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Environmental Quality Board approves expedited rulemaking to align environmental review rules with new energy permitting statute
Summary
The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board voted to initiate expedited rulemaking to amend Minnesota Rule 4410 to conform with legislative changes in Minnesota Statute 216i affecting large energy infrastructure projects. The board authorized the executive director to proceed; the vote was 11 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention.
The Minnesota Environmental Quality Board voted Sept. 17 to initiate expedited rulemaking to amend Minnesota Rule 4410 so it conforms with changes enacted by the legislature for large energy infrastructure projects (Minn. Stat. 216i). The board also authorized Executive Director Kathryn Neuschler to proceed with the rulemaking steps, including publishing a notice in the State Register. Colleen Petzel, director of the EQB's Environmental Review Program, presented the rulemaking package and background. Petzel said the 2024 Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act consolidated environmental-review requirements for large energy projects (including transmission lines, large electric-generation plants, energy storage systems, associated facilities and large solar systems) into Minnesota Statute 216i and moved certain Department of Commerce review staff and responsibilities to the Public Utilities Commission. Petzel said EQB's rules must be updated to avoid…
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