. I had three country commissioners test a 25 percent ethanol blended gasoline and they found it was more efficient than E10.
Q. What advantages, or disadvantages, do you think biofuels present for Minnesotans? If you have identified advantages, how would you leverage them to achieve more benefits for the environment and consumers over the next two to four years? If you identified disadvantages associated with biofuels, what, if any, actions would you take to address those disadvantages?
A. One of the biggest supporters of biofuels are the American Lung Association because biofuels are cleaner than gasoline. People forget there was a time when fuel emission testing in the metro area would cost $150 a person and it would be even higher now if it wasn't for ethanol. Ethanol is also cheaper and I'd rather reward people in the Midwest than the Mid-East.
Q. What actions would take, for the medium term, to make E15 the new regular fuel?
A. Biofuels have to be constantly promoted as there is quite a bit of oppposition to it. More ethanol producers and farmer need to remind people that the amount of corn used to produce ethanol is small. I would also contact the auto college in the University of Mankato and ask them to give us facts that would help us push E15. We would all breathe better if there was more E15 sold.
Come back to Blogging For Biofuels tomorrow to read what Gunther's challenger, Pat Bacon, says about biofuels.