The Senate Energy omnibus finance and policy bill, SF2067 authored by Senator David Osmek (R- Mound), is of much shorter length at twenty-two pages and contains provisions permitting energy storage system pilot projects, funding grants for solar on schools, revolving loan program for electric vehicle charging station, the Prairie Island Net Zero Project and compensation for Benson biomass related businesses.
Another bill named, “Clean Energy First” known as SF1456 authored by Senator David Senjem (R-Rochester) has a similar design as its House companion but has many stark differences. This version also requires the preferential treatment for clean energy resources in the resource planning process with the Public Utilities Commission but most notably includes the use of carbon capture use and sequestration in the definition of clean energy resources.
Both bills passed out of committee and are headed to Senate Finance for further consideration.
Today is the second legislative deadline, which requires committees to act favorably on bills or companions of bills that met the first deadline in the other house. As we make our way towards the third deadline in two weeks, the committees will continue to finalize all of their energy related omnibus bills.