New Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure Tasked with Preparing the State for More Frequent and Severe Weather
St. Paul, MN - During the 2024 Legislative session, the Minnesota State Legislature passed legislation establishing the Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure. The MACI will work with asset owners to identify and promote best practices to preserve and extend the longevity of Minnesota’s public and privately owned infrastructure and provide for proper management, coordination, and investment.
“During unpredictable weather events, it’s essential for governments to work together and provide localities with the tools to preserve their vital infrastructure as well as plan for the future,” said Rep. Erin Koegel (DFL - Spring Lake Park), chair of the House Sustainable Infrastructure Committee. “The MACI is a response to feedback from communities and asset owners who don't have the capacity to tackle large and complex infrastructure problems. My hope is that, like the Michigan Infrastructure Council, the MACI will help communities address long-overdue infrastructure upgrades while ensuring Minnesotans are getting the best bang for their buck.”
The MACI is tasked with identifying approaches to enhance and expedite infrastructure coordination, strategies that enhance the longevity and adaptability of infrastructure throughout the state, developing recommendations, and submitting an annual report to the Legislature. The recent storms and flooding over the last two weeks exemplify the need to make our communities more resilient to climate change. MACI will work with local governments to implement best practices to preserve local infrastructure, help asset owners collaborate and coordinate infrastructure projects, as well as look at innovative solutions to meet current and future needs of Minnesota communities.
The Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure will work with the Federal Funds Implementation Unit created by Rep. Koegel in the 2023 session. Rep. Koegel championed the Federal Fund Implementation Unit to ensure the successful alignment and implementation of state agencies’ efforts surrounding the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), CHIPS Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and related federal legislation.
###