Bill > HF4153

This bill modifies regulations concerning data centers in Minnesota by adjusting the criteria for pre-application evaluations of water appropriations, ensuring that a "net increase in consumptive use" is considered, which accounts for documented reductions in water use by other entities. It also exempts certain qualified large-scale data centers, specifically those that filed necessary construction permits by January 1, 2025, or are located in an "eligible community" (a designated area for economic development), from these water appropriation evaluations. Furthermore, the bill exempts electricity sales to these qualified large-scale data centers from being counted when calculating a utility's solar energy standard, which is a requirement for utilities to generate or procure a certain percentage of electricity from solar power. Additionally, these specific data centers are exempted from paying an annual fee typically levied on qualified large-scale data centers based on their electricity demand. Finally, the bill exempts purchases of electricity for qualified large-scale data centers located in an "eligible community" from sales tax.