1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital investment; appropriating money for a municipal district heating 
1.3 	and cooling energy distribution system in the city of Rochester.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. ROCHESTER DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM; APPROPRIATION.
 1.6 	(a) $18,960,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2024 to the 
1.7 	commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the city of Rochester 
1.8 	for development of a municipal heating and cooling energy distribution system for buildings 
1.9 	within the downtown district to include the Mayo Civic Center, Rochester City Hall, 
1.10 	Rochester Art Center, Rochester Civic Theater, and Rochester Public Library, with the 
1.11 	capacity to add additional public and private developments on other nearby property sites 
1.12 	in the future.
1.13 	(b) This appropriation may be used for one or more of the following project elements 
1.14 	or phases: predesign, design, engineering, construction, and equipping the facility, systems, 
1.15 	and infrastructure, including capital improvements related to renewable energy sources such 
1.16 	as but not limited to solar thermal, geothermal, solar panels, and replacement of building 
1.17 	controls.
1.18 	(c) This appropriation may be used to reimburse the city for expenditures made by the 
1.19 	city toward this project before the enactment of this section. This appropriation does not 
1.20 	require a nonstate contribution. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until the 
1.21 	project is completed or abandoned subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.642.

1.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.