as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/04/2013 01:46pm
A bill for an act
relating to energy; requiring the Public Utilities Commission to analyze
distributed solar generation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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The Public Utilities Commission shall open a public docket for the purpose of
analyzing the costs and benefits in Minnesota of distributed solar generation and strategies
to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs. The analysis of distributed solar
generation must include, without limitation, the following:
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(1) its use to address transmission constraints and strategies to optimize that use;
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(2) its affect on grid reliability and strategies to improve that affect;
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(3) cost-effective strategies for deployment;
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(4) appropriate sizing of solar projects and economies of scale;
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(5) the cost-effectiveness of competing solar technologies and trends for that
cost-effectiveness;
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(6) comprehensive assessments of its direct and indirect costs and benefits;
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(7) comparison of its costs and benefits to the cost and benefits of other strategies to
meet the state's electric generation needs; and
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(8) the effect of a comparable expenditure on energy conservation on both the
demand and supply side.
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The commission shall report the results of its analysis along with any
recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
with primary jurisdiction over energy issues by January 15, 2014. The commission shall
cooperate with any similar activities engaged in by the Legislative Energy Commission.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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