Bill > HF2912

This bill appropriates $2,570,000 from Minnesota's renewable development account to the commissioner of commerce in fiscal year 2026 for a specific geothermal energy project at Macalester College in St. Paul. The funding will support the construction of an aquifer-based geothermal energy system for a new campus residence hall and welcome center, with the potential to expand and serve as a district heating and cooling plant for all campus buildings north of Grand Avenue. The bill defines an "aquifer-based geothermal energy system" as a complex infrastructure involving wells that access underground aquifers, heat pumps to transfer thermal energy between buildings and the aquifer, heat exchangers, and related distribution infrastructure. The appropriation is available until expended, and it provides an exception to existing statutory provisions regarding the renewable development account. This project aims to enhance the college's energy efficiency and sustainability by utilizing geothermal technology for heating and cooling purposes.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2912&ssn=0&y=2025