Minnesota Incentives and Laws for Other
The list below contains summaries of all Minnesota incentives and laws related to Other.
State Incentives
Cellulosic Ethanol Investment Tax Credit
A tax credit is available for investments in a qualified small business that uses or is involved in the research or development of a proprietary technology related to cellulosic ethanol. The tax credit is equal to 25% of the qualified investment, up to $250,000 annually. The credit is available for an investment of up to $1 million over the life of a qualified small business. Eligible small businesses must receive state certification and meet other requirements, such as being headquartered in Minnesota. The tax credit expires January 1, 2015. (Reference House File 1219, 2011, and Minnesota Statutes 13.4967 and 116J.8737)
Alternative Fuel and Technology Grants
The University of Minnesota's Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment offers various types of grants to promote statewide economic development; sustainable, healthy and diverse ecosystems; and national energy security through development of biobased and other renewable resources and processes. Eligible projects include those focused on environmentally sound production of energy, including transportation fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels, from renewable sources; development of energy conservation and efficient energy utilization technologies; energy storage technologies; and analysis of policy options to facilitate adoption of technologies that use or produce low-carbon renewable energy. Funds are available through 2012. (Reference Minnesota Statutes 116C.779)
Laws and Regulations
Biofuels Promotion
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Department) must pursue available resources to promote and increase the production and use of biofuels in the state. These efforts should include increasing the availability of E85 fuel dispensers and ethanol blends. The Department outlined the federal, state, and local opportunities under this initiative in their report to the Minnesota Legislature entitled Bioenergy Development. (Reference Senate File 2737, 2010)
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Requirements
Without requiring significant upgrades, EVSE installed in Minnesota must: 1) be able to be used by any make, model, or type of plug-in electric vehicle; 2) comply with state safety standards and standards set by the Society of Automotive Engineers; and 3) be capable of bidirectional charging once electrical utilities achieve a cost-effective ability to draw electricity from plug-in electric vehicles connected to the utility grid. (Reference Minnesota Statutes 325F.185 and 326B.35)
Hydrogen Energy Plan
The Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC), in coordination with the Department of Administration (DOA) and the Pollution Control Agency, must identify opportunities for demonstrating the use of hydrogen fuel cells within state-owned facilities, vehicle fleets, and operations. DOA must purchase and demonstrate hydrogen, fuel cells, and related technologies in ways that strategically contribute to realizing Minnesota's hydrogen economy goals. Additionally, DOC must report to the legislature every two years with a list of proposed pilot projects that contribute to realizing these goals, including those demonstrating hybrid electric technologies, off-road equipment, and vehicles operating on hydrogen fuel or fuels blended with hydrogen.
DOC may accept federal funds, expend funds, and participate in projects to design, develop, and construct multi-fuel hydrogen fueling stations that eventually link urban centers along key trade corridors across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. These stations should accommodate a wide variety of vehicle technologies and fueling platforms, including hybrid electric, flexible fuel, and fuel cell vehicles. They may offer gasoline, diesel, ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen, and may simultaneously test the integration of on-site combined heat and power technologies with the existing energy infrastructure.
The state's public research and higher education institutions are encouraged to collaborate to establish a regional energy research and education partnership for the production of renewable energy and products, including hydrogen, fuel cells, and related technologies.
(Reference Minnesota Statutes 216B.811 to 216B.815)
Clean Energy Collaborative
The Governor's Clean Energy Technology Collaborative (Collaborative) was created for experts to discuss issues that impact the development of new clean energy technologies that use Minnesota expertise, Minnesota resources, and benefit Minnesota by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Collaborative provides the governor with advice and recommendations on matters relating to advances in technology and research to achieve Minnesota's long-term clean energy goals, including reducing GHG emissions by 80% by 2050 and generating 25% of Minnesota energy from renewable energy resources by the year 2025. The Collaborative outlined Minnesota's long-term clean energy goals and guidance on ways to achieve these goals in the Clean Energy Technology Roadmap. (Reference Executive Order 08-04, 2008)