Magnus, Hamilton are board’s vice chairs

Talk about it

ST. PAUL — District 22 Sen. Doug Magnus, R-Slayton, who serves as chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was elected Vice Chair of the Next Generation Energy Board at its first meeting of the year June 9.

District 22B Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, was elected to the other Vice Chair position.

The Next Generation Energy Board was established by Minnesota Gov. 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.

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.”

Tags: news, magnus, hamilton, vice, chairs