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HF 1882

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/02/2017 12:48pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 03/01/2017

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to energy; modifying the solar energy standard; amending resource planning
requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, sections 216B.1691, subdivision
2f; 216B.2422, subdivisions 2, 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216B.1691, subdivision 2f, is amended to
read:


Subd. 2f.

Solar energy standard.

(a) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions 2a
and 2b, each public utility shall generate or procure sufficient electricity generated by solar
energy to serve its retail electricity customers in Minnesota so that by the end of 2020, at
least 1.5 percent of the utility's total retail electric sales to retail customers in Minnesota is
generated by solar energy.

new text begin (b) For a public utility with more than 200,000 retail electric customers, new text end at least ten
percent of the 1.5 percent goal must be met by solar energy generated by or procured from
solar photovoltaic devices with a nameplate capacity of 20 kilowatts or less.

new text begin (c) A public utility with between 50,000 and 200,000 retail electric customers:
new text end

new text begin (1) must make a good faith effort, as determined by the commission, to meet at least ten
percent of the 1.5 percent goal with solar energy generated by or procured from solar
photovoltaic devices with a nameplate capacity of 40 kilowatts or less; and
new text end

new text begin (2) may apply toward the ten percent goal in clause (1) individual customer subscriptions
of 40 kilowatts or less to a community solar garden program operated by the public utility
that has been approved by the commission.
new text end

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (d)new text end The solar energy standard established in this subdivision is subject to all the
provisions of this section governing a utility's standard obligation under subdivision 2a.

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end It is an energy goal of the state of Minnesota that, by 2030, ten percent of the
retail electric sales in Minnesota be generated by solar energy.

deleted text begin (d)deleted text end new text begin (f)new text end For the purposes of calculating the total retail electric sales of a public utility
under this subdivision, there shall be excluded retail electric sales to customers that are:

(1) an iron mining extraction and processing facility, including a scram mining facility
as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 6130.0100, subpart 16; or

(2) a paper mill, wood products manufacturer, sawmill, or oriented strand board
manufacturer.

Those customers may not have included in the rates charged to them by the public utility
any costs of satisfying the solar standard specified by this subdivision.

deleted text begin (e)deleted text end new text begin (g)new text end A public utility may not use energy used to satisfy the solar energy standard under
this subdivision to satisfy its standard obligation under subdivision 2a. A public utility may
not use energy used to satisfy the standard obligation under subdivision 2a to satisfy the
solar standard under this subdivision.

deleted text begin (f)deleted text end new text begin (h)new text end Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a solar renewable energy credit associated
with a solar photovoltaic device installed and generating electricity in Minnesota after
August 1, 2013, but before 2020 may be used to meet the solar energy standard established
under this subdivision.

deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (i)new text end Beginning July 1, 2014, and each July 1 through 2020, each public utility shall
file a report with the commission reporting its progress in achieving the solar energy standard
established under this subdivision.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216B.2422, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Resource plan filing and approval.

A utility shall file a resource plan with
the commission periodically in accordance with rules adopted by the commission. The
commission shall approve, reject, or modify the plan of a public utility, as defined in section
216B.02, subdivision 4, consistent with the public interest. In the resource plan proceedings
of all other utilities, the commission's order shall be advisory and the order's findings and
conclusions shall constitute prima facie evidence which may be rebutted by substantial
evidence in all other proceedings. With respect to utilities other than those defined in section
216B.02, subdivision 4, the commission shall consider the filing requirements and decisions
in any comparable proceedings in another jurisdiction. As a part of its resource plan filing,
a utility shall include the least cost plan for meeting 50 and 75 percent of all new text begin energy needs
from both
new text end new and refurbished deleted text begin capacity needsdeleted text end new text begin generating facilitiesnew text end through a combination
of conservation and renewable energy resources.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 216B.2422, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Preference for renewable energy facility.

The commission shall not approve
a new or refurbished nonrenewable energy facility in an integrated resource plan or a
certificate of need, pursuant to section 216B.243, nor shall the commission allow rate
recovery pursuant to section 216B.16 for such a nonrenewable energy facility, unless the
utility has demonstrated that a renewable energy facility is not in the public interest. new text begin When
making
new text end the public interest determinationnew text begin , the commissionnew text end must deleted text begin includedeleted text end new text begin consider:
new text end

new text begin (1)new text end whether the resource plan helps the utility achieve the greenhouse gas reduction
goals under section 216H.02, the renewable energy standard under section 216B.1691, or
the solar energy standard under section 216B.1691, subdivision 2fdeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (2) impacts on local and regional grid reliability; and
new text end

new text begin (3) utility costs resulting from the intermittence of renewable energy facilities, including
but not limited to the costs of purchasing wholesale electricity in the market and the costs
of providing ancillary services.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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