May 9, 2024
Minnesota House Passes 2024 Climate and Energy Budget and Policy Bill
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the 2024 Climate and Energy Budget and Policy bill. The bill passed as part of HF 4975, the Agriculture, Commerce, Climate, and Energy package on a vote of 68-59.
The Climate and Energy provisions of the bill, authored by Representative Patty Acomb (DFL – Minnetonka), include reforms to the permitting process for clean energy projects, support for geothermal energy power, and additional investments and policies to ensure we reach the 100% Clean Energy by 2040 goal the Legislature set last year.
The Climate and Energy Budget and Policy bill appropriates $14.2 million from the Renewable development account to fund projects that move Minnesota towards renewable energy sources. The bill includes HF 4700, Majority Leader Jamie Long’s Minnesota Infrastructure Permitting Act—comprehensive legislation expanding our electric transmission infrastructure and reforming the permitting process. It also spends $1 million from the General Fund to support the development of geothermal and solar energy.
“Last year the Legislature made historic investments in addressing and combatting climate change, lowering energy costs for working families, and set a 100% Clean Energy by 2040 goal,” said Rep. Acomb, chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee. “This year’s budget ensures we can hit that goal by making smart, targeted investments in solar and geothermal as well as reforming our permitting process and electric transmission system to ensure Minnesota remains a clean energy leader.”
HF 4975 also includes updates to the 2021 Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act and creates an interconnection ombudsperson to determine what parts of the energy grid are congested and need to be updated. The legislation also advances climate justice and ensures those historically most affected by climate change are not left behind, including grants for a geothermal heating and cooling system at the Sabathani Community Center and an anaerobic digester system to process organic waste from Ramsey and Washington Counties.
The 2024 Climate and Energy Budget and Policy bill builds on the historic accomplishments of last year’s budget, which set a 100% by 2040 Clean Energy goal, ensured Minnesota was competitive in leveraging federal funding in climate change mitigation, and invested nearly $250 million in new funding to lower energy costs, create more clean energy jobs, and address and combat climate change.
The Senate companion, SF 4942, passed on May 6 on a 36-30 vote. You can find more information in the bill language, nonpartisan research summary, and spreadsheet. A recording of today’s floor debate and final vote can be found here.
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