This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 216B.2402, to exclude data centers from the calculation of gross annual retail energy sales for energy conservation and optimization purposes. A new subdivision is added to define a "data center" as a freestanding structure primarily containing electronic equipment used for processing, storing, and transmitting digital information. The bill also modifies subdivision 10 to include data centers among the facilities exempted from gross annual retail energy sales, provided they meet specific criteria, such as imposing a peak electrical demand on a consumer-owned utility's system that is equal to or greater than 40 percent of the system's peak demand.

The bill aims to support the energy needs of data centers while promoting energy conservation efforts. By excluding these facilities from gross energy sales calculations, the legislation seeks to encourage the growth of data centers in Minnesota without penalizing utilities for the energy consumption associated with these operations. This change is part of a broader effort to optimize energy use and support the state's evolving energy landscape.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 216B.2402