Stories From the Road: Kelliher Wraps Up Part One of Rural Economies Tour
LITTLE FALLS, MN –
DFL-endorsed candidate for Governor Margaret Anderson Kelliher spent Thursday
afternoon discussing the next generation of sustainable biofuels development.
Kelliher spent time in the farm fields of Staples’ Central Lakes College
Agriculture Center and walked the corridors of the Central Minnesota Ethanol
Co-Op in Little Falls.
“This is innovative work happening right here in central Minnesota – efforts that are making significant inroads toward more prosperous and sustainable rural economic development in our state,” said Kelliher. “Seeing this important progress firsthand assures me that Minnesota’s best days are still ahead of us.”
The Central Lakes College Agriculture Center is licensed to produce energy in 3 ways: ethanol, biodeisel, and biomass. Biodiesel produced at the Center is made with camelina and pennycress, a naturally occurring weed, which is plentiful in Minnesota. Researchers at the Center are studying how to more efficiently harvest other biofuel crops including switchgrass, sweet sorghum, and mischantus.
“The work being done here today is a glimpse at some of the sustainable crops that will fuel the next generation of energy in our state,” Kelliher said. “It is exciting to see these developments happening – scientific discoveries that will help revitalize Minnesota’s rural economies.”
Margaret Anderson Kelliher also spent time talking with plant operators at the Central Minnesota Ethanol Co-Op in Little Falls. Plant managers have been trying since last October to earn a permit from the MPCA to install a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly filter. Because of the delay, the plant is losing $150,000 per month and burning more fossil fuels because of it.
Kelliher says much of the problem starts right at the top – and new leadership is needed to process permit applications more efficiently.
“For too long Minnesota has had a Governor who is asleep at the switch for our businesses,” said Kelliher. “The buck stops at the Governor’s Office. As Minnesota’s Governor, I will be steady and focused – and I will bring new energy to economic development in this state.”
Kelliher is currently en route to the Twin Cities, where she will picket with nurses at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids at 7:30pm.