<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>requiring neighborhood energy reduction report; appropriating money.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:<br/>
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<a id="bill.0.1.0"></a><a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>    Section 1. <b>URBAN TRANSMISSION LINE; CERTIFICATE OF NEED </b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var><b>REQUIRED.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>A high-voltage transmission line longer than one mile with a capacity of 100 <br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>kilovolts or more that is located in a city of the first class in a zone within one mile of <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>the transmission line in which population density exceeds 8,000 persons per square <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>mile, and that runs parallel to and is within one-quarter mile of a below-grade bike and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>walking path that connects with other bike paths along a river, is subject to the provisions <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>of Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.243.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>and applies only to high-voltage transmission lines described in this section that are the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>subject of an application for a route permit under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216E, that is <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>pending before the Public Utilities Commission on March 15, 2010.<br/>
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<a id="bill.0.2.0"></a><a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>    Sec. 2. <b>NEIGHBORHOOD ENERGY REDUCTION REPORT.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>    Subdivision 1. <b>Report.</b> (a) By February 15, 2011, an organization with experience <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>in energy conservation and energy planning at the neighborhood level that serves as <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>project manager must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>policy that contains the following information:<br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>(1) projections of the amount of energy that can be conserved and generated through <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency investments; innovative energy <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>storage projects, including thermal energy storage; smart-grid technologies; and energy <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>produced from distributed generation projects fueled by solar photovoltaic and other <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>renewable energy sources located in the focused study area designated in the application <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a route permit for the high-voltage <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>transmission line identified in section 1;<br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>(2) for each energy-reducing or energy-generating element recommended, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>estimates of the amount of energy conserved or generated, the reduction in peak demand <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>requirements in the focused study area, and the cost per unit of energy saved or generated; <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>and<br/>
<a id="pl.2.12"></a><var>2.12</var>(3) an estimate of the number of green jobs that would be created through <br/>
<a id="pl.2.13"></a><var>2.13</var>implementation of the report's recommendations.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.14"></a><var>2.14</var>(b) Requests by the project manager for information from the utility serving the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.15"></a><var>2.15</var>focused study area may be made after the service of notice of and order for hearing <br/>
<a id="pl.2.16"></a><var>2.16</var>made under Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.243, for the project described in section 1. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.17"></a><var>2.17</var>Information requests with respect to the study are governed by the rules for contested case <br/>
<a id="pl.2.18"></a><var>2.18</var>hearings in Minnesota Rules, part 1400.6700.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.19"></a><var>2.19</var>(c) The project manager may contract for portions of the work required to complete <br/>
<a id="pl.2.20"></a><var>2.20</var>the report.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.21"></a><var>2.21</var>    Subd. 2. <b>Community steering committee.</b> (a) The project manager shall convene <br/>
<a id="pl.2.22"></a><var>2.22</var>a community steering committee to provide input to the report.  Appointments to the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.23"></a><var>2.23</var>steering committee must reflect the diversity of the focused study area, and include <br/>
<a id="pl.2.24"></a><var>2.24</var>representatives of focused study area residents, building owners and renters, businesses, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.25"></a><var>2.25</var>churches, other institutions, including the Midtown Community Works Partnership, local <br/>
<a id="pl.2.26"></a><var>2.26</var>hospitals, and the city in which the focused study area is located. All meetings held by the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.27"></a><var>2.27</var>community steering committee or any subcommittees it creates must be public meetings, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.28"></a><var>2.28</var>with advance notice given to the public.<br/>
<a id="pl.2.29"></a><var>2.29</var>(b) The project manager shall seek to maximize the participation of focused study <br/>
<a id="pl.2.30"></a><var>2.30</var>area residents, stakeholders, and institutions in recommending ideas to be included within <br/>
<a id="pl.2.31"></a><var>2.31</var>the scope of the report and in reviewing initial and successive drafts of the report, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.32"></a><var>2.32</var>including providing stipends for child care and transportation when necessary to increase <br/>
<a id="pl.2.33"></a><var>2.33</var>participation. The project manager shall contact representatives of similar successful <br/>
<a id="pl.2.34"></a><var>2.34</var>projects in other states to benefit from their experience and to learn about best practices <br/>
<a id="pl.2.35"></a><var>2.35</var>for increasing public participation that can be replicated in Minnesota. The report must <br/>
<a id="pl.3.1"></a><var>3.1</var>incorporate and respond to comments from the focused study area and the steering <br/>
<a id="pl.3.2"></a><var>3.2</var>committee.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.3"></a><var>3.3</var>    Subd. 3. <b>Energy savings.</b> The utility that serves the focused study area may apply <br/>
<a id="pl.3.4"></a><var>3.4</var>energy savings resulting directly from the implementation of recommendations contained <br/>
<a id="pl.3.5"></a><var>3.5</var>in the report regarding energy efficiency investments to its energy-savings goal under <br/>
<a id="pl.3.6"></a><var>3.6</var>section 216B.241, subdivision 1c.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.7"></a><var>3.7</var>    Subd. 4. <b>Certificate of need process.</b> No contested case evidentiary hearings <br/>
<a id="pl.3.8"></a><var>3.8</var>for a certificate of need for the transmission line identified in section 1 may commence <br/>
<a id="pl.3.9"></a><var>3.9</var>before April 1, 2011. <br/>
<a id="pl.3.10"></a><var>3.10</var><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b>This section is effective the day following final enactment.<br/>
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<a id="bill.0.3.0"></a><a id="pl.3.11"></a><var>3.11</var>    Sec. 3. <b>APPROPRIATION AND TRANSFER.</b><br/>
<a id="pl.3.12"></a><var>3.12</var>(a) Of the assessment authority authorized and appropriated to the commissioner <br/>
<a id="pl.3.13"></a><var>3.13</var>of commerce under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.052, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), <br/>
<a id="pl.3.14"></a><var>3.14</var>clause (2), up to $307,000 in fiscal year 2011 must be allocated by the commissioner to <br/>
<a id="pl.3.15"></a><var>3.15</var>implement this act. Of this amount, $34,000 must be transferred and is appropriated to the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.16"></a><var>3.16</var>Public Utilities Commission to implement section 1. These appropriations are onetime <br/>
<a id="pl.3.17"></a><var>3.17</var>and are available until expended, without regard to section 216C.052, subdivision 4.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.18"></a><var>3.18</var>(b) The utility subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, shall transfer <br/>
<a id="pl.3.19"></a><var>3.19</var>$100,000 from the renewable development account established under that section to the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.20"></a><var>3.20</var>commissioner of commerce, who shall deposit it in the special revenue fund.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.21"></a><var>3.21</var>(c) $100,000 from the money deposited in the special revenue fund under paragraph <br/>
<a id="pl.3.22"></a><var>3.22</var>(a) is appropriated to the commissioner of commerce for a grant to an organization <br/>
<a id="pl.3.23"></a><var>3.23</var>with experience in energy conservation and energy planning at the neighborhood level <br/>
<a id="pl.3.24"></a><var>3.24</var>that serves as project manager serving the Twin Cities for the purpose of completing the <br/>
<a id="pl.3.25"></a><var>3.25</var>report required under section 2.<br/>
<a id="pl.3.26"></a><var>3.26</var>This is a onetime appropriation and is available until expended.<br/>