Over $3 million in funding included for St. Cloud’s Green Hydrogen Project
ST. PAUL, Minn. – On April 29, the Minnesota Senate passed the Environment and Natural Resources budget bill, which includes a proposal from Senator Aric Putnam (DFL, St. Cloud) for $3,155,000 to fund St. Cloud’s Green Hydrogen Project. The project produces clean fuel from wastewater and is part of a broader effort to support renewable energy, public health, and local job growth.
Located at the St. Cloud Nutrient, Energy, and Water Recovery Facility, the project will use renewable energy such as biofuel and solar energy to power an electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen provides clean fuel for heating, power generation and transportation, while the oxygen will be utilized to support the wastewater treatment process. The system benefits both the environment and the community.
“This project shows what’s possible when we work together and when we invest in clean energy and local infrastructure at the same time,” said Senator Putnam. “St. Cloud is already a national leader in this work, with this funding we will be able to build on our strengths and lead in innovation, job creation, and climate solutions.”
The new funding would build on a $1.095 million Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) investment in 2022 by implementing the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) $3.155 million recommendation with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. The funds would support research for expanded hydrogen use in the community, along with aiding in the installation of hydrogen storage, compression and equipment needed to allow for local use and distribution across the state.
Project partners include New Flyer of America, Metro Bus, Niron Magnetics, and Central McGowan. This local collaboration will help expand the use of clean hydrogen in manufacturing, transit, heating, and heavy-duty vehicles and attract companies with deploying new technologies to Minnesota.
The Green Hydrogen Project brings broad benefits to the St. Cloud region and Minnesota with:
- Clean Fuel – Green hydrogen would power vehicles and provide heat at the Nutrient, Energy & Water Recovery Facility
Clean Community – Reducing emissions improves local air quality and public health - Clean Jobs – Local businesses are actively building a green hydrogen economy and workforce
- Clean Leadership – St. Cloud is positioning Minnesota as a national model for community-scale clean energy
The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 35 to 30 and will now move to a conference committee.
Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee. He serves on the Jobs and Economic Development Committee and Taxes Committee.
Learn more about Sen. Putnam.
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