1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; amending the renewable development account public utility 
1.3 	annual contribution; establishing criteria for utility cost recovery of energy storage 
1.4 	system pilot projects; requiring investor-owned utilities to include in integrated 
1.5 	resource plans an assessment of energy storage systems; establishing a grant 
1.6 	program to assist public school districts to install solar energy systems; creating 
1.7 	reserve accounts; establishing an electric vehicle charging station revolving loan 
1.8 	program; establishing a net zero emissions project; establishing a process to 
1.9 	compensate businesses for loss of business opportunity resulting from sale and 
1.10 	closure of a biomass energy plant; establishing an advisory task force on green 
1.11 	roofs; requiring a cost-benefit analysis of energy storage systems; requiring reports; 
1.12 	appropriating money;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections 116C.779, 
1.13 	subdivision 1; 216B.16, by adding a subdivision; 216B.2422, subdivision 1, by 
1.14 	adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
1.15 	216C.
1.16 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.17 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.18 		Subdivision 1.Renewable development account. (a) The renewable development 
1.19 	account is established as a separate account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. 
1.20 	Appropriations and transfers to the account shall be credited to the account. Earnings, such 
1.21 	as interest, dividends, and any other earnings arising from assets of the account, shall be 
1.22 	credited to the account. Funds remaining in the account at the end of a fiscal year are not 
1.23 	canceled to the general fund but remain in the account until expended. The account shall 
1.24 	be administered by the commissioner of management and budget as provided under this 
1.25 	section.
1.26 	(b) On July 1, 2017, the public utility that owns the Prairie Island nuclear generating 
1.27 	plant must transfer all funds in the renewable development account previously established 
1.28 	under this subdivision and managed by the public utility to the renewable development 
2.1 	account established in paragraph (a). Funds awarded to grantees in previous grant cycles 
2.2 	that have not yet been expended and unencumbered funds required to be paid in calendar 
2.3 	year 2017 under paragraphs (e) and (f) and (g), and sections 116C.7792 and 216C.41, are 
2.4 	not subject to transfer under this paragraph.
2.5 	(c) Except as provided in subdivision 1a, Beginning January 15, 2018 2020, and 
2.6 	continuing each January 15 thereafter, the public utility that owns the Prairie Island and 
2.7 	Monticello nuclear generating plant plants must transfer to the renewable development 
2.8 	account $500,000 each year for each dry cask containing spent fuel that is located at the 
2.9 	Prairie Island power plant for the following amounts each year the either plant is in operation, 
2.10 	and $7,500,000 each year the plant is not in operation: (1) $33,000,000 in 2020; (2) 
2.11 	$31,000,000 in 2021; and (3) $20,000,000 in 2022 and each year thereafter. If ordered by 
2.12 	the commission pursuant to paragraph (i).(h), the public utility must transfer $7,500,000 
2.13 	each year the Prairie Island plant is not in operation and $5,250,000 each year the Monticello 
2.14 	plant is not in operation. The fund transfer must be made if nuclear waste is stored in a dry 
2.15 	cask at the independent spent-fuel storage facility at Prairie Island or Monticello for any 
2.16 	part of a year.
2.17 	(d) Except as provided in subdivision 1a, beginning January 15, 2018, and continuing 
2.18 	each January 15 thereafter, the public utility that owns the Monticello nuclear generating 
2.19 	plant must transfer to the renewable development account $350,000 each year for each dry 
2.20 	cask containing spent fuel that is located at the Monticello nuclear power plant for each 
2.21 	year the plant is in operation, and $5,250,000 each year the plant is not in operation if ordered 
2.22 	by the commission pursuant to paragraph (i). The fund transfer must be made if nuclear 
2.23 	waste is stored in a dry cask at the independent spent-fuel storage facility at Monticello for 
2.24 	any part of a year.
2.25 	(e) (d) Each year, the public utility shall withhold from the funds transferred to the 
2.26 	renewable development account under paragraphs paragraph (c) and (d) the amount necessary 
2.27 	to pay its obligations for that calendar year under paragraphs (e), (f) and (g), (j), and (n),
2.28 	and sections 116C.7792 and 216C.41, for that calendar year.
