Today we head to districts 18B and 23A. In district 18B, Heather Bakke is up against Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen while in district 23A, Patricia Fahey Bacon faces Christian Bjorn Olson. Both Gruenhagen and Olson did not respond to our questions so we will only feature Bakke and Bacon's responses.
Heather Bakke (D)
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. Given the large number of spark ignition engine powered vehicles on the road and the need to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, what is your position concerning a Minnesota Low Carbon High Octane Fuel Standard/Clean Fuels Policy which would result in higher consumption of ethanol?
A. I think that the increase in consumption of biofuels would benefit our environment, our biofuel producers, but mostly our farmers who grow the crops that are used in biofuel production.
Q. Do you support accelerating the permitting process for installation of equipment to improve ethanol production and reduce emissions?
A. Yes, I support anything that can help our biofuel processors develop their product with less stress to the environment.
Q. Do you support making higher ethanol blends, such as E15, available across Minnesota through infrastructure funding?
A. Yes, I support the expansion of ethanol blends.
Patricia Fahey Bacon (D)
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. Given the large number of spark ignition engine powered vehicles on the road and the need to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, what is your position concerning a Minnesota Low Carbon High Octane Fuel Standard/Clean Fuels Policy which would result in higher consumption of ethanol?
A. Yes, I think we do need a Clean Fuels Policy. This would be beneficial in many ways: economically by investing more in biofuel production, supporting farmers and assuring an economic benefit to them. Clean fuels also will support our environment, cleaner air means healthier people; also assisting and increasing conservation practices in farming.
Q. Do you support accelerating the permitting process for installation of equipment to improve ethanol production and reduce emissions?
A. I need to review the current permitting process further, however would most likely support if safe and well planned out.
Q. Do you support making higher ethanol blends, such as E15, available across Minnesota through infrastructure funding?
A. Yes, however with the current economic climate (since the Pandemic) and the lack of a bonding/infrastructure bill, we will need to be fiscally responsible.
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