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.1.7(a) A 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 the 1.9transmission line in which population density exceeds 8,000 persons per square mile, and 1.10that runs parallel to and is within one-half mile of a below-grade bike and walking path 1.11that connects with other bike paths along a river, is subject to the provisions of Minnesota 1.12Statutes, section 216B.243.1.13    (b) This section expires December 31, 2014.1.14EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment 1.15and applies only to high-voltage transmission lines described in this section that are the 1.16subject of an application for a route permit under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216E, that is 1.17pending before the Public Utilities Commission on March 15, 2010.1.18    Sec. 2. NEIGHBORHOOD ENERGY REDUCTION REPORT.1.19    Subdivision 1.Report.(a) By February 15, 2011, an organization with experience 1.20in energy conservation and energy planning at the neighborhood level that serves as 1.21project manager must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 2.1senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy 2.2policy that contains the following information:2.3(1) projections of the amount of energy that can be conserved and generated through 2.4the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency investments; innovative energy 2.5storage projects, including thermal energy storage; smart-grid technologies; and energy 2.6produced from distributed generation projects fueled by solar photovoltaic and other 2.7renewable energy sources located in the focused study area designated in the application 2.8to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a route permit for the high-voltage 2.9transmission line identified in section 1;2.10(2) for each energy-reducing or energy-generating element recommended, 2.11estimates of the amount of energy conserved or generated, the reduction in peak demand 2.12requirements in the focused study area, and the cost per unit of energy saved or generated; 2.13and2.14(3) an estimate of the number of green jobs that would be created through 2.15implementation of the report's recommendations.2.16(b) Requests by the project manager for information from the utility serving the 2.17focused study area may be made after the service of notice of and order for hearing 2.18made under Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.243, for the project described in section 1. 2.19Information requests with respect to the study are governed by the rules for contested case 2.20hearings in Minnesota Rules, part 1400.6700.2.21(c) The project manager may contract for portions of the work required to complete 2.22the report.2.23    Subd. 2.Community steering committee.(a) The project manager shall convene 2.24a community steering committee to provide input to the report.  Appointments to the 2.25steering committee must reflect the diversity of the focused study area, and include 2.26representatives of focused study area residents, including homeowners, building owners 2.27and renters, businesses, churches, other institutions, including the Midtown Community 2.28Works Partnership, local hospitals, and local elected officials representing the focused 2.29study area. All meetings held by the community steering committee or any subcommittees 2.30it creates must be public meetings, with advance notice given to the public.2.31(b) The project manager shall seek to maximize the participation of focused study 2.32area residents, stakeholders, and institutions in recommending ideas to be included within 2.33the scope of the report and in reviewing initial and successive drafts of the report, including 2.34providing stipends for reasonable expenses when necessary to increase participation, but 2.35not including per diem payments. The project manager shall contact representatives of 2.36similar successful projects in other states to benefit from their experience and to learn 3.1about best practices for increasing public participation that can be replicated in Minnesota. 3.2The report must incorporate and respond to comments from the focused study area and 3.3the steering committee.3.4    Subd. 3.Energy savings.The utility that serves the focused study area may apply 3.5energy savings resulting directly from the implementation of recommendations contained 3.6in the report regarding energy efficiency investments to its energy-savings goal under 3.7section 216B.241, subdivision 1c.3.8    Subd. 4.Certificate of need process.No contested case evidentiary hearings 3.9for a certificate of need for the transmission line identified in section 1 may commence 3.10before April 1, 2011. 3.11EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.3.12    Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION AND TRANSFER.3.13(a) Of the assessment authority authorized and appropriated to the commissioner 3.14of commerce under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.052, subdivision 2, paragraph (c), 3.15clause (2), up to $307,000 in fiscal year 2011 must be allocated by the commissioner to 3.16implement this act. Of this amount, $34,000 must be transferred and is appropriated to the 3.17Public Utilities Commission to implement section 1. These appropriations are onetime 3.18and are available until expended, without regard to section 216C.052, subdivision 4.3.19(b) The utility subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, shall transfer 3.20$100,000 from the renewable development account established under that section to the 3.21commissioner of commerce, who shall deposit it in the special revenue fund.3.22(c) $100,000 from the money deposited in the special revenue fund under paragraph 3.23(a) is appropriated to the commissioner of commerce for transfer to the city of Minneapolis 3.24for a grant to an organization with experience in energy conservation and energy planning 3.25at the neighborhood level that is selected by the city, in consultation with the Midtown 3.26Greenway Coalition and representatives of the neighborhoods in which the high-voltage 3.27transmission line described in section 1 is proposed to be located, and after project 3.28proposals have been reviewed, to serve as project manager for the purpose of completing 3.29the report required under section 2.3.30This is a onetime appropriation and is available until expended.