1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; appropriating money for microgrid research and application; 
1.3 	extending previous appropriations.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS CENTER FOR 
1.6 	MICROGRID RESEARCH.
 1.7 	(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j), 
1.8 	$1,200,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the renewable development account 
1.9 	established in Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, to the commissioner of 
1.10 	commerce for a grant to the University of St. Thomas Center for Microgrid Research for 
1.11 	the purposes of paragraph (b). This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 
1.12 	30, 2028.
1.13 	(b) The appropriations in paragraph (a) must be used by the University of St. Thomas 
1.14 	Center for Microgrid Research to:
1.15 	(1) increase the center's capacity to provide industry partners opportunities to test 
1.16 	near-commercial microgrid products on a real-world scale and to multiply opportunities for 
1.17 	innovative research;
1.18 	(2) procure advanced equipment and controls to enable the extension of the university's 
1.19 	microgrid to additional buildings; and
1.20 	(3) expand hands-on educational opportunities for traditional and nontraditional students 
1.21 	and the center's outreach activities to increase understanding of microgrid operations.

2.1 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION EXTENSION.
 2.2 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, and Laws 2023, chapter 60, article 
2.3 	11, section 2, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), the availability of the fiscal year 2024 and fiscal 
2.4 	year 2025 appropriations for grants to the University of St. Thomas Center for Microgrid 
2.5 	Research in Laws 2023, chapter 60, article 11, section 2, subdivision 3, are extended to June 
2.6 	30, 2028.

2.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.