Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Budget Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Minn. House Energy Committee reviews budget totals for energy programs and special funds
Summary
Staff presented an overview of the Energy Resources Division base budgets and special funds — including the Renewable Development Fund, Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Fund and the Climate and Economic Development Fund — and answered members’ questions about carryforwards and one-time federal money.
The Committee on Energy Finance and Policy heard an overview of budgets for the Energy Resources Division, the Public Utilities Commission and related special funds during its organizational meeting. Chair Chris Wazinski said the session would focus on committee priorities and asked nonpartisan staff to present an accounting of where money under the committee’s purview is being spent.
Ashley Yang, fiscal analyst who staffs the committee, presented the figures. She reported that the Energy Resources Division’s general fund spending was $79,336,000 in fiscal year 2024, $46,699,000 budgeted for fiscal year 2025 and a base budget of $14,246,000 in fiscal year 2026 and the same amount in fiscal year 2027. From the Renewable Development Fund, Yang reported $42,605,000 was spent in fiscal 2024 and $52,496,000 in fiscal 2025; she said the base from that fund is $5,000,000 in fiscal 2026 and $4,600,000 in fiscal 2027.
Yang said the committee’s area also includes the Petroleum Tank Release Cleanup Fund; she reported $4,561,000 spent from that fund in fiscal 2024 and referenced a fiscal 2025 figure but did not provide a clear, unambiguous number on the record during the presentation. She added that the Energy Resources Division is a large recipient of federal funds for LIHEAP and weatherization programs and that many accounts under the committee are special revenue funds dedicated to specific programs.
Yang also summarized funding for the Public Utilities Commission and the Climate and Economic Development Fund, noting the latter holds appropriations such as a $45,000,000 fiscal 2024 appropriation for the Climate Innovation Finance Authority and a $190,000,000 appropriation for the state competitiveness fund. She said the legislature had enacted changes to allow transfers between accounts with legislative advisory committee notification.
Members pressed staff for clarification on carryforwards and the size of recent appropriations. Representative Paul Anderson asked why the base budget appeared to increase from $27 million to $190 million; staff explained that the larger enacted amounts reflected decisions in the 2023 legislative session and that some of the increase reflected one‑time or multi‑year appropriations. Representative Tom Sexton asked whether the large difference between enacted and base figures reflected one‑time federal or other money; Chair Wazinski and staff said some of the high totals reflected one‑time funds and carryforwards rather than permanent base increases.
The presentation concluded with staff offering to send a detailed spreadsheet and a November forecast to members for follow-up questions. The committee indicated it will return to budget items as bill work proceeds this session.
