Breakthrough Technologies Institute - Fuel Cells 2000

The Hydrogen Transition Act, signed during the 2005 Minnesota legislative session,
promotes hydrogen as a fuel source for transportation and distributed energy through
the use of fuel cells. It includes a hydrogen energy economy goal, which states that "it is
a goal of this state that Minnesota move to hydrogen as an increasing source of energy
for its electrical power, heating, and transportation needs".
The Act also includes the following elements to promote hydrogen as a fuel source for
transportation and distributed energy generation through the use of fuel cells:
• Early purchase & deployment by state government.
• State identification of the most promising and strategic demonstration
opportunities outside of government.
• State encouragement of a regional hydrogen research & education
partnership.
• $600,000 in matching funds for three multi-fuel hydrogen stations and fleet
vehicle demonstrations in Moorhead, Alexandria and the Twin Cities.
• Development and implement of hydrogen and fuel cell curricula and training
programs for incorporation into existing courses.
Minnesota has established a number of policies to support this goal, including the
following:
Contact:
• The Department of Employment and Economic Development is required to
establish a program to attract hydrogen-related businesses, and establish
energy enterprise zones for a hydrogen infrastructure.
• Hydrogen production from renewables may count toward a utility’s renewable
energy objective after 2010.
• The Department of Commerce will issue a Request for Proposals to build a
wind-powered, electrolysis-to-hydrogen project that includes pipeline, storage,
and fuel cell components.
• In 2003, The University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the
Environment (IREE) will support basic and applied research and demonstration
activities related to renewable energy, including hydrogen. To this end, IREE
received $10 million from the Xcel Energy Renewable Development Fund in
2003 and will receive approximately $10 million in additional funding from the
Xcel Energy Conservation Improvement Program.
Linda Limback
Energy Office, Minnesota Department of Commerce
85 7th Place East, Suite 500
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: (651) 296-1883
E-mail: linda.limback@state.mn.us
Web: www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?subchannel=-536881736&sc2=-
536887792&id=-536881351&agency=Commerce&sp2=y
Rolf Nordstrom
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