Pawlenty promises to push energy agenda

Governor Pawlenty's national profile will rise in the coming year, now that he's at the helm of the National Governor's Association. He'll use that platform to promote renewable, homegrown fuels.

"I'm confident that governors and states are in a position to move aggressively on these issues," Pawlenty told Capitol reporters Tuesday.

"And there?s a lot of tail wind, a lot of momentum behind these issues."

While a field of corn may be the iconic image of the renewable fuels movement, the images of Minnesota soldiers serving in Iraq drive home the urgency of the issue in Pawlenty's mind.

"That entangles us in relationships with countries that are hostile towards us and do not like us. We should Americanize our energy policies so we get more American sources of energy."

The chairman of the governor's association has always picked the group's agenda. Pawlenty said his main initiative will be clean-burning renewable fuels. The NGA already produced a glossy, high color brochure entitled "Securing a Clean Energy Future." The Governor told reporters he'll press other states to follow the lead of Minnesota, which has already set ambitious targets for upping renewable fuels and cutting carbon emissions from traditional power plants.

But those looking to expand nuclear energy will most likely have to look elsewhere for inspiration.

"There may be some other states interested in doing that, doing that first, but I think the politics and culture in Minnesota would be very resistant to that."

Pawlenty says he's very intrigued by news that spent fuel rods contain large quantities of usable energy, and that could hold potential for Minnesota. But he doubts the state will lift its moratorium on new nuclear generating plants.

The ethanol boom has turned corn to gold for some, but its use as the sole source of ethanol production has sparked debate over tax subsidies and environmental costs. Pawlenty urged patience on those fronts.

"Everybody sees, and most people understand, that the technology we have today as it relates to corn-based ethanol is not what it?s gonna be 20 years from now. But we had to start somewhere."

The Governor acknowledged that so-called cellulosic sources of ethanol, including corn stalks, switch grass and fast-growing trees have proven much more efficient in smaller scale tests. And then there's the issue of diverting corn from food or feed.

"A situation where we?re using food to make fuel is not the only solution for the future. We?ll have to find other sources and it?s coming," Pawlenty remarked.

"We?ll look back 25 or 30 years from now and what we have now will be viewed as the Model T."

Speaking of cars, the Governor said that higher fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks are long overdue and would be a "tremendous step forward" if Congress does it.

California is already battling with the EPA for the right to set more stringent auto standards, but for the most part it has been considered a federal issue.

Minnesota will also need a waiver from the EPA to implement its own 20 percent ethanol standard by 2013. Testing is still underway on how 20 percent ethanol fuel mix will affect standard car engines.

As Pawlenty put it, "We're hoping within the next year or two the EPA will give us the green light on that. It would be a national breakthrough."

By John Croman, KARE 11 News

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