U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center

Minnesota Incentives and Laws for Hydrogen Fuel Cells

The list below contains summaries of all Minnesota incentives and laws related to Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

State Incentives

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

State Agency Sustainability Plan and Requirements

State agencies must establish interagency teams to develop and implement sustainability goals that reduce state vehicle petroleum consumption. In addition, each state department or agency must prepare an annual sustainability plan that includes ways to modify vehicle use practices, and report annually on progress towards implementing their plan. Each state agency plan must be based on following targets and mandates:

Using 2005 as a baseline, the state must achieve a 50% reduction in gasoline used to operate state agency owned on-road vehicles by 2015;
Using 2005 as a baseline, the state must achieve a 25% reduction in the use of petroleum-based diesel fuel for state owned on-road vehicles by 2015;
When reasonably possible, state agencies must purchase on-road vehicles that use alternative fuels, including biodiesel blends of 20% (B20) or greater, compressed or liquefied natural gas, ethanol blends of 70% (E70) or greater, hydrogen, propane, or electricity, or (with the exception of buses, snowplows, and construction vehicles) have a fuel economy rating that exceeds 30 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 35 mpg on the highway;
When reasonably possible, state employees must fuel vehicles capable of operating on an alternative fuel with that fuel;
State agencies must increase the use of renewable fuels derived from agricultural products or waste products; and
State agencies must increase the use of technology for delivering information and services in order to reduce reliance on the state's fleet.

(Reference Executive Order 11-13, 2011, and Minnesota Statutes 16C.135 and 16C.137)

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)