2.29 	(f) (e) If the commission approves a new or amended power purchase agreement, the 
2.30 	termination of a power purchase agreement, or the purchase and closure of a facility under 
2.31 	section 216B.2424, subdivision 9, with an entity that uses poultry litter to generate electricity, 
2.32 	the public utility subject to this section shall enter into a contract with the city in which the 
2.33 	poultry litter plant is located to provide grants to the city for the purposes of economic 
2.34 	development on the following schedule: $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2018; $6,500,000 each 
2.35 	fiscal year in 2019 and 2020; and $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2021. The grants shall be paid 
3.1 	by the public utility from funds withheld from the transfer to the renewable development 
3.2 	account, as provided in paragraphs (b) and (e) (d).
3.3 	(g)(f) If the commission approves a new or amended power purchase agreement, or the 
3.4 	termination of a power purchase agreement under section 216B.2424, subdivision 9, with 
3.5 	an entity owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by two municipal utilities located north 
3.6 	of Constitutional Route No. 8, that was previously used to meet the biomass mandate in 
3.7 	section 216B.2424, the public utility that owns a nuclear generating plant shall enter into a 
3.8 	grant contract with such entity to provide $6,800,000 per year for five years, commencing 
3.9 	30 days after the commission approves the new or amended power purchase agreement, or 
3.10 	the termination of the power purchase agreement, and on each June 1 thereafter through 
3.11 	2021, to assist the transition required by the new, amended, or terminated power purchase 
3.12 	agreement. The grant shall be paid by the public utility from funds withheld from the transfer 
3.13 	to the renewable development account as provided in paragraphs (b) and (e) (d).
3.14 	(h)(g) The collective amount paid under the grant contracts awarded under paragraphs 
3.15 	(e) and (f) and (g) is limited to the amount deposited into the renewable development account, 
3.16 	and its predecessor, the renewable development account, established under this section, that 
3.17 	was not required to be deposited into the account under Laws 1994, chapter 641, article 1, 
3.18 	section 10.
3.19 	(i) (h) After discontinuation of operation of the Prairie Island nuclear plant or the 
3.20 	Monticello nuclear plant and each year spent nuclear fuel is stored in dry cask at the 
3.21 	discontinued facility, the commission shall require the public utility to pay $7,500,000 for 
3.22 	the discontinued Prairie Island facility and $5,250,000 for the discontinued Monticello 
3.23 	facility for any year in which the commission finds, by the preponderance of the evidence, 
3.24 	that the public utility did not make a good faith effort to remove the spent nuclear fuel stored 
3.25 	at the facility to a permanent or interim storage site out of the state. This determination shall 
3.26 	be made at least every two years.
3.27 	(i) The public utility must annually file with the commission a petition to recover through 
3.28 	a rider mechanism all funds it is required to transfer or withhold under paragraphs (c) to (f) 
3.29 	for the next year. The commission must approve a reasonable cost recovery schedule for 
3.30 	all funds under this paragraph.
3.31 	(j) On or before January 15 of each year, the public utility must file a petition with the 
3.32 	commission identifying the amounts withheld by the public utility the prior year under 
3.33 	paragraph (d) and the amount actually paid the prior year for obligations identified in 
3.34 	paragraph (d). If the amount actually paid is less than the amount withheld, the public utility 
4.1 	must deduct the surplus from the amount withheld for the current year under paragraph (d). 
4.2 	If the amount actually paid is more than the amount withheld, the public utility must add 
4.3 	the deficiency amount to the amount withheld for the current year under paragraph (d). Any 
4.4 	surplus remaining in the account after all programs identified in paragraph (d) are terminated 
4.5 	must be returned to the public utility's customers.
4.6 	(j) (k) Funds in the account may be expended only for any of the following purposes:
4.7 	(1) to stimulate research and development of renewable electric energy technologies;
4.8 	(2) to encourage grid modernization, including, but not limited to, projects that implement 
4.9 	electricity storage, load control, and smart meter technology; and
4.10 	(3) to stimulate other innovative energy projects that reduce demand and increase system 
4.11 	efficiency and flexibility.
