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| Date: | June 20, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR MAGNUS ELECTED VICE CHAIR OF NEXT GENERATION ENERGY BOARD |
St. Paul – Senator Doug Magnus (R-Slayton), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was elected Vice Chair of the Next Generation Energy Board at its first meeting of the year on Thursday, June 9th. Department of Agriculture Commissioner David Frederickson was elected Chair of the Board, and House Agriculture Chair Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake) was elected to the other Vice Chair position.
The Next Generation Energy Board was established by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and the 2007 Minnesota Legislature as part of the Next Generation Energy Act. The Next Generation Energy Board is committed to the support of the current biofuels industry in Minnesota and to the development of new opportunities for the next generation of biofuels technology. Other members of the Board include representatives from state agencies, the University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, and agriculture and farming advocacy groups.
“It’s an honor and privilege to serve as the Vice Chair on the Next Generation Energy Board, and I look forward to working with Commissioner Frederickson and my House counterpart, Rep. Hamilton” commented Senator Magnus. “Minnesota has one of the nation’s premier agriculture industries and I am confident that we can leverage the ability and expertise of our producers toward the goal of sustainable energy production and independence. Together, with leaders in agriculture, energy, commerce, trade and our research institutions, we can adopt a proactive approach that delivers the best energy solutions for our entire state.”
Sen. Magnus' district is home to the biofuels company GEVO, the world's first biobutanol plant. GEVO recently celebrated its grand opening, in which Sen. Magnus participated.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture states that the Board’s role is “to develop biofuels policies and recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature. The Board will research and recommend how the state can invest its resources to most efficiently achieve energy independence, agricultural and natural resources sustainability, and rural economic vitality.”
The Next Generation Energy Board is funded by the Agriculture Finance Bill, the only budget bill for Fiscal Years 2012-13 that has been signed into law to date.
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