Required elements in an application to the Public Utilities Commission for a certificate of need for a petroleum pipeline specified.

This bill requires companies applying for a certificate of need to build a petroleum pipeline in Minnesota to include detailed demand forecasts in their application. The bill directly affects pipeline developers seeking approval from the Public Utilities Commission for transporting crude oil, motor fuel, or refined petroleum products. Applicants must provide annual demand projections for both Minnesota and neighboring states over a 15-year period, based on specific factors like population growth, vehicle efficiency, electric vehicle adoption rates, and fuel prices. The legislation also mandates that applications explain how changes in assumptions about oil prices and transportation infrastructure could impact their demand estimates.