Committee hears bill to fund green-ammonia tracking system and rebates for Minnesota producers

Representative Paul Anderson introduced House File 2,103, the "Minnesota Made Ammonia Act," and moved the DE1 amendment during a committee hearing. The bill would appropriate state funds to expand the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) to create a registry for ammonia produced with renewable electricity and offer financial rebates to Minnesota businesses that register with the system.

Anderson said the measure could reduce farmers' fertilizer costs and spur local industry. "This house file 2,103 could have a huge impact in many areas of our Minnesota economy," Representative Paul Anderson said, adding that the amendment provides "a rebate to Minnesota companies ... up to a $500,000 rebate." Anderson described the proposal as a "prudent and one-time appropriation" to M-RETS to develop software that would issue auditable "ammonia certificates" tied to renewable energy used in production.

Rob Davis, chief growth officer for the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS), testified in support and described how the registry would operate. He said M-RETS would hire software developers and engineers to create a registry for locally…