This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, specifically 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 clarify that gross annual retail energy sales do not include electric sales to data centers, provided they meet certain 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.

Additionally, the bill retains existing exemptions for large energy facilities and large customer facilities regarding gas and electric sales. It specifies that electric sales to data mining facilities or data centers are exempt if they provide verification to the utility that they meet the definition of a data mining facility and meet the peak demand criteria. The bill aims to support the energy needs of data centers while promoting energy conservation and optimization efforts in Minnesota.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 216B.2402