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216B.2411 DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES.
    Subdivision 1. Generation projects. (a) Any municipality or rural electric association
providing electric service and subject to section 216B.241 that is meeting the objectives under
section 216B.1691 may, and each public utility may, use five percent of the total amount to be
spent on energy conservation improvements under section 216B.241, on:
(1) projects in Minnesota to construct an electric generating facility that utilizes eligible
renewable energy sources as defined in subdivision 2, such as methane or other combustible gases
derived from the processing of plant or animal wastes, biomass fuels such as short-rotation woody
or fibrous agricultural crops, or other renewable fuel, as its primary fuel source; or
(2) projects in Minnesota to install a distributed generation facility of ten megawatts or less
of interconnected capacity that is fueled by natural gas, renewable fuels, or another similarly
clean fuel.
(b) For public utilities, as defined under section 216B.02, subdivision 4, projects under this
section must be considered energy conservation improvements as defined in section 216B.241.
For cooperative electric associations and municipal utilities, projects under this section must be
considered load-management activities described in section 216B.241, subdivision 1.
    Subd. 2. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision
and section 216B.241, subdivision 1, have the meanings given them.
(b) "Eligible renewable energy sources" means fuels and technologies to generate electricity
through the use of any of the resources listed in section 216B.1691, subdivision 1, paragraph (a),
clause (1), except that the term "biomass" has the meaning provided under paragraph (c).
(c) "Biomass" includes:
(1) methane or other combustible gases derived from the processing of plant or animal
material;
(2) alternative fuels derived from soybean and other agricultural plant oils or animal fats;
(3) combustion of barley hulls, corn, soy-based products, or other agricultural products;
(4) wood residue from the wood products industry in Minnesota or other wood products
such as short-rotation woody or fibrous agricultural crops; and
(5) landfill gas, mixed municipal solid waste, and refuse-derived fuel from mixed municipal
solid waste.
    Subd. 3. Other provisions. (a) Electricity generated by a facility constructed with funds
provided under this section and using an eligible renewable energy source may be counted toward
the renewable energy objectives in section 216B.1691, subject to the provisions of that section.
(b) Two or more entities may pool resources under this section to provide assistance jointly
to proposed eligible renewable energy projects. The entities shall negotiate and agree among
themselves for allocation of benefits associated with a project, such as the ability to count energy
generated by a project toward a utility's renewable energy objectives under section 216B.1691.
The entities shall provide a summary of the allocation of benefits to the commissioner. A utility
may spend funds under this section for projects in Minnesota that are outside the service territory
of the utility.
History: 2001 c 212 art 8 s 13,14; 2002 c 398 s 11; 1Sp2003 c 11 art 2 s 6; 2007 c 136 art
2 s 8

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes