3E Relating to energy; allocating money from the renewable development account to fund a grant to the board of regents of the University of Minnesota for the initiative for renewable energy and the environment, specifying certain activities funded under this grant, defining certain terms; modifying certain awards relating to the use of eminent domain for high-voltage transmission lines; authorizing certain audio electronic records or use of a hearing reporter to record proceedings before the public utilities commission (PUC); modifying provisions relating to the deadline for rate determinations by the public utilities commission (PUC); requiring the public utilities commission (PUC) to adopt any mechanism to satisfy the energy conservation improvement incentive plan; providing a central corridor utility zone cost adjustment; requiring certain utilities with renewable energy objectives to file a standardized contract with the public utilities commission (PUC); requiring public utilities commission (PUC) petition for cost recovery eligibility prior to cost recovery request, allowing approval for advance research and storage devices; modifying certain provisions relating to renewable and high-efficiency energy rate options; expanding the renewable energy standard technology options to include the option of using solar energy conversion systems; authorizing the public utilities commission (PUC) to order refunds of unlawful utility rate revenues charged by a public utility, telephone company or a telecommunications carrier; allowing certain penalty authority for the conduct by an exercising authority; modifying energy-savings goals for energy conservation improvement expenditures by power companies, allowing carry forward of excess energy savings by a utility or association under certain conditions; permitting natural gas utilities to include in its conservation plan purchases of biomethane; requiring utility design assistance program to consider strategic tree and shrub planting around buildings as an energy conservation strategy; modifying certain generation project limitations for qualifying solar energy project installations; modifying the definition of qualifying solar electric project to include energy storage equipment and to include installation in publicly owned buildings; prescribing procedures for the public utilities commission (PUC) to establish decoupling criteria; requiring public utilities to agree to amend biomass power purchase agreements approved by the public utilities commission (PUC); removing the certificate of need exemption for large energy facilities generating electricity from wind energy conversion systems (WECS); requiring the public utilities commission (PUC) to consider certain factors for renewable energy standard facilities wind energy conversion system (WECS) or solar electric generation facilities meeting obligations; establishing the audit investigation account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury, instructing the commerce department and public utilities commission (PUC) to estimate expenditures of the audit investigation account a certain number of days before each quarter; requiring commissioner of commerce to submit a written report to the legislature describing what electric transmission infrastructure is needed over a certain time period; requiring commissioners of commerce and pollution control agency (PCA) to include proposals regarding the use of solar and biomass resources in producing thermal energy; authorizing department of commerce renewable energy production incentive payment to certain eligible wind energy conversion (WECS) systems; allowing commissioner of commerce to approve natural gas utilities interim energy savings plans; requiring the PUC to conduct a study of automatic cost-recovery mechanisms and alternative forms of utility rate regulation; authorizing the Mountain Iron economic development authority to form or become a member of a limited liability company for the purpose of developing a community-based wind energy development project; instructing solar cities Minneapolis and St. Paul to submit a report to the co-chairs of the legislative energy commission recommending strategies to accelerate the rate of solar thermal and solar electric installations in all building types throughout the state; canceling an appropriation to commissioner of commerce for cost-share grants to fund renewable energy research; appropriating money to commissioner of commerce for a onetime grant to the biobusiness alliance of Minnesota for bioscience business development programs to promote Minnesota as a state leader in bioscience business activities; providing a revisor of statutes instruction
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