Today, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz directed state agencies to explore ways to reduce climate change impacts from transportation fuels in a way that is market-driven and fuel-neutral, according to a news release from the State of Minnesota. Led by the Minnesota departments of Agriculture and Transportation, the process will engage a broad cross-section of stakeholders statewide to identify shared goals and opportunities that will help to inform what a Clean Fuels Standard could look like in Minnesota. The agencies will provide a report summarizing the results and recommendations in February 2022, according to the release.
GPI supports and applauds the State of Minnesota and stakeholders working to create Clean Fuels Standards for Minnesota. We reached out to a few stakeholders for reaction to the announcement, which you can find here.
Rolf Nordstrom, president and CEO of GPI, and Brendan Jordan, vice president, transportation and fuels, GPI:
We applaud the leadership of Governor Tim Walz to help shape the future of clean fuels to support the diverse transportation needs of Minnesotans. A Clean Fuels Standard enjoys broad and diverse support as a strategy for lowering transportation emissions, expanding rural and urban economic opportunity in the production of cleaner fuels, enhancing Minnesota’s innovation leadership, improving air quality, and contributing to greater equity. We are grateful for all stakeholders’ investment in the project and process and their commitment to building a clean energy future for transportation regardless of where people live in Minnesota. We know that the needs of people in Greater Minnesota are different than those in the urban core. And we are committed to working with state leadership to identify how best to meet those needs while driving toward a net-zero carbon fuels footprint.
John Bozzella, president and CEO, Alliance for Automotive Innovation:
Auto Innovators appreciates Governor Walz’s announcement today to initiate a clean fuel standard stakeholder process. A Clean Fuels Standard is a complementary policy that supports the transition to vehicle electrification with point-of-purchase rebates and infrastructure investments, policies critical to Minnesota achieving its electric vehicle goals, while reducing emissions from every vehicle already on the road by lowering the carbon intensity of gasoline and diesel fuel. It is important that we take a comprehensive approach and engage stakeholders, and Auto Innovators looks forward to working with Minnesota in this process.
Michael Noble, executive director, Fresh Energy:
A Clean Fuels Standard designed for Minnesota is a tremendous opportunity to support our state’s transition to a fully decarbonized transportation future. We look forward to working with the Governor and all parties to ensure the policy drives adoption of electric vehicles in an equitable manner across the state.
Tim Rudnicki, executive director of Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association:
Ethanol usage in Minnesota’s transportation sector continues to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. A Clean Fuel Standard would unleash ethanol’s full potential in combating climate change.
