‘We’re 100 Percent Together’: Growers gather in Governor’s Reception Room

Farmer leaders from the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) met in the Governor’s Reception Room on March 8 to discuss MSGA’s policy priorities with Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Deputy Commissioner Andrea Vaubel.

Including biofuels in any low carbon fuel legislation was the top topic for both MSGA and the governor. The governor said he welcomed input from farm groups, and preached patience while indicating that his administration’s policy goals have a narrower focus in 2024.

“We need everyone at the table,” Gov. Walz said. “It’s super important that we make sure your voice is heard on the CTS (clean transportation standard).”

Under a proposal that was heard and laid over in the Senate Transportation Committee the day before the meeting with the governor, the state would grant credits to clean fuel producers, such as power companies that support electric vehicle charging, and make the producers of fuels buy those credits.

The plan shows that ethanol and biodiesel would receive share of the credits generated under the new system, though it would decline significantly by 2040. MSGA believes the carbon scoring used in the bill treats ag feedstocks unfairly and seeks to limit their use as soon as possible. In the short term, particularly in the early 2030s, renewable diesel would gain the most credits of any fuel type however long-term biofuels would be phased out.

The governor said he’s urging the Legislature to welcome input from agriculture advocacy groups.

“We’re more concerned with getting this right,” he said.

Brian Werner, executive director of the ethanol industry group Minnesota Biofuels Association, testified on behalf of agriculture and biofuels associations with a number of concerns contained in the proposal.