HF 1378

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/02/2015 01:29pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; authorizing funding for a lab to market accelerator; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 216B.241, subdivision 1e.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 216B.241, subdivision 1e, is amended to
read:

Subd. 1e.

Applied research and development grants.

(a) The commissioner
may, by order, approve and make grants for applied research and development projects
of general applicability that identify new technologies or strategies to maximize energy
savings, improve the effectiveness of energy conservation programs, or document
the carbon dioxide reductions from energy conservation programs. When approving
projects, the commissioner shall consider proposals and comments from utilities and other
interested parties. The commissioner may assess up to deleted text begin $3,600,000 deleted text end new text begin $4,100,000 new text end annually
for the purposes of this subdivision. The assessments must be deposited in the state
treasury and credited to the energy and conservation account created under subdivision
2a. An assessment made under this subdivision is not subject to the cap on assessments
provided by section 216B.62, or any other law.

(b) The commissioner, as part of the assessment authorized under paragraph (a),
shall annually assess and grant up to $500,000 for the purpose of subdivision 9.

(c) The commissioner, as part of the assessment authorized under paragraph (a),
each state fiscal year shall assess $500,000 for a grant to the partnership created by section
216C.385, subdivision 2. The grant must be used to exercise the powers and perform the
duties specified in section 216C.385, subdivision 3.

(d) new text begin The commissioner, as part of the assessment authorized under paragraph (a),
shall assess $500,000 in each of five consecutive calendar years commencing in 2015,
for the purpose of making grants to a Minnesota-based nonprofit specializing in energy
efficiency, energy efficiency research, and conservation improvement programing to
establish and operate an "Energy Optimization Lab to Market Accelerator." Funds may
be released to the nonprofit only to the extent that nonstate cash or in-kind contributions
are leveraged. The purpose of the accelerator is to identify, research, test, evaluate, and
incubate energy optimization technologies and platforms, and to conduct the due diligence
review necessary so that public utilities, municipal electric utilities, and cooperative
electric associations can develop and operate conservation improvement plans that
incorporate new and innovative energy conservation technologies. To the extent practical,
the focus of the lab must be on Minnesota and regionally based companies focused on
either supply or demand side energy efficiency improvements, including but not limited to
customer engagement platforms such as user interface, building and equipment design,
data feedback, and advanced metering and billing.
new text end

new text begin (e) new text end By February 15 annually, the commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the committees of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
energy policy and energy finance on the assessments made under this subdivision for the
previous calendar year and the use of the assessment. The report must clearly describe the
activities supported by the assessment and the parties that engaged in those activities.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end