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Minnesota’s Future Fuels Act makes progress

Minnesota’s Future Fuels Act has gone through two hearings in the state’s House.

American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings says with the act being the first legislation of its kind in the Midwest, he doesn’t expect the bill to pass the first time around.

“I’m encouraged by the progress that we’re making so far, the momentum we’re building, the diverse coalition of groups: environmental groups, farm groups, biofuel groups, electric vehicle proponents that support the legislation,” he said. “And we just want to build as much momentum as we can.”

Jennings said a federal mandate for fuel emission management is inevitable.

“It’s a matter of when, not if, congress eventually takes up a federal program to require reductions in the carbon intensity of transportation fuel,” he said.

Jennings said many parties would push for California’s standard, which heavily favors electric vehicles over ethanol fuels, when such a federal program is proposed. He said Minnesota’s Future Fuels Act would provide an alternative option that supports ethanol use. Jennings said the Minnesota legislation also opens the door for states like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois to adopt similar programs.