Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to allocate funds to assess Minnesota's potential for geological hydrogen production. This evaluation is intended to explore the feasibility and impacts of extracting hydrogen from the state's geological formations.

Main Provisions

• Funding Appropriation: The bill appropriates $650,000 from the renewable development account for fiscal year 2026. These funds are designated for a detailed evaluation by the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota.
• Evaluation Components: The assessment must cover several key aspects:
  • Availability: Determine the presence and accessibility of hydrogen resources in geological formations.
  • Feasibility: Analyze whether it is possible to extract hydrogen from underground deposits effectively.
  • Environmental Impact: Identify any potential challenges related to groundwater management.
  • Economic Strategies: Develop cost-effective approaches for storing and transporting hydrogen.

Reporting Requirements

The Natural Resources Research Institute is required to submit interim and final reports on the evaluation's findings. The interim report must be delivered by May 15, 2027, and the final report by May 15, 2028. These reports should be submitted to the legislative committees responsible for energy policy and finance.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill involves an appropriation from the renewable development account, which requires a temporary exception to the existing statute, specifically Minnesota Statutes section 116C.779.

Relevant Terms

• Geological hydrogen potential
• Renewable development account
• Natural Resources Research Institute
• Extraction feasibility
• Groundwater management
• Hydrogen storage and transportation