1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to renewable fuel use by state departments;
1.3 	clarifying the state's policy of minimizing energy use
1.4 	and requiring renewable fuels wherever appropriate;
1.5 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
1.6 	chapter 16C.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. [16C.137] MINIMIZING ENERGY USE; RENEWABLE
1.9 	FUELS.
1.10 		Subdivision 1.Legislative findings. The legislature
1.11 	finds that increased use of agricultural renewable fuels such as
1.12 	ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen made from agricultural products
1.13 	will reduce Minnesota's dependence on imported oil and help
1.14 	protect our environment while providing enormous benefit to
1.15 	Minnesota's rural communities and agricultural economy.
1.16 	Furthermore, Minnesota has a unique economic advantage in the
1.17 	ability to produce clean, renewable, domestic fuels and
1.18 	Minnesota leads the nation in the production and use of ethanol
1.19 	and biodiesel.  State agencies need to be urged, once again, to
1.20 	use cleaner fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen in state
1.21 	vehicles, and to purchase vehicles capable of being powered by
1.22 	these cleaner fuels as required by section 16C.135.
1.23 		Subd. 2.Goals and actions. (a) Using 2005 as a
1.24 	baseline, the state of Minnesota shall reduce the use of
1.25 	gasoline by on-road vehicles owned by state departments by 25
1.26 	percent by 2010 and by 50 percent by 2015, and the use of
2.1 	petroleum-based diesel fuel in diesel-fueled vehicles by ten
2.2 	percent by 2010 and 25 percent by 2015.
2.3 	(b) To meet the goals established in paragraph (a), each
2.4 	state department must, whenever legally, technically, and
2.5 	economically feasible, subject to the specific needs of the
2.6 	department and responsible management of agency finances:
2.7 	(1) ensure that all new on-road vehicles purchased,
2.8 	excluding emergency and law enforcement vehicles:
2.9 	(i) use "cleaner fuels" as that term is defined in section
2.10 	16C.135, subdivision 1, clauses (1), (3), and (4); or 
2.11 	(ii) have fuel efficiency ratings that exceed 30 miles per
2.12 	gallon for city usage or 35 miles per gallon for highway usage,
2.13 	including but not limited to hybrid electric cars and
2.14 	hydrogen-powered vehicles;
2.15 	(2) increase its use of renewable transportation fuels,
2.16 	including ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen from agricultural
2.17 	products; and 
2.18 	(3) increase its use of Web-based Internet applications and
2.19 	other electronic information technologies to enhance the access
2.20 	to and delivery of government information and services to the
2.21 	public, and reduce the reliance on the department's fleet for
2.22 	the delivery of such information and services.
2.23 		Subd. 3.Smartfleet committee. (a) The commissioner of
2.24 	administration, or the commissioner's designee, shall chair a
2.25 	SmartFleet Committee consisting of representatives designated by
2.26 	the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency, the
2.27 	Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, and other state
2.28 	departments that wish to participate.  To ensure effective and
2.29 	efficient state participation, the SmartFleet Committee must
2.30 	assist state departments in implementing the requirements of
2.31 	this section, including providing information, guidance, sample
2.32 	policies and procedures, and technical and planning assistance.
2.33 	(b) The SmartFleet Committee must evaluate the goals and
2.34 	directives established in this section by December 2006 and
2.35 	periodically thereafter.  The committee may make recommendations
2.36 	to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature
3.1 	for new or adjusted goals and directives, in light of the
3.2 	progress the state has made implementing this section, and of
3.3 	the availability of new or improved technologies.
3.4 	(c) For the systematic and efficient monitoring of progress
3.5 	in implementing this section by the SmartFleet Committee, the
3.6 	Department of Administration shall implement a fleet reporting
3.7 	and information management system.  Each department will use
3.8 	this management system to demonstrate its progress in complying
3.9 	with this section.
3.10 		Subd. 4.Exclusion. Petroleum-based diesel fuel used in
3.11 	a vehicle which a department has retrofit to use ultra low
3.12 	sulfur diesel fuel and to add additional emissions control
3.13 	technologies is excluded when evaluating progress toward the
3.14 	reduction goals established in subdivision 2.  This exclusion
3.15 	applies only to vehicles purchased before the model year in
3.16 	which the federal Environmental Protection Agency's new clean
3.17 	diesel emission reduction rules take effect.

3.18 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 3.19 	Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.