Nitrogen fertilizer production is primarily produced from fossil gas and is extremely carbon intensive.  Most of our fertilizer comes from the Gulf Coast. Minnesota could use green hydrogen from wind and solar to produce the fertilizer locally. Key research is being conducted at the University of Minnesota Campus in Morris.  The legislature approved $7 million in funding for green fertilizer projects.  It could lead to a new multi-billion dollar industry in our state.

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"The U of MN West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, has been a forerunner in the development and use for “Green Ammonia” since 2013 when the first-in-the-world renewable hydrogen and ammonia pilot plant was commissioned. The novel pilot plant uses wind power from a 1.65 MW wind turbine to produce up to 25 tons of nitrogen fertilizer (anhydrous ammonia) each year on-site, which is enough to cover approximately 300 acres of cropland. Hydrogen and nitrogen are combined to form anhydrous ammonia – a core nitrogen fertilizer across the Midwest. "