1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to energy; providing grants to identify 
  1.3             energy-efficiency investment opportunities for 
  1.4             business; appropriating money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [REGIONAL PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY ENERGY-EFFICIENCY 
  1.7   INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] A grant program for fiscal years 
  1.9   1996 and 1997 is established to support regional efforts to 
  1.10  identify energy-efficiency investments for businesses to provide 
  1.11  opportunities for economic growth and job creation. 
  1.12     Subd. 2.  [GRANT APPLICATION AND REVIEW PROCESS.] Regional 
  1.13  development commissions are eligible to apply to the 
  1.14  commissioner of public service for grants under this section.  
  1.15  Applications must be submitted to the commissioner in the form 
  1.16  and manner determined by the commissioner.  The applicant must 
  1.17  specify a process for identifying business and industrial 
  1.18  sectors most appropriate for making changes in energy use.  This 
  1.19  regional process may include surveys, interviews, and regional 
  1.20  forums to identify opportunities for energy-efficiency 
  1.21  improvements and the use of new energy resources by businesses. 
  1.22     The applicant must identify and retain the services of an 
  1.23  appropriate nonprofit corporation to provide the technical 
  1.24  expertise to: 
  1.25     (1) assess energy-efficiency opportunities in new, 
  2.1   existing, and expanding businesses; 
  2.2      (2) analyze the cost-effectiveness of such opportunities; 
  2.3   and 
  2.4      (3) facilitate positive working relationships among 
  2.5   utilities, energy service providers, businesses, and public 
  2.6   agencies that result in cost-effective investments in 
  2.7   energy-efficiency improvements that contribute to economic 
  2.8   developments. 
  2.9      Grants must be designed to maximize participation in 
  2.10  utility conservation and energy efficiency programs and to 
  2.11  promote the growth of the energy service industry, including 
  2.12  engineering firms, distributors, contractors, and other energy 
  2.13  service providers. 
  2.14     Subd. 3.  [GRANT AWARDS.] No applicant may receive more 
  2.15  than $50,000 per year for this regional energy-efficiency 
  2.16  development activity. 
  2.17     Subd. 4.  [EVALUATION.] Each grant proposal must include a 
  2.18  process for evaluating the specific business cost savings 
  2.19  resulting from the regional energy-efficiency program activity. 
  2.20     Subd. 5.  [REPORT.] The commissioner of public service 
  2.21  shall report to the legislature by January 1, 1997, on the 
  2.22  business investments in energy-efficiency technology which 
  2.23  resulted from the grant program. 
  2.24     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.25     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.26  commissioner of public service for the purposes of section 1.  
  2.27  This appropriation is available until June 30, 1997.