St. Cloud Hydrogen Project Scores $3.15M Boost in Senate Bill

(KNSI) – St. Cloud’s Green Hydrogen Project at its wastewater treatment plant is slated to receive $3.15 million to help the clean energy project get off the ground.

The Nutrient, Energy, and Water Recovery Facility will use biofuel and solar energy to power an electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen provides clean fuel for heating, power generation and transportation, while oxygen helps treat sewage more efficiently.

The money was included in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources budget bill by St. Cloud-area Senator Aric Putnam.

The new funding would build on $1 million from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund received in 2022 and $3.15 million from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2024. Those funds are meant to cover the cost of research and installation of a hydrogen storage system.

The bill passed the Senate while the House passed a separate version. The two sides will now move to a conference committee to work out their differences.

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