1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital investments; appropriating money
1.3 	for a wind-to-hydrogen pilot project; authorizing sale
1.4 	and issuance of state bonds.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; WIND-TO-HYDROGEN PILOT
1.7 	PROJECT.
 1.8 	$6,000,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund to
1.9 	the commissioner of commerce to plan, design, and construct a
1.10 	wind-to-hydrogen pilot project that involves a public higher
1.11 	education institution capable of evaluating and contributing to
1.12 	performance enhancement of wind-to-hydrogen.  The department may
1.13 	contract with the higher education institution or other third
1.14 	parties to perform any or all of the duties related to the
1.15 	project.  The pilot project must include the ability to store
1.16 	hydrogen and use it as fuel for fuel cells to provide
1.17 	electricity in commercial quantities.  The education institution
1.18 	must agree to evaluate the technical and economic issues of
1.19 	using hydrogen as a storage medium to improve the reliability of
1.20 	wind-generated electricity as a contributor to Minnesota's
1.21 	energy supply.

1.22 	Sec. 2. BOND AUTHORIZATION.
 1.23 	To provide the money appropriated in this act from the bond
1.24 	proceeds fund, the commissioner of finance shall sell and issue
1.25 	bonds of the state in an amount up to $6,000,000 in the manner,
2.1 	upon the terms, and with the effect prescribed by Minnesota
2.2 	Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the Minnesota
2.3 	Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.