Continuing our series on where the candidates running for elections this November stand on issues concerning Minnesota's ethanol industry, we feature Katrina Pulham (District 24B) and Ryan Wiskerchen (District 51A). Here are their responses to our queries (their respective opponents did not respond).
Katrina Pulham (R) District 24B
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 am uncertain and would need to review the law and hear from others on the pros and cons and truly learn more about it to give a true honest answer.
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.
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 - today with our current gas prices, I do not support increases that are passed onto the people through any kind of gas taxes. We have a major excess of close to $11 billion today in our General Fund, so it would make sense that if we were to move forward to fund this infrastructure that it would come out of those funds. I would be curious to know what kind of funding would be needed to accomplish this across our state as well.
Ryan Wiskerchen (R) District 51A
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 that this is a feasible goal, and one which would help move Minnesota towards energy independence. I would like to learn more about how the 30% goal was determined and what other states, particularly in Minnesota's neighborhood, are doing that is in any way comparable.
Q. Do you support a role for ethanol in clean fuel standard legislation?
A. Yes.Minnesota's resources should be used to pioneer energy independence for our state.
Q. Do you support accelerating the permitting process for installation of equipment to improve ethanol production and reduce emissions?
A. This is another area where I would like to learn more and speak with someone from your organization.What does the current permitting process look like, and what is a typical timeline? How large-scale are the installations and where does the responsibility for performing them lie? (note: MN Bio-Fuels has since provided the candidate with resources to learn more about 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 am in favor of this program, especially as a way to combat rising fuel prices. For that reason, I currently would like to see the funding come from the general fund rather than counteract the work in lowering fuel costs for everyday Minnesotans, but overall I would like to learn more and hear arguments for both approaches.
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Carolyn Treadway (District 19A)