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NRRI seeks recurring state support to expand national‑lab partnerships and industry transition work
Summary
NRRI representatives told the committee that recurring state investment would enable the institute to upgrade facilities, add research staff, and host national‑lab partnerships to accelerate clean industrial transitions in Minnesota.
The committee heard from Rolf Wieberg and other NRRI representatives on House File 2,520, which requests recurring investment in the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) to upgrade facilities, increase staff capacity, and enable partnerships with national laboratories and industry.
Wieberg said NRRI's mission — combining economic development of natural resources with stewardship of ecosystems — positions Minnesota to lead on industrial transformations that touch iron and steel, fuels, fertilizers, cement, and forestry products. He described ongoing negotiations with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and other national labs and said federal partners and industry are interested in Minnesota capabilities. Wieberg asked for recurring appropriation to prepare NRRI facilities and staff to host and partner with national labs.
Representative Scribe (bill sponsor) and Representative Scrubba (committee member representing northern Minnesota) emphasized NRRI's return on investment for the state, the need to modernize lab facilities that have not substantially changed since the early 1990s, and the potential to attract larger federal investments. Scrubba noted NRRI work on materials and processes (for example, uses of olivine and biochar) that support decarbonization and clean industrial production.
Committee members laid HF 2,520 over for possible inclusion.
