Gov. Pawlenty willing to fight Bush on ethanol blends

The St. Paul Pioneer Express (through the Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Roundtable) we discover that there could be a political fight brewing between the governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, and President Bush. Bush recently criticized local governments for requiring different blends of biofuels in different parts of the country, which raises gas prices and makes distribution more difficult. Minnesota has been requiring 10 percent ethanol blend in its fuel since 1997. Pawlenty said yesterday that Minnesotans would “fight ferociously” if the federal government tries to limit ethanol blends and that instead of criticizing local governments for taking the lead, the President should work for a national standard of at least E10. [Source: St. Paul Pioneer Express via GLPPR]