May 19, 2024
Minnesota House Passes 2024 Climate and Energy Budget and Policy Conference Committee Report
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Tonight, the Minnesota House of Representatives re-passed the 2024 Climate and Energy Budget and Policy bill. The bill passed as part of HF 4975/SF 4942, the Agriculture, Climate, and Energy package, as amended by the conference committee report. The bill passed the Senate earlier today and now heads to the Governor for final signature.
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, 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 $15.4 million from the Renewable development account to fund projects that move Minnesota towards renewable energy sources. The bill includes 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 roof-top solar energy, grid-enhancing technology, and increasing opportunities to interconnect the grid.
“Working together with our Senate colleagues, we have put forward a strong Climate and Energy bill that will help Minnesota hit our 100% Clean Energy by 2040 Goal,” said Rep. Acomb, chair of the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy Committee. “By making targeted investments in solar and geothermal, modernizing our grid, and reforming our clean energy permitting process, this bill ensures Minnesota remains a national clean energy leader.”
HF 4975 also includes updates to the 2021 Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act, creates an interconnection ombudsperson, and improves the process of upgrading congested parts of the grid. The legislation also advances climate justice and ensures those 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 bill first passed the Senate on May 6 on a vote of 36-30, and the House on May 9 on a vote of 68-59. Documents from the Agriculture, Climate, and Energy conference committee can be found here. A recording of the floor debate and final vote can be found here.
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