Bill > SF1393

This bill addresses data center energy generation redundancy by making several key amendments to Minnesota statutes. It defines a "data center" as a freestanding structure primarily containing electronic equipment for processing, storing, and transmitting digital information, and establishes a definition for "emergency backup generator" as a stationary engine with equipment that prevents electricity flow to the electric grid. The bill creates an exemption in utility regulations for combinations of emergency backup generators at a single site with a total capacity of 50,000 kilowatts or more that serve a data center, effectively streamlining the permitting process for these backup power systems. Additionally, the bill modifies environmental review requirements to include specific considerations for evaluating alternative generation methods when assessing emergency backup generator projects, such as comparing generation size, cost, environmental effects, and reliability. The bill also updates various sections of Minnesota law to incorporate these new definitions and provisions, with most changes taking effect immediately after final enactment. The primary goal appears to be facilitating more efficient and flexible energy backup solutions for data centers while maintaining environmental review standards.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1393&ssn=0&y=2025