4.12 	Expenditures from the fund must benefit Minnesota ratepayers receiving electric service 
4.13 	from the utility that owns a nuclear-powered electric generating plant in this state or the 
4.14 	Prairie Island Indian community or its members.
4.15 	The utility that owns a nuclear generating plant is eligible to apply for grants under this 
4.16 	subdivision.
4.17 	(k) (l) For the purposes of paragraph (j) (k), the following terms have the meanings 
4.18 	given:
4.19 	(1) "renewable" has the meaning given in section 216B.2422, subdivision 1, paragraph 
4.20 	(c), clauses (1), (2), (4), and (5); and
4.21 	(2) "grid modernization" means:
4.22 	(i) enhancing the reliability of the electrical grid;
4.23 	(ii) improving the security of the electrical grid against cyberthreats and physical threats; 
4.24 	and
4.25 	(iii) increasing energy conservation opportunities by facilitating communication between 
4.26 	the utility and its customers through the use of two-way meters, control technologies, energy 
4.27 	storage and microgrids, technologies to enable demand response, and other innovative 
4.28 	technologies.
4.29 	(l) (m) A renewable development account advisory group that includes, among others, 
4.30 	representatives of the public utility and its ratepayers, and includes at least one representative 
4.31 	of the Prairie Island Indian community appointed by that community's tribal council, shall 
4.32 	develop recommendations on account expenditures. Members of the advisory group, other 
5.1 	than members appointed by the tribal council, must be chosen by the public utility. The 
5.2 	advisory group must design a request for proposal and evaluate projects submitted in response 
5.3 	to a request for proposals. The advisory group must utilize an independent third-party expert 
5.4 	to evaluate proposals submitted in response to a request for proposal, including all proposals 
5.5 	made by the public utility. A request for proposal for research and development under 
5.6 	paragraph (j) (k), clause (1), may be limited to or include a request to higher education 
5.7 	institutions located in Minnesota for multiple projects authorized under paragraph (j) (k), 
5.8 	clause (1). The request for multiple projects may include a provision that exempts the 
5.9 	projects from the third-party expert review and instead provides for project evaluation and 
5.10 	selection by a merit peer review grant system. In the process of determining request for 
5.11 	proposal scope and subject and in evaluating responses to request for proposals, the advisory 
5.12 	group must strongly consider, where reasonable, potential benefit to Minnesota citizens and 
5.13 	businesses and the utility's ratepayers.
5.14 	(n) The cost to acquire the services of the independent third-party expert described in 
5.15 	paragraph (m), and any other reasonable costs incurred to administer the advisory group 
5.16 	and its actions required by this section, must be paid from funds withheld by the public 
5.17 	utility under paragraph (d). The total amount withheld under this paragraph must not exceed 
5.18 	$125,000 each year.
5.19 	(m)(o) The advisory group shall submit funding recommendations to the public utility, 
5.20 	which has full and sole authority to determine which expenditures shall be submitted by 
5.21 	the advisory group to the legislature commission. The commission may approve proposed 
5.22 	expenditures, may disapprove proposed expenditures that it finds not to be in compliance 
5.23 	with this subdivision or otherwise not in the public interest, and may, if agreed to by the 
5.24 	public utility, modify proposed expenditures. The commission shall, by order, submit its 
5.25 	funding recommendations to the legislature as provided under paragraph (n) (p).
5.26 	(n) (p) The commission shall present its recommended appropriations from the account 
5.27 	to the senate and house of representatives committees with jurisdiction over energy policy 
5.28 	and finance annually by February 15. Expenditures from the account must be appropriated 
5.29 	by law. In enacting appropriations from the account, the legislature:
5.30 	(1) may approve or disapprove, but may not modify, the amount of an appropriation for 
5.31 	a project recommended by the commission; and
5.32 	(2) may not appropriate money for a project the commission has not recommended 
5.33 	funding.
6.1 	(o) (q) A request for proposal for renewable energy generation projects must, when 
6.2 	feasible and reasonable, give preference to projects that are most cost-effective for a particular 
6.3 	energy source.
