Bill Text: MN SF538 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Bioenergy grants appropriation
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-09 - Author added Sheran [SF538 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF538-Introduced.html
1.2relating to agriculture; appropriating money to the commissioner of agriculture
1.3for bioenergy grants.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. APPROPRIATION; BIOENERGY GRANTS.
1.6(a) $....... in fiscal year 2012 is appropriated from the special revenue fund to the
1.7commissioner of agriculture for bioenergy grants. The NextGen Energy Board, established
1.8in Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.105, shall make recommendations to the commissioner
1.9on grants for owners of Minnesota facilities producing bioenergy, organizations that
1.10provide for on-station, on-farm field scale research and outreach to develop and test the
1.11agronomic and economic requirements of diverse stands of prairie plants and other
1.12perennials for bioenergy systems, or certain nongovernmental entities. For the purposes
1.13of this paragraph, "bioenergy" includes transportation fuels derived from cellulosic
1.14material, as well as the generation of energy for commercial heat, industrial process heat,
1.15or electrical power from cellulosic material via gasification or other processes. The
1.16board must give priority to a bioenergy facility that is at least 60 percent owned and
1.17controlled by farmers, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 500.24, subdivision 2,
1.18paragraph (n), or natural persons residing in the county or counties contiguous to where
1.19the facility is located. Grants are limited to 50 percent of the cost of research, technical
1.20assistance, or equipment related to bioenergy production or $500,000, whichever is less.
1.21Grants to nongovernmental entities for the development of business plans and structures
1.22related to community ownership of eligible bioenergy facilities together may not exceed
1.23$150,000. The board shall make a good-faith effort to select projects that have merit, and
1.24when taken together, represent a variety of bioenergy technologies, biomass feedstocks,
2.1and geographic regions of the state. Projects must have a qualified engineer provide
2.2certification on the technology and fuel source. Grantees must provide reports at the
2.3request of the commissioner. No later than February 1, 2013, the commissioner shall
2.4report on the projects funded under this appropriation to the house of representatives and
2.5senate committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance. The commissioner's costs
2.6in administering the program may be paid from the appropriation. This is a onetime
2.7appropriation and is available until June 30, 2013.
2.8(b) The utility subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, shall transfer the
2.9amount required for the appropriation in paragraph (a) to the commissioner of agriculture
2.10on a schedule determined by the commissioner. The money transferred must be deposited
2.11in the special revenue fund.
1.3for bioenergy grants.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. APPROPRIATION; BIOENERGY GRANTS.
1.6(a) $....... in fiscal year 2012 is appropriated from the special revenue fund to the
1.7commissioner of agriculture for bioenergy grants. The NextGen Energy Board, established
1.8in Minnesota Statutes, section 41A.105, shall make recommendations to the commissioner
1.9on grants for owners of Minnesota facilities producing bioenergy, organizations that
1.10provide for on-station, on-farm field scale research and outreach to develop and test the
1.11agronomic and economic requirements of diverse stands of prairie plants and other
1.12perennials for bioenergy systems, or certain nongovernmental entities. For the purposes
1.13of this paragraph, "bioenergy" includes transportation fuels derived from cellulosic
1.14material, as well as the generation of energy for commercial heat, industrial process heat,
1.15or electrical power from cellulosic material via gasification or other processes. The
1.16board must give priority to a bioenergy facility that is at least 60 percent owned and
1.17controlled by farmers, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 500.24, subdivision 2,
1.18paragraph (n), or natural persons residing in the county or counties contiguous to where
1.19the facility is located. Grants are limited to 50 percent of the cost of research, technical
1.20assistance, or equipment related to bioenergy production or $500,000, whichever is less.
1.21Grants to nongovernmental entities for the development of business plans and structures
1.22related to community ownership of eligible bioenergy facilities together may not exceed
1.23$150,000. The board shall make a good-faith effort to select projects that have merit, and
1.24when taken together, represent a variety of bioenergy technologies, biomass feedstocks,
2.1and geographic regions of the state. Projects must have a qualified engineer provide
2.2certification on the technology and fuel source. Grantees must provide reports at the
2.3request of the commissioner. No later than February 1, 2013, the commissioner shall
2.4report on the projects funded under this appropriation to the house of representatives and
2.5senate committees with jurisdiction over agriculture finance. The commissioner's costs
2.6in administering the program may be paid from the appropriation. This is a onetime
2.7appropriation and is available until June 30, 2013.
2.8(b) The utility subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, shall transfer the
2.9amount required for the appropriation in paragraph (a) to the commissioner of agriculture
2.10on a schedule determined by the commissioner. The money transferred must be deposited
2.11in the special revenue fund.
