More support for green projects

The types of environmentally friendly projects eligible for state support would be expanded, under a pair of bills that won approval Feb. 24 from a House division.

The first, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Kalin (DFL-North Branch), would broaden a program that currently pays for roads and pipelines to support bioscience businesses to include clean energy projects.

Kalin sponsors HF2946, which would make clean energy businesses eligible to receive funds from the state’s Bioscience Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program. The program, which supports biobusiness development by funding local infrastructure needs, currently has all its biennial funds committed to various projects; however, Kalin argued that clean energy projects should get a crack at competing for future grant funds.

“We’ve seen, in the last two years … an increase of about 4.5 percent — almost 1,000 net new jobs in Minnesota — as the result of the demand for clean energy business development,” Kalin said.

Some division members voiced concern over expanding the scope of the program. Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud) said the bill would be “diluting” the amount of funding available for bioscience initiatives in the state.

The House Bioscience and Workforce Development Policy and Oversight Division voted 8-4 to approve the bill. A companion, SF2719, sponsored by Sen. John Doll (DFL-Burnsville), awaits action by the Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee.

Additionally, Rep. Kate Knuth (DFL-New Brighton) sponsors HF2837, which would expand the statutory definition of “green economy” to include the concept of “green chemistry.” It, too, won division approval.

“Green chemistry means an approach to designing and manufacturing products that minimizes the use and generation of toxic substances,” Knuth said, reading from the definition of the term.

The change would make green chemistry initiatives eligible for state grants and other funding. As with Kalin’s bill, some division members objected to the expansion, arguing it could spread the state’s funding for high-tech projects too thin.

Both bills now go to the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division.

Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls) sponsors the companion, SF2490, to Knuth’s bill, which awaits action by the full Senate.