Minnesota SF 3211: Macalester College geothermal energy system appropriation

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to energy; appropriating money for a geothermal energy system at​
1.3 Macalester College.​
1.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.5 Section 1. APPROPRIATION; MACALESTER COLLEGE GEOTHERMAL​
1.6 ENERGY SYSTEM.​
1.7 (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j),​
1.8 $2,570,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the renewable development account​
1.9 under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, to the commissioner of commerce​
1.10 for a grant to Macalester College in St. Paul to construct an aquifer-based geothermal energy​
1.11 system that provides space heating and cooling to a new campus residence hall and welcome​
1.12 center, with the capacity for future expansion to serve as a district heating and cooling plant​
1.13 for all campus buildings north of Grand Avenue. The appropriation under this section is​
1.14 available until expended.​
1.15 (b) For purposes of this section, "aquifer-based geothermal energy system" means a​
1.16 system composed of wells that access underground aquifers, heat pumps that transfer thermal​
1.17 energy between buildings and the aquifer, heat exchangers, and associated distribution​
1.18 infrastructure.​
1​Section 1.​
25-04624 as introduced​03/20/25 REVISOR RSI/MI​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 3211​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: CHAMPION)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​1261​04/01/2025​
Referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate​