HF4904

Purpose

• Provide a government grant to support workforce training for renewable energy and related construction.
• Specifically appropriates funds to help individuals who face barriers to employment gain the skills needed for jobs in renewable energy sectors.

Main Provisions

• Funding: $4,000,000 from the general fund in fiscal year 2027.
• Recipient: Northgate Development LLC, with the money administered by the commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
• Goal: Train people facing barriers to employment in renewable energy and related construction.
• Location: Use at the current site of the Regional Apprenticeship Training Center in Minneapolis.

What the Grant May Cover

• Building costs and operating expenses at the training site.
• Instruction costs, including curriculum development, on-the-job training, and purchase of equipment and teaching materials.
• Support services for trainees (help with barriers to employment, guidance, etc.).
• Job placement services to help graduates find work.
• Program administration and evaluation to measure outcomes.

Scope of Renewable Energy and Related Construction

• Renewable energy systems: design, construction, or maintenance of solar, wind, or geothermal energy systems.
• Energy efficiency improvements as defined by Minnesota law.
• Energy storage using battery technology.
• Infrastructure for charging electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.
• Grid-related technologies that manage load and provide services to the distribution grid in a way that reduces energy use or shifts demand to off-peak times.

Outreach and Equity

• Training programs and partners must actively use targeted outreach and recruitment to reach residents of underserved communities and individuals facing employment barriers.

Significant Changes to Law

• Establishes a new, specific appropriation from the general fund to fund a grant to Northgate Development LLC for workforce training in renewable energy and related construction, including defined uses of the grant and specific outcomes to be evaluated.

Administration and Oversight

• The grant is to be administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development, with program administration and outcome evaluation included as bill components.

Relevant Terms - Northgate Development LLC - general fund - $4,000,000 - fiscal year 2027 - commissioner of employment and economic development - Regional Apprenticeship Training Center - Minneapolis - renewable energy - related construction - solar - wind - geothermal - energy efficiency - energy storage - battery technology - charging infrastructure - electric vehicles - grid technologies - underserved communities - barriers to employment - curriculum development - on-the-job training - job placement services - program administration - outcome evaluation