Relating to energy

ARTICLE 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

"Next Generation Energy Act of 2007"; specifying state energy policy goals and requiring increased reliance on energy efficiency and renewable energy and fossil fuel use reduction

ARTICLE 2 - RENEWABLE ENERGY

Modifying renewable energy objectives and obligations, defining next generation renewable energy objectives; modifying public utilities commission (PUC) authority and regulatory obligations; allowing good faith effort for electric utilities; prescribing a penalty for noncompliance; allowing utilities a compliance payment option; requiring community energy project investment; establishing the next generation energy fund; requiring transmission owning utilities to analyze and identify transmission solutions

ARTICLE 3 - COMMUNITY ENERGY

Modifying the definition of community based energy project, allowing project developers to apply to the commissioner of commerce for initial certification; requiring renewable energy electric utilities to participate in a statewide study identifying community energy project potential, specifying study requirements; requiring the PUC to establish a process to identify priority community energy projects and to establish standards for interconnection

ARTICLE 4 - DEMAND EFFICIENCY

Providing for demand efficiency programs, requiring certain utilities and associations to file energy efficiency and conservation improvement plans, specifying conditions, restrictions, manner of filing and service, appeals, audit and energy efficiency and conservation improvement ownership, requiring the establishment of low income energy efficiency and conservation programs, allowing demand efficiency research and development grants, requiring the departments of administration and commerce to maintain and revise the sustainable building guidelines, establishing a demand efficiency account and allowing recovery of expenses; authorizing the PUC to decouple energy sales from revenues; modifying certificate of need for large energy facilities evaluation requirements; specifying instructions to the revisor of statutes; repealing provisions relating to energy conservation improvement definitions and distributed energy resources

ARTICLE 5 - CLIMATE CHANGE

Defining nonrenewable resource power purchase agreement; modifying the certificate of need issuance standards, allowing the PUC to modify proposals for nonrenewable projects or nonrenewable resource power purchase agreements; requiring the commissioner of commerce to develop a climate change action plan in conjunction with the pollution control agency (PCA), departments of natural resources (DNR), agriculture, employment and economic development (DEED) and transportation (DOT) to identify and invite an independent expert entity to conduct a review of potential policies and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

ARTICLE 6 - WIND PROJECT PERMITTING

Specifying wind energy conversion systems size determination for purpose of jurisdictional siting authority; providing for delegation to counties for allowing wind energy projects (LWECS) under a certain capacity, allowing county boards to assume responsibility for applications processing for permits

ARTICLE 7 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Requiring filing of contract copies with local governmental units; requiring landlords to weatherstrip and caulk buildings; repealing provisions relating to energy audits, energy conservation in existing residences, certain remedies for health and safety violations and certain rules
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