This morning, we look at Minnesota senate district 21, where Bill Weber is running unopposed, and district 23, where Gene Dornink is up against Brandon Lawhead. Only Weber and Dornink responded to our queries.
Billl Weber (R) District 21
Q. Do you support Minnesota’s Petroleum Replacement Law (Minn. Stat. 239.7911), which calls for the consumption of at least 30 percent biofuels in transportation fuel by 2025?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you support a role for ethanol in clean fuel standard legislation?
A. Yes, I believe that ethanol is necessary in any clean fuel legislation.
Q. Do you support accelerating the permitting process for installation of equipment to improve ethanol production and reduce emissions?
A. Yes, certainly, there is great room for accelerating the permitting process.
Q. Do you support making higher ethanol blends, such as E15, available across Minnesota by funding compatible infrastructure at retail stations? If yes, would you prefer the funding source to come from the General Fund or a fee placed on each gallon of liquid fuel sold in Minnesota similar to the Petrofund program?
A. I can support either option but the most practical one is to have a small charge per gallon.
Gene Dornink (R) District 23
Q. Do you support Minnesota’s Petroleum Replacement Law (Minn. Stat. 239.7911), which calls for the consumption of at least 30 percent biofuels in transportation fuel by 2025?
A. I believe in the free market system. I believe we should make sure biofuels have access to the free market system and would allow biofuels to compete on an even playing field. It is important to make sure all products can compete on price so the people who buy the products are doing so as their decision, not forced.
I believe that if biofuels are allowed to compete at the pump they will win. The problem I see right now is the oil companies controlling the access to some gas stations pumps as a barrier and I would like to see how we could make sure biofuels have the same access as gasoline. Freedom at the pump.
Q. Do you support a role for ethanol in clean fuel standard legislation?
A. Yes!!!
Q. Do you support accelerating the permitting process for installation of equipment to improve ethanol production and reduce emissions?
A. Yes, I would vote for reducing those permits and regulations. It stifles business and interferes with the free market. I believe we have too many permits and regulations.
Q. Do you support making higher ethanol blends, such as E15, available across Minnesota by funding compatible infrastructure at retail stations? If yes, would you prefer the funding source to come from the General Fund or a fee placed on each gallon of liquid fuel sold in Minnesota similar to the Petrofund program?
A. Yes, I would also like to see blender pumps at gas stations. As far as how much money and where the money comes from, that would have to be negotiated.
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Carolyn Treadway (District 19A)