GoodFuels

Possible Presidential Candidate Supports 15 Percent Blend

A man who is fueling speculation about a potential bid for the presidency in 2010 would like to see the EPA approve a higher blend of ethanol in gasoline.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty answered several questions about ethanol from reporters after helping celebrate the grand opening of the new Syngenta Seeds headquarters in Minnetonka, MN earlier this week.

I asked him about increasing the allowable ethanol blend to 15 percent. “That’s something we have pushed in Minnesota and there’s some good work that has been done at Minnesota State at Mankato showing you can use 15 percent or more without damaging the engines,” Pawlenty said. “We’ve tried to encourage EPA to look at that and they seem to be unwilling or unable to make a decision so far.”

The governor also said he is proud of the ethanol industry in Minnesota and looks forward to breakthroughs that will lead to the large scale commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. “We’re hopeful that we’ll see next generation biofuels in the not too distant future based on cellulosic ethanol,” he said. “So far in terms of being able to deploy it, it’s been somewhat small scale but we’re hoping there will be more breakthroughs on that.”

Gov. Pawlenty has announced he will not seek re-election as governor and his appearance at the Values Voter Summit over the weekend together with preparations to launch a national fundraising committee has increased speculation that he is considering a run for president in 2012.

Listen to Pawlenty’s ethanol comments here: