Sen. Amy Klobuchar to introduce $500 million biofuels infrastructure bill
In a press conference Monday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., spoke of the legislation she is working on to advance biofuel blends by making infrastructure investments available and by working with the EPA to expand the market for biofuels. Written By: Michael Spieker | ×
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., plans to introduce legislation to boost infrastructure for biofuels, among other efforts to improve the market for the alternative fuels. Jonathan Ernst / Getty Images / TNS
Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, are introducing legislation to create a renewable fuel infrastructure grant program to help fuel retailers sell high blends of ethanol. The legislation would help streamline the rules that prevent retail stations from providing higher blends.
[Listen] MCGA Brian Thalmann Minnesota Better Fuel Initiative
It was a little over one year ago at the MN Ag Expo, the annual meeting of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association that I first heard about the Minnesota Better Fuel Initiative. Quite simply it is a drive to increase Minnesota s biofuel standard from 10 to 15 percent. That would make E15 (15 percent ethanol) the new regular in Minnesota. Bills were introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate last year and were moving forward until COVID-19.
Brian said the bill was introduced again this year in the Minnesota Senate and will soon be introduced in the Minnesota House. Brian testified virtually earlier this week at the first hearing on the Minnesota Better Fuel Initiative. He said everyone was in favor the bill except the petroleum industry and gasoline retailers. They are concerned about some older equipment that may not be compatible with higher blends of ethanol.