HF 28 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Data center energy generation redundancy provided.

HF 28 amends Minnesota energy law to add a specific exemption for data centers. It defines "emergency backup generator" and creates a new exemption (section 216B.243, subdivision 8(12)) allowing data centers to install combinations of backup generators totaling 50,000 kilowatts or more without undergoing certain regulatory reviews. This directly affects large data center operators by streamlining approval for their critical backup power systems. The bill modifies existing exemption rules to explicitly cover these high-capacity generator setups, reducing regulatory hurdles for data center infrastructure projects.

Issues: ✗ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 4 edits · Mar 3, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was updated from the 1st to the 2nd engrossment, changing the effective date for certain provisions to July 1, 2025, and simplifying the language regarding environmental review processes. The scope of eligible projects for streamlined permitting was expanded to include natural gas peaking plants and energy storage systems, while the specific rules for emergency backup generators were updated to reference a different regulatory part.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was broadened to include new types of power generation projects (natural gas peaking plants and energy storage systems) and adjusted the effective date for applications to the Public Utilities Commission.

TIMELINE

The effective date for new applications to the Public Utilities Commission was changed to July 1, 2025, replacing a 'day following final enactment' clause.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible projects for streamlined local approval now include natural gas peaking plants of any size and energy storage systems.

The regulatory reference for emergency backup generators was updated from Minnesota Rules parts 7007.1140 to 7007.1147 to part 7007.0250.

REQUIREMENT

The language describing the environmental review process was rewritten to clarify that review is complete once the alternative urban areawide review is adopted, regardless of other potential phased reviews.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Energy Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 6 co-sponsors