HF 2786

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/06/2014 01:51pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; motor vehicles; creating a Biomethane Task Force;
requiring a report.

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

Section 1. new text begin BIOMETHANE TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, "biomethane" has the
meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.241, subdivision 5b, paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment; membership. new text end

new text begin The Biomethane Task Force is established.
The task force shall consist of 18 members as follows:
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new text begin (1) one representative from the investor-owned utility with the greatest number of
customers in Minnesota;
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new text begin (2) one representative each from the Department of Commerce, the Department of
Transportation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Pollution Control Agency;
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new text begin (3) the director of the Travel Management Division of the Department of
Administration, or the director's designee;
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new text begin (4) one representative from the University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts
and Biosystems Engineering;
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new text begin (5) two representatives from companies whose business is biomethane project
development. The companies should be either Minnesota-based or represented by a
Minnesota representative if a national or international company;
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new text begin (6) one representative from a nongovernmental organization with biomethane
expertise;
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new text begin (7) one representative from a nongovernmental organization with transportation
policy expertise;
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new text begin (8) one representative of a natural gas pipeline operator;
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new text begin (9) one representative of a manufacturer of motor vehicles capable of operating
on biomethane fuel;
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new text begin (10) one representative of a municipal solid waste hauler with experience using
vehicles operating on biomethane as a transportation fuel;
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new text begin (11) one representative of a Minnesota city;
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new text begin (12) one representative of a Minnesota county;
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new text begin (13) one representative of an operator of a large-scale composting facility; and
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new text begin (14) one representative of an energy services company with experience in leveraging
environmental credits for the use of biomethane as a transportation fuel.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appointment. new text end

new text begin The chairs of the senate and house of representatives
committees with primary jurisdiction over transportation policy shall jointly appoint
the task force members.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Cochairs. new text end

new text begin The task force shall have two cochairs, one appointed by each
of the appointing authorities established in subdivision 2.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Charge. new text end

new text begin (a) The Biomethane Task Force shall identify barriers to the
adoption of biomethane vehicles by state agencies, small and large private fleets, and
Minnesota drivers at-large and develop strategies to be implemented over three-, five-, and
ten-year time frames to overcome those barriers.
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new text begin (b) The task force shall consider and evaluate the data and information presented to
it under subdivision 5 in presenting its findings and recommendations.
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new text begin (c) The task force shall consider the feasibility of a pilot project in which household
organic waste is collected and processed into biomethane for use as motor vehicle fuel. If
the task force finds a pilot project would be technically feasible, it shall identify barriers
to the project, develop recommendations to overcome the barriers, and offer general
recommendations on how the project could be implemented, including but not limited to
whether a public-private partnership model would be appropriate and if so, which entities
or types of entities should be included in the partnership.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Data and analysis. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency
shall analyze statewide potential for biomethane generation and suggest appropriate
penetration rate targets for biomethane as transportation fuel for passenger vehicles, small
and large private fleets, and state and municipal government fleets. The commissioner
shall analyze and report to task force members the environmental impacts and benefits of
using biomethane as a transportation fuel option in different types of vehicles, including
but not limited to air emissions from vehicles and potential water quality and other
benefits of biomethane production.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Expenses. new text end

new text begin Members of the task force are entitled to reimbursement
for expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6. Member
reimbursements shall be paid by the commissioner of commerce.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Staff. new text end

new text begin The state agencies represented on the commission shall provide
staff support.
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new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The task force shall present its findings and recommendations in a
report to the chairs of the senate and house of representatives committees with primary
jurisdiction over transportation and energy policy by December 1, 2016.
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new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force expires June 30, 2017.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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