Continuing our series on candidates running for Minnesota's congressional seats and where they stand on biofuels, we head to Minnesota's 6th Congressional District today where incumbent candidate, Rep. Tom Emmer, is up against Tawnja Zahradka. Here are their responses to our queries:
Tom Emmer (R)
Q. What is your position concerning the current state of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)? Should the EPA follow the 10th Circuit Federal Court's decision regarding Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) waivers and reject current, future and gap year SRE applications from the oil industry?
A. I support the Renewable Fuel Standard.As a member of the Congressional Biofuels Caucus, I support the 10th Circuit’s decision and believe waivers should only be granted in strict accordance with the law.
Q. Given the large number of spark ignition-powered vehicles on the road and the need to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, what is your position concerning a possible Low Carbon High Octane Fuel Standard to replace more petroleum with greater amounts of renewable ethanol?
A. I support the increased use of ethanol and biofuel in the transportation sector and generally believe the market will adapt to incorporate newer innovations that reduce prices, create jobs, and improve the environment.
Q. The Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected Minnesota's ethanol industry. At one point, plants were shutdown while others had to significantly reduce production. While production has begun to approach pre-pandemic levels, Minnesota’s ethanol producers are still facing severe financial distress. Would you support financial aid to Minnesota’s ethanol producers?
A. Yes, at the beginning of the pandemic my colleagues and I urged President Trump to increase and streamline USDA relief to America’s farmers and ethanol producers.
Q. Do you support making higher ethanol blends, such as E15, available across Minnesota and the United States through infrastructure funding?
A. I have supported the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership program in the past and will continue to look for new ways to expand E15 use throughout the country.
Tawnja Zahradka (D)
Q. What is your position concerning the current state of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)? Should the EPA follow the 10th Circuit Federal Court's decision regarding Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) waivers and reject current, future and gap year SRE applications from the oil industry?
A. The Renewable Fuel Standard, (RFS) is a solid and important foundation for shoring up fair, reliable support for farmers. While there is room for enhancement and expansion, farmers should not be subjected to the indignity and hardship of having the standards they were promised violated by mass waivers. I absolutely believe the 10th Circuit Court Decision was right. These standards were put in place after reasoned, fair examination. Too often Big Oil gets a pass while farmers get the shaft. Ethanol is good for farmers, good for consumers and good for the planet, reducing fossil fuel dependency. The current administration has increased waivers from a mere 10 in the Obama administration to 80 in a little over three years, eight times as many, basically rubber stamping waiver requests regardless of need or lack thereof. This is a slap in the face to farmers and it isn't right.
Q. Given the large number of spark ignition-powered vehicles on the road and the need to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, what is your position concerning a possible Low Carbon High Octane Fuel Standard to replace more petroleum with greater amounts of renewable ethanol?
A. I am all for expanding our use of renewable ethanol and limiting our dependence on petroleum, as should every human being who cares about the sustainability of our planet.
Q. The Covid-19 pandemic has severely affected Minnesota's ethanol industry. At one point, plants were shutdown while others had to significantly reduce production. While production has begun to approach pre-pandemic levels, Minnesota’s ethanol producers are still facing severe financial distress. Would you support financial aid to Minnesota’s ethanol producers?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you support making higher ethanol blends, such as E15, available across Minnesota and the United States through infrastructure funding?
A. Yes.
Election 2020 Archives:
US House Candidates:
MN District 2: Angie Craig, Tyler Kistner
MN Senate Candidates:
District 49: Melisa Lopez Franzen
MN House Candidates:
District 01A: Connie Lindstrom
District 09B : Ron Kresha, Laura Wright