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Walz, Noem to Lead Governors’ Biofuels Coalition in 2019

  • Friday, 22 February 2019 11:53

Ethanol Producer Magazine

February 20, 2019

By Governors’ Biofuels Coalition

The Governors’ Biofuels Coalition announced Feb. 18 that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will serve as chair and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will serve as vice chair of the coalition during 2019.

For over 20 years, the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition has provided regional and national leadership on biofuels policy. The bipartisan group is comprised of governors from across the nation.

“I look forward to working with Governor Noem to advance the bipartisan work of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition. The production and use of biofuels increase family incomes in rural America, diversifies our nation’s energy portfolio, and provides consumers a choice at the fuel pump,” Walz said.

“We must adopt state and national policies that grow a biofuels industry vital to our states’ economies and the nation’s need to reduce carbon and other harmful emissions. Those policies include steps to open the market for ethanol as a source of clean octane to reduce the toxic aromatic content of gasoline and ground level precursors. We will continue to urge EPA Administrator Wheeler to honor President’s Trump commitment to make E15 fuel available this summer as well as many overdue EPA regulatory reforms.”

“Governor Noem and I will ask our governor colleagues to consider requiring the use of higher ethanol blends in all state fleet vehicles. Over a decade ago, many of the nation’s governors required the use of E10 in state fleet vehicles, which was a critical first step to consumer acceptance of higher ethanol blends,” Walz said.

“I’m honored to serve as vice chair of the Coalition and to continue working to strengthen the energy independence of our states and nation,” Noem said. “Minnesota, South Dakota and all members of the Coalition continue to play a major role in the nation’s energy policies.”

“Renewable energy benefits everyone, from energy consumers to farmers to anyone who breathes our air,” Noem concluded.

Walz and Noem both thanked Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for not only her leadership of the Coalition last year but for her tireless national leadership on renewable energy policy.

Read the original article: Walz, Noem to Lead Governors’ Biofuels Coalition in 2019