Transmission lines. Blender pumps. Costs of renewable energy.

These were just a few of the topics and concerns presented Monday during a roundtable discussion between staff of U.S. Sen. Al Franken and local business and renewable energy advocates.

The meeting, at Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services, was one of several visits planned around the state with Franken’s staff designed to give business and renewable energy advocates the opportunity to express their ideas about the potential of renewable energy.

The meetings come in preparation of an upcoming energy summit between the Department of Energy and Minnesota’s energy leaders that will take place in Minnesota this fall. Franken invited the Department of Energy to come to the state to discuss how innovation taking place in Minnesota’s renewable energy sector can become an important model for the nation as national energy policy is developed.

“Minnesota is a leader in the creation of renewable energy,” Franken said in a news release. “Through my visits with communities across the state, I’ve learned that Minnesota has a lot to teach Washington, D.C., about the potential for jobs and energy independence.”

He said as a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he knows the input he gets from Minnesota’s renewable energy providers will help his efforts to bring what Minnesota already knows about renewable energy to the nation’s capital.

Franken’s state Energy Director Al Juhnke said while Minnesota does not have oil, coal or natural gas resources, it does have an abundance of renewable energy resources. Because of this, Franken has made renewable energy and energy efficiency some of his main priorities.

Juhnke said Franken is looking for input about the potential for jobs and economic development in this area.

Representatives from the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners, Poet Biorefining, Growth Energy, Alliant Energy, among others, shared their views.

County Commissioner Chris Shoff explained that “energy is definitely a way we can economically develop southern Minnesota.”

Rick Mummert, general manager of Poet Biorefining, talked about the potential for jobs that ethanol and biofuels have for rural America. He talked about the sometimes unfair treatment the industry gets and asked for a fair market share.

Gary Pestorious, a Growth Energy board member, said he wished Americans could have more of a choice in whether to choose ethanol for their vehicles.

Albert Lea was one of seven different communities Franken’s staff are scheduled to attend before the end of the month.