HF 1852

1st Committee Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010)

Posted on 03/19/2013 07:29 p.m.

1.1A bill for an act 1.2relating to energy; extending period during which renewable energy payment 1.3incentives may be paid; directing payments to other projects from projects 1.4whose eligibility to receive payments expires; appropriating money for incentive 1.5payments;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 116C.779, subdivision 1.62; 216C.41, subdivision 5a. 1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.8    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 116C.779, subdivision 2, is amended to 1.9read: 1.10    Subd. 2. Renewable energy production incentive. (a) Until January 1, 2018 new text begin 2021 new text end , 1.11up to $10,900,000 annually must be allocated from available funds in the account to 1.12fund renewable energy production incentives. $9,400,000 of this annual amount is for 1.13incentives for up to 200 megawatts of electricity generated by wind energy conversion 1.14systems that are eligible for the incentives under section 216C.41 new text begin or Laws 2005, chapter new text end 1.15 new text begin 40 new text end . 1.16 new text begin (b) new text end The balance of this amount, up to $1,500,000 annually, may be used for 1.17production incentives for on-farm biogas recovery facilities new text begin and hydroelectric facilities new text end 1.18that are eligible for the incentive under section 216C.41 or for production incentives for 1.19other renewables, to be provided in the same manner as under section . 1.20 new text begin (c) Any funds allocated to incentive payments for wind energy conversion systems new text end 1.21 new text begin under paragraph (a) that are not expended for that purpose must be allocated to incentive new text end 1.22 new text begin payments under paragraph (b) if necessary to fully pay eligible claims for incentive new text end 1.23 new text begin payments to qualified on-farm biogas recovery facilities and hydroelectric facilities. new text end 1.24 new text begin (d) If funds allocated in calendar year 2010 under paragraphs (b) and (c) are new text end 1.25 new text begin insufficient to fully pay eligible claims for incentive payments to qualified on-farm biogas new text end 2.1 new text begin recovery facilities and hydroelectric facilities, up to $500,000 of additional funds in the new text end 2.2 new text begin renewable development account must be allocated to make up the insufficiency. new text end 2.3 new text begin (e) new text end Any portion of the $10,900,000 not expended in any calendar year for the 2.4incentive is available for other spending purposes under this section. This subdivision 2.5does not create an obligation to contribute funds to the account. 2.6(b) new text begin (f) new text end The Department of Commerce shall determine eligibility of projects under 2.7section 216C.41 for the purposes of this subdivision. At least quarterly, the Department of 2.8Commerce shall notify the public utility of the name and address of each eligible project 2.9owner and the amount due to each project under section 216C.41. The public utility shall 2.10make payments within 15 working days after receipt of notification of payments due. 2.11    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 216C.41, subdivision 5a, is amended to read: 2.12    Subd. 5a. Renewable development account. The Department of Commerce 2.13shall authorize payment of the renewable energy production incentive to wind energy 2.14conversion systems for 200 megawatts of nameplate capacity and new text begin that are eligible under new text end 2.15 new text begin section 216C.41 or Laws 2005, chapter 40, new text end to on-farm biogas recovery facilities new text begin , and to new text end 2.16 new text begin hydroelectric facilities new text end . Payment of the incentive shall be made from the renewable energy 2.17development account as provided under section 116C.779, subdivision 2.