Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to allocate funding for the disposal of trees that have been infested by the emerald ash borer. This pest is a serious threat to ash trees, and the bill aims to enhance the capacity to dispose of these infested trees efficiently.

Main Provisions

• Funding Allocation: The bill proposes an appropriation of $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.
• Grant Recipient: The funds are designated to be given as a grant to the owner of a specific biomass energy generation plant located in Shakopee, Minnesota.
• Use of Funds: The grant is intended for the purchase of equipment to better facilitate the disposal of emerald ash borer-infested wood. The plant uses waste heat from its electricity generation process in the malting industry to handle this task.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a specific financial appropriation aimed at addressing the disposal of infested wood, which was not specified in prior legislation. It does not suggest changes to any existing laws but rather provides a focused financial resource toward a particular environmental concern.

Relevant Terms

• Emerald ash borer
• Infested trees
• Biomass energy
• Waste heat
• Shakopee
• Appropriation