Ways and Means OKs environment trust fund expenditures

The House Ways and Means Committee amended the bill that manages some appropriations for environmental projects Thursday before sending it to the House Floor.

Sponsored by Rep. Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa), HF3352 would direct the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund appropriations for Fiscal Year 2019.

The bill would appropriate $45.7 million. Included in that total is:

• $17.4 million for land acquisition projects;
• $7.2 million for data and information projects;
• $5.7 million for aquatic invasive species projects;
• $5.1 million toward water resource projects;
• $5.1 million for technical assistance, outreach and environment education;
• $3.5 million to protect or restore land, water and habitat;
• $1.2 million for air quality and renewable energy projects;
• $135,000 in contract agreement reimbursements; and
• $39,000 toward an emerging issues account.

The appropriations are based on recommendations approved by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. The fund itself is funded by the Minnesota State Lottery.

The companion, SF2934, sponsored by Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake), awaits action by the full Senate.

Rep. Josh Heintzeman

Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) successfully offered an amendment to remove funding for three renewable energy projects, which would develop solar window concentrators, install community-scale renewable energy storage systems and design an autonomous solar-powered pasture mower.

Garofalo argued that the projects should be funded by the renewable development account, not the environmental trust.

Garofalo also urged members to reject an amendment offered by Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud), the committee chair. The amendment, which failed, would have directed the LCCMR to consider recommending appropriations of up to $10 million to match appropriations from the bond proceeds fund for wastewater infrastructure.

Despite being permissive language, Garofalo said the amendment would have affected Public Facilities Authority funds and should be have been reviewed by the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance committee, which he chairs.

The bill was also amended to appropriate $600,000 to the Board of Water and Soil Resources for a grant to the Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District for alum treatment in Lake Agnes and carp removal and phosphorous management in Lake Winona.