Candidates & Biofuels: Amy Klobuchar

Thursday, 18 October 2018 13:36

Today we spotlight Sen. Amy Klobuchar who is running for her third term as a US Senator representing Minnesota and is up against Jim Newberger. Unfortunately, only Klobuchar responded to our questionnaire and here are her answers:

Amy Klobuchar (D)

Q. The Renewable Fuel Standard calls for the use of increasing amounts of ethanol to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Do you support the Renewable Fuel Standard?

A. I have pushed the EPA to release a strong Renewable Fuel Standard year after year because I’ve seen firsthand the impact a strong RFS has had on Minnesota and our state’s economy. I have led the bipartisan push for the EPA to continue implementing the RFS as intended by Congress and to release a final rule that gives consumers more choices at the pump, strengthens the economy, and makes the country more secure.

Q. This year, the EPA has granted RFS waivers to 48 small refiners for the years 2016 and 2017, representing an estimated 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol. Do you support the EPA's actions? If no, will you pressure the EPA and the Trump Administration to halt issuing RFS waivers for 2018 and beyond, to identify the recipients of the 2016 and 2017 waivers and lastly, to reallocate the 2.25 billion gallons of ethanol that were lost due to the 2016 and 2017 waivers?

A. I led the bipartisan effort urging the EPA to immediately cease issuing waivers exempting obligated parties from the RFS and to disclose information about the waivers already issued and redistribution of the waived volume obligations. I have expressed -- and will continue to express -- my concerns to the Administration about recent reports indicating that dozens of small refiner waivers have been secretly granted to large companies. This overuse is unacceptable and threatens to cripple the homegrown biofuels market for years to come.

Q. At present, E15 cannot be sold in the summer months since Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) regulations have not kept pace with the addition of E15 into the fuel market. Would you fix this problem by a Congressional Act, similar to how E10 (10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline) was handled? Or, would you try to expedite the solution by pushing the White House and EPA to use existing regulatory authority to give E15 the same RVP treatment as E10?

A. I’ve been a supporter of allowing E15 to be sold year round not only because it’s better for the environment, but because an open marketplace with more fuel options for consumers encourages competition and drives down consumer fuel costs. In April, after the President committed to allowing for E15 to be sold year round, I pushed the EPA to clarify their rulemaking process and move quickly to implement this change.

Q. The number of stations offering E15 in Minnesota has increased exponentially the last two years (nearly 300 at present) and a big reason for this increase was the financial assistance provided by the federal government's Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership program for storage and dispensing equipment upgrades. Would you support renewing funding for this program so that even more stations in Minnesota can offer E15?

A. Increased funding for biofuel infrastructure projects will boost local economies across our state and drive innovation in clean energy, all while reducing our dependence on foreign oil. I worked closely with then-Secretary Vilsack to increase investments in the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP), which had an enormous impact on Minnesota’s economy. I fully support renewing BIP funding so that it can continue to drive investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

Candidates and Biofuels Election 2018 Archives:

US Senate : Tina Smith Vs Karin Housley

US Rep MN 7: Collin Peterson Vs Dave Hughes

US Rep MN 6: Tom Emmer Vs Ian Todd

US Rep MN 5: Ilhan Omar

US Rep MN 3: Dean Philips

US Rep MN 2: Jason Lewis Vs Angie Craig

US Rep MN 1: Dan Feehan Vs Jim Hagedorn

MN District 04B: Paul Marquart

MN District 27B: Jeanne Poppe

MN District 16B: Marinda Kimmel Vs Paul Torkelson

MN District 55A: Brad Tabke