Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced his appointments to the NextGen Energy Board. This new board was proposed by Governor Pawlenty as part of his Next Generation Energy Initiative that puts Minnesota squarely at the front of states leading the way toward our nation's energy future. The NextGen Energy Board will provide recommendations to the legislature and the Governor about how the state can most efficiently achieve energy independence through agriculture and natural resource sustainability.

In order to achieve this goal, one of the board’s primary duties is to examine the future of bio-fuels, such as synthetic gases, biobutanol, hydrogen, methanol, biodiesel, and ethanol within Minnesota and to develop grant programs to assist renewable energy facilities throughout the state.

The first meeting of the NextGen Energy Board will be held Thursday, June 28, 10:00 a.m. in Room 10 of the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in St. Paul.

The NextGen Energy Board consists of 19 members, including seven appointed by the Governor. The Governor’s appointees are Robert Elde, John Frey, Tim Gerlach, Shalini Gupta, Rob King, Thom Petersen and Paul Stark.

Elde, of Edina, is the dean of the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences and the U of M’s J. B. Johnston Land Grant Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Neuroscience. He also chairs the executive committee of the Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment. Elde is appointed as a representative of the University of Minnesota.

Frey, of Mankato, is the dean of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology. He has over 36 years of teaching experience at Mankato State University, including having served as chair of the biology department for five years. Frey is appointed as a representative of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Gerlach, of Eagan, is the regional vice president for clean fuel and vehicle technologies with the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest where he oversees its biodiesel-related market development activities, the coordination of the U.S. Department of Energy-designated Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition, and has led the public-private development of Minnesota’s E85 market. Gerlach is appointed as a representative of statewide environment and natural resource conservation organizations.

Gupta, of Minneapolis, is a senior energy associate with the Izaak Walton League of America’s Upper Midwest Office in St. Paul, where her work focuses on research, policy development, and advocacy for renewable energy and fuels, distributed generation, and energy-efficiency measures. Gupta is appointed as a representative of statewide environment and natural resource conservation organizations.

King, of Shoreview, is a professor and department head with the University of Minnesota’s Department of Applied Economics. He has conducted research on a range of issues related to farmer cooperative formation and management over the past 20 years. King is appointed as a representative of the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.

Petersen, of Pine City, is a staff lobbyist with the Minnesota Farmers Union. He has been a member of the Farmers Union for many years, and prior to becoming a lobbyist with the organization, he was an active farmer. Petersen is appointed as a representative of a statewide agriculture organization.

Stark, of Kensington, is a corn, soybean, and beef cattle farmer in Stevens County and has been a member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau for 33 years. He is a past president of the Farm Bureau, and was first elected to its Board of Directors in 1993, serving District IV. Stark is appointed as a representative of a statewide agriculture organization.

“Renewable fuels and the next generation of energy are a big part of Minnesota’s present and future, and these people will help us set a course that maximizes the benefits for our state’s economy and environment,” Governor Pawlenty said.

The NextGen Energy Board will examine the future of fuels, such as synthetic gases, biobutanol, hydrogen, methanol, biodiesel, and ethanol within Minnesota; develop equity grant programs to assist locally owned facilities; study the proper role of the state in creating financing and investing and providing incentives; evaluate how state and federal programs, including the Farm Bill, can best work together and leverage resources; work with other entities and committee to develop a clean energy program; and report to the legislature with recommendations as to appropriations and results of past actions and projects.

The NextGen Energy Board also includes Teresa Spaeth in her capacity as executive director of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute; the following agency heads: Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson, Commerce Commissioner Glenn Wilson, Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Dan McElroy, Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Holsten, and Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Brad Moore; and the following legislative members: Senators Ellen Anderson, Julie Rosen and Jim Vickerman; and Representatives Bill Hilty, Al Juhnke, and Doug Magnus. The board expires on June 30, 2009.