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HF2862 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Certificate of need exemption provided to certain electric generating facilities.

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to amend existing Minnesota energy regulations by providing exemptions from the certificate of need requirement for certain electric generating facilities. This is intended to facilitate quicker and more efficient development of certain energy projects without needing extensive prior approval.

Main Provisions

  • Exemption Expansion: The bill outlines specific types of electric generating facilities that are exempt from needing a certificate of need. This exemption applies to:

    • Cogeneration and small power production facilities with a capacity of less than 80,000 kilowatts.
    • High-voltage transmission lines for a single customer's use.
    • Upgrades to transmission lines using existing rights-of-way.
    • Short high-voltage lines for new or upgraded substations.
    • Fuel source conversions of existing plants to natural gas.
    • Plant modifications that increase efficiency by less than 10% or 100 megawatts.
    • Large wind and solar systems if they have a site permit application.
    • Energy storage systems.
    • Transmission lines connecting renewables or storage systems.
    • Relocations of high-voltage lines to new rights-of-way without increasing voltage capability.
    • New or modified facilities aimed at powering data centers that comply with specific standards.

  • Data Center Definition: The bill defines a data center as a location with networked computer servers used for storing, processing, or distributing digital data.

  • Repowering Project Definition: It clarifies that "repowering" involves modifying wind or solar energy systems to boost efficiency without increasing capacity, replacing turbines, or increasing nameplate capacity.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill changes existing legislation by expanding the list of projects exempt from the certificate of need process. This reduces regulatory hurdles for certain clean energy and technological infrastructure projects, potentially accelerating their implementation.

Relevant Terms

cogeneration, small power production, high-voltage transmission, fuel conversion, plant efficiency, wind energy, solar energy, repowering, energy storage, data center, certificate of need, exemption.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 25, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toEnergy Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Energy storage systems defined in section 216I.02 subdivision 6.",
        "New or modified electric generating facility primarily intended for data center power that complies with section 216B.1691 subdivision 2g."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "",
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill amends exemptions for certificate of need for certain facilities under section 216B.243.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "216B.243",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 8"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "",
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        "",
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Energy storage systems exemption referenced under section 216B.243.",
      "modified": [
        "",
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "216I.02",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 6"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "",
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        "",
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Compliance requirement for new or modified electric generating facility under section 216B.243.",
      "modified": [
        "",
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "216B.1691",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2g"
  }
]

Sponsors