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

Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center

Minnesota Incentives and Laws for Idle Reduction

The list below contains summaries of all Minnesota incentives and laws related to Idle Reduction.

State Incentives

Idle Reduction Technology Loan Program

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Small Business Environmental Improvement and Auxiliary Power Unit Loan Programs provide low-interest loans up to $50,000 to qualified small businesses to finance environmental projects such as capital equipment upgrades that meet or exceed environmental regulations, including idle reduction technologies.

Point of Contact
Mike Nelson
Small Business Ombudsman
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Phone: (651) 575-2122
Fax: (651) 297-8701
michael.nelson@state.mn.us
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/sbomb_loan.html

Idle Reduction Weight Exemption

A motor vehicle equipped with an idle reduction or emissions reduction technology may exceed the maximum gross vehicle weight and axle weight limits by up to 400 pounds to compensate for the additional weight of the technology. The vehicle operator must provide documentation that the qualified equipment is installed on the vehicle. (Reference Minnesota Statutes 169.824)

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)