2007 Minnesota Statutes

216B.813 MINNESOTA RENEWABLE HYDROGEN INITIATIVE.
    Subdivision 1. Road map. The Department of Commerce shall coordinate and administer
directly or by contract the Minnesota renewable hydrogen initiative. If the department decides
to contract for its duties under this section, it must contract with a nonpartisan, nonprofit
organization within the state to develop the road map. The initiative may be run as a public-private
partnership representing business, academic, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations.
The initiative must oversee the development and implementation of a renewable hydrogen road
map, including appropriate technology deployments, that achieve the hydrogen goal of section
216B.013. The road map should be compatible with the United States Department of Energy's
National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap and be based on an assessment of marketplace economics
and the state's opportunities in hydrogen, fuel cells, and related technologies, so as to capitalize on
strengths. The road map should establish a vision, goals, general timeline, strategies for working
with industry, and measurable milestones for achieving the state's renewable hydrogen goal. The
road map should describe how renewable hydrogen and fuel cells fit in Minnesota's overall energy
system, and should help foster a consistent, predictable, and prudent investment environment.
The department must report to the legislature on the progress in implementing the road map
by November 1 of each odd-numbered year.
    Subd. 2. Grants. (a) The commissioner of commerce shall operate a competitive grant
program for projects to assist the state in attaining its renewable hydrogen energy goals. The
commissioner of commerce shall assemble an advisory committee made up of industry, university,
government, and nongovernment organizations to:
    (1) help identify the most promising technology deployment projects for public investment;
    (2) advise on the technical specifications for those projects; and
    (3) make recommendations on project grants.
    (b) The commissioner shall give preference to project concepts included in the department's
most recent biennial report: Strategic Demonstration Projects to Accelerate the Commercialization
of Renewable Hydrogen and Related Technologies in Minnesota. Projects eligible for funding
must combine one or more of the hydrogen production options listed in the department's report
with an end use that has significant commercial potential, preferably high visibility, and relies
on fuel cells or related technologies. Each funded technology deployment must include an
explicit education and awareness-raising component, be compatible with the renewable hydrogen
deployment criteria defined in section 216B.812, and receive 50 percent of its total cost from
nonstate sources. The 50 percent requirement does not apply for recipients that are public
institutions.
History: 2007 c 57 art 2 s 23