1.1A bill for an act1.2relating to energy; requiring certificate of need for certain transmission line; 1.3requiring neighborhood energy reduction report; appropriating money.1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:1.5    Section 1. URBAN TRANSMISSION LINE; CERTIFICATE OF NEED 1.6REQUIRED.1.7A high-voltage transmission line longer than one mile with a capacity of 100 1.8kilovolts or more that is located in a city of the first class in a zone within one mile of 1.9the transmission line in which population density exceeds 8,000 persons per square 1.10mile, and that runs parallel to and is within one-quarter mile of a below-grade bike and 1.11walking path that connects with other bike paths along a river, is subject to the provisions 1.12of Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.243.1.13EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment 1.14and applies only to high-voltage transmission lines described in this section that are the 1.15subject of an application for a route permit under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216E, that is 1.16pending before the Public Utilities Commission on March 15, 2010.1.17    Sec. 2. NEIGHBORHOOD ENERGY REDUCTION REPORT.1.18    Subdivision 1.Report.(a) By February 15, 2011, an organization with experience 1.19in energy conservation and energy planning at the neighborhood level that serves as 1.20project manager must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 1.21senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy 1.22policy that contains the following information:2.1(1) projections of the amount of energy that can be conserved and generated through 2.2the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency investments; innovative energy 2.3storage projects, including thermal energy storage; smart-grid technologies; and energy 2.4produced from distributed generation projects fueled by solar photovoltaic and other 2.5renewable energy sources located in the focused study area designated in the application 2.6to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a route permit for the high-voltage 2.7transmission line identified in section 1;2.8(2) for each energy-reducing or energy-generating element recommended, 2.9estimates of the amount of energy conserved or generated, the reduction in peak demand 2.10requirements in the focused study area, and the cost per unit of energy saved or generated; 2.11and2.12(3) an estimate of the number of green jobs that would be created through 2.13implementation of the report's recommendations.2.14(b) Requests by the project manager for information from the utility serving the 2.15focused study area may be made after the service of notice of and order for hearing 2.16made under Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.243, for the project described in section 1. 2.17Information requests with respect to the study are governed by the rules for contested case 2.18hearings in Minnesota Rules, part 1400.6700.2.19(c) The project manager may contract for portions of the work required to complete 2.20the report.2.21    Subd. 2.Community steering committee.(a) The project manager shall convene 2.22a community steering committee to provide input to the report.  Appointments to the 2.23steering committee must reflect the diversity of the focused study area, and include 2.24representatives of focused study area residents, building owners and renters, businesses, 2.25churches, other institutions, including the Midtown Community Works Partnership, local 2.26hospitals, and the city in which the focused study area is located. All meetings held by the 2.27community steering committee or any subcommittees it creates must be public meetings, 2.28with advance notice given to the public.2.29(b) The project manager shall seek to maximize the participation of focused study 2.30area residents, stakeholders, and institutions in recommending ideas to be included within 2.31the scope of the report and in reviewing initial and successive drafts of the report, 2.32including providing stipends for child care and transportation when necessary to increase 2.33participation. The project manager shall contact representatives of similar successful 2.34projects in other states to benefit from their experience and to learn about best practices 2.35for increasing public participation that can be replicated in Minnesota. The report must 3.1incorporate and respond to comments from the focused study area and the steering 3.2committee.3.3    Subd. 3.Energy savings.The utility that serves the focused study area may apply 3.4energy savings resulting directly from the implementation of recommendations contained 3.5in the report regarding energy efficiency investments to its energy-savings goal under 3.6section 216B.241, subdivision 1c.3.7    Subd. 4.Certificate of need process.No contested case evidentiary hearings 3.8for a certificate of need for the transmission line identified in section 1 may commence 3.9before April 1, 2011. 3.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.3.11    Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION AND TRANSFER.3.12(a) Of the assessment authority authorized and appropriated to the commissioner 3.13of commerce under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.052, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), 3.14clause (2), up to $307,000 in fiscal year 2011 must be allocated by the commissioner to 3.15implement this act. Of this amount, $34,000 must be transferred and is appropriated to the 3.16Public Utilities Commission to implement section 1. These appropriations are onetime 3.17and are available until expended, without regard to section 216C.052, subdivision 4.3.18(b) The utility subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, shall transfer 3.19$100,000 from the renewable development account established under that section to the 3.20commissioner of commerce, who shall deposit it in the special revenue fund.3.21(c) $100,000 from the money deposited in the special revenue fund under paragraph 3.22(a) is appropriated to the commissioner of commerce for a grant to an organization 3.23with experience in energy conservation and energy planning at the neighborhood level 3.24that serves as project manager serving the Twin Cities for the purpose of completing the 3.25report required under section 2.3.26This is a onetime appropriation and is available until expended.