Subdivision 1. Commissioner. The commissioner shall establish a program to award grants to taconite mining companies for:
(1) taconite pellet product improvements;
(2) value-added production of taconite iron ore; or
(3) cost-savings production improvements at Minnesota taconite plants.
An amount equal to the sum of money transferred to the general fund under section 93.223, subdivision 1, reduced by $100,000, is annually appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner for the purposes of this section.
Subd. 2. Coleraine laboratory. The director of the Coleraine laboratory shall establish a program to award grants for the purpose of transferring technology from the Coleraine laboratory to taconite mining companies for:
(1) taconite pellet product improvements;
(2) value-added production of taconite iron ore; or
(3) cost-savings production improvements at Minnesota taconite plants.
An amount equal to the sum of money transferred to the general fund under section 93.223, subdivision 2, is annually appropriated from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the purposes of this section.
History:1Sp2001 c 6 art 1 s 3; 2002 c 220 art 8 s 11; 2014 c 275 art 1 s 14