HF 5171

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/02/2024 01:22pm

A bill for an act
relating to solar energy; establishing a program to award financial incentives to
permitting authorities that install an automated software system to review and
issue permits for residential solar energy projects; establishing an account;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
216C.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [216C.48] STANDARDIZED SOLAR PLAN REVIEW SOFTWARE;
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE; FINANCIAL INCENTIVE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Energy storage system" has the meaning given in section 216B.2422, subdivision
1.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Permitting authority" means a unit of local government in Minnesota that has
authority to review and issue permits to install residential solar projects and solar plus energy
storage system projects within the unit of local government's jurisdiction.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Photovoltaic device" has the meaning given in section 216C.06, subdivision 16.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Residential solar project" means the installation of a photovoltaic device at a
residence located in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (f) "SolarAPP+" means the most recent version of the Solar Automated Permit Processing
Plus software, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and available free
from the United States Department of Energy, that uses a web-based portal to automate the
solar project plan review process and issue permits to construct residential solar projects
that are compliant with applicable building and electrical codes.
new text end

new text begin (g) "Solar plus energy storage system project" means a residential solar project installed
in conjunction with an energy storage system at the same residence.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program establishment. new text end

new text begin A program is established in the department to provide
technical assistance and financial incentives to local units of government that issue permits
for residential solar projects and solar plus energy storage system projects in order to
incentivize a permitting authority to adopt the SolarAPP+ software to standardize and
streamline the review and permitting process.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin An incentive may be awarded under this section to a permitting
authority that has installed SolarAPP+ and made SolarAPP+ available on the permitting
authority's website.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin (a) A permitting authority must submit an application for a financial
incentive under this section to the commissioner on a form developed by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) An application may be submitted for a financial incentive under this section no earlier
than ... months after SolarAPP+ has become operational in the permitting authority's
jurisdiction.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Review and grant award process. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must develop
administrative procedures to govern the application review and incentive award process
under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Incentive awards. new text end

new text begin Beginning no later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner
may award a financial incentive to a permitting authority under this section only if the
commissioner has determined that the permitting authority meets verification requirements
established by the commissioner that ensure a permitting authority has made SolarAPP+
operational within the permitting authority's jurisdiction and that SolarAPP+ is available
on the permitting authority's website.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Incentive amount. new text end

new text begin (a) An incentive awarded under this section must be no less
than $5,000 and no greater than $20,000.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may vary the amount of an incentive awarded under this section
by considering the following factors:
new text end

new text begin (1) the population of the permitting authority;
new text end

new text begin (2) the number of permits for solar projects issued by the permitting authority using
conventional review processes;
new text end

new text begin (3) whether the SolarAPP+ software has been adopted on a stand-alone basis or has been
integrated with other permit management software utilized by the permitting authority; and
new text end

new text begin (4) whether the permitting jurisdiction has participated in other sustainability programs,
including but not limited to GreenStep Cities and the United States Department of Energy's
SolSmart and Charging Smart programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Technical assistance. new text end

new text begin The department must provide technical assistance to
eligible permitting authorities seeking to apply for an incentive under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Program promotion. new text end

new text begin The department must develop an education and outreach
program to make permitting authorities aware of the incentive offered under this section,
including the convening of workshops, the production of educational materials and videos,
and other mechanisms to promote the program, including utilizing the efforts of the League
of Minnesota Cities, the Association of Minnesota Counties, the Community Energy Resource
Teams established under section 216C.385, and similar organizations to reach permitting
authorities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Account established. new text end

new text begin (a) The SolarAPP+ program account is established in
the special revenue account in the state treasury. The commissioner must credit to the account
appropriations and transfers to the account. Earnings, including interest, dividends, and any
other earnings arising from assets of the account, must be credited to the account. Money
remaining in the account at the end of a fiscal year does not cancel to the general fund, but
remains in the account until July 1, 2027. The commissioner must manage the account.
new text end

new text begin (b) Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes of this
section and to reimburse the reasonable costs incurred by the department to administer this
section.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j),
$....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the renewable development account established
in Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, to the commissioner of commerce
to award grants and provide technical assistance to eligible permitting authorities seeking
an incentive under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.48, and to reimburse the Department
of Commerce for costs incurred to administer Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.48.
new text end

new text begin (b) $....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
to award grants and provide technical assistance to eligible permitting authorities seeking
an incentive under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.48, and to reimburse the Department
of Commerce for costs incurred to administer Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.48.
new text end

new text begin (c) Incentives funded from paragraph (a) may only be awarded to permitting authorities
located within the electric service territory of the electric utility that owns a nuclear electric
generation plant in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (d) Incentives funded from paragraph (b) may only be awarded to permitting authorities
located outside the electric service territory of the electric utility that owns a nuclear electric
generation plant in Minnesota.
new text end