BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today was joined by legislators, elected officials, campus officials and industry leaders to sign legislation enacting a comprehensive $42 million renewable energy plan, $7 million in new funding for an agricultural research greenhouse on the campus of North Dakota State University, and a 34 percent budget increase for NDSU Agriculture. The seven bills the Governor signed today will strengthen North Dakota’s agriculture economy, creating jobs and new opportunities for our citizens. The bills signed today include:
HB 1462 – Adopts the 25X25 Initiative and establishes an energy independence council
SB 2180 – Creates a $5 million Biofuels PACE Fund, an interest buy-down program for renewable fuels, dairies, ranching operations and E-85 pumps
SB 2288 – Creates the $3 million Renewable Energy Grant Fund
HB 1515 – Creates the Biomass Demonstration Project
HB 1233 – Creates $3 million of tradable income tax credits for installation of geothermal, solar and wind energy devices
HB1317 – Extends a property tax deduction for wind generation units from 3 to 1 ½ percent
HB 1020 – This bill increases the General Fund appropriation for NDSU Agriculture by 34 percent, for the main and branch units of the Experiment Station, the Extension Service, the Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Grain Plains Transportation Institute. That includes $7 million in new funding – $14 million in total state funding – toward a research greenhouse complex, and $700,000 in biomass research and education. The total agriculture budget for NDSU is $186 million.
“Agriculture is our number one industry, and renewable energy and value-added food and fiber offer unprecedented opportunities for our producers,” Hoeven said. “The incentives we worked to pass this session will help us develop new and better products for larger and broader markets than ever before.”
AG-BASED RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT – In addition to the bills signed today, other legislation includes:
A $7.3 million Governor’s Ethanol Production Incentive Fund; counter-cyclical support for ethanol plants.
A $2.2 million sales and use tax exemption for materials used to construct co-generation power plants in conjunction with value added agriculture projects.
An incentive to purchase environmentally preferable paper and printing products by the state.
Expansion of Value Added Agriculture Investment Tax Credits with the potential to generate investments in 10 projects per year, including renewable energy projects. Five projects with $10 million in investments could result in $100 million in projects over the biennium.
Four new meat inspectors with a total increase of $534,000 for the state inspection program.
Increased funding for the Pride of Dakota Program by $100,000.
A state objective of 10% of electricity produced from renewable sources by 2015.
A requirement for ethanol blend pumps to have an ethanol promotion label.
ANIMAL AGRICULTURE AND STREAMLINED REGULATIONS – Renewable fuels producers can partner with livestock operators:
A $1 million interest buy-down loan program on new or expanding livestock or dairy operations.
Up to $250,000 of interest buy-down on loans for each new or expanding livestock or milking operations that use byproducts of biofuels (Part of Biofuels PACE.)
A 30 percent Investment Tax Credit for livestock feeding and milking operations that use biofuels facility byproducts.
Loans to dairy farms under the Bank of North Dakota Livestock Guarantee Program.
Appropriated $75,000 to the Dairy Coalition for efforts to recruit dairy operations to the state.
Clarification of the authority of counties and townships to zone for location and scope of livestock entities, while leaving the environmental regulations centrally monitored by the state Health Department.
Creation of a central repository of all zoning regulations dealing with animal agriculture within the state Health Department to ease evaluation of livestock “friendly” areas.
Expansion of the drought disaster livestock water assistance program to provide assistance to cattle owners impacted by water shortages due to drought.
An incentive to retain and recruit veterinarians by increasing tuition help and loan repayment assistance for those who will practice in the State.
Provision for an annual permit to allow for over weight loads on the interstate highways.
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