6.4 	(p) (r) The advisory group must annually, by February 15, report to the chairs and ranking 
6.5 	minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy policy on 
6.6 	projects funded by the account under paragraph (k) for the prior year and all previous years. 
6.7 	The report must, to the extent possible and reasonable, itemize the actual and projected 
6.8 	financial benefit to the public utility's ratepayers of each project.
6.9 	(s) By June 1, 2019, and each June 1 thereafter, the public utility that owns the Prairie 
6.10 	Island nuclear electric generating plant must submit to the commissioner of management 
6.11 	and budget an estimate of the amount the public utility will deposit into the account January 
6.12 	15 the next year, based on the provisions of paragraphs (c) to (h) and any appropriations 
6.13 	made from the fund during the most recent legislative session.
6.14 	(q) (t) By February 1 , 2018 June 30, 2019, and each February 1June 30 thereafter, the 
6.15 	commissioner of management and budget shall must estimate the balance in the account as 
6.16 	of the following January 31, taking into account the balance in the account as of June 30 
6.17 	and the information provided under paragraph (r). By July 15, 2019, and each July 15 
6.18 	thereafter, the commissioner of management and budget must submit a written report 
6.19 	regarding the availability of funds in and obligations of the account to the chairs and ranking 
6.20 	minority members of the senate and house committees with jurisdiction over energy policy 
6.21 	and finance, the public utility, and the advisory group. If more than $15,000,000 is estimated 
6.22 	to be available in the account as of January 31, the advisory group must, by January 31 the 
6.23 	next year, issue a request for proposals to initiate a grant cycle for the purposes of paragraph 
6.24 	(k).
6.25 	(r) (u) A project receiving funds from the account must produce a written final report 
6.26 	that includes sufficient detail for technical readers and a clearly written summary for 
6.27 	nontechnical readers. The report must include an evaluation of the project's financial, 
6.28 	environmental, and other benefits to the state and the public utility's ratepayers.
6.29 	(s) (v) Final reports, any mid-project status reports, and renewable development account 
6.30 	financial reports must be posted online on a public website designated by the commissioner 
6.31 	of commerce.
6.32 	(t) (w) All final reports must acknowledge that the project was made possible in whole 
6.33 	or part by the Minnesota renewable development account, noting that the account is financed 
6.34 	by the public utility's ratepayers.
7.1 	(u) (x) Of the amount in the renewable development account, priority must be given to 
7.2 	making the payments required under section 216C.417.

7.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

7.4 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 216B.16, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
7.5 	read:
7.6 		Subd. 7e.Energy storage system pilot projects. (a) A public utility may petition the 
7.7 	commission under this section to recover costs associated with the implementation of an 
7.8 	energy storage system pilot project. As part of the petition, the public utility must submit a 
7.9 	report to the commission containing, at a minimum, the following information regarding 
7.10 	the proposed energy storage system pilot project:
7.11 	(1) the storage technology utilized;
7.12 	(2) the energy storage capacity and the duration of output at that capacity;
7.13 	(3) the proposed location;
7.14 	(4) the purchase and installation costs;
7.15 	(5) how the project will interact with existing distributed generation resources on the 
7.16 	utility's grid; and
7.17 	(6) the goals the project proposes to achieve, which may include controlling frequency 
7.18 	or voltage, mitigating transmission congestion, providing emergency power supplies during 
7.19 	outages, reducing curtailment of existing renewable energy generators, and reducing peak 
7.20 	power costs.
7.21 	(b) A utility may petition the commission to approve a rate schedule that provides for 
7.22 	the automatic adjustment of charges to recover prudently incurred investments, expenses, 
7.23 	or costs associated with energy storage system pilot projects approved by the commission 
7.24 	under this subdivision. A petition filed under this subdivision must include the elements 
7.25 	listed in section 216B.1645, subdivision 2a, paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (4), and must 
7.26 	describe the benefits of the pilot project.
7.27 	(c) The commission may approve, or approve as modified, a rate schedule filed under 
7.28 	this subdivision. The rate schedule filed by the public utility may include the elements listed 
7.29 	in section 216B.1645, subdivision 2a, paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (5).
7.30 	(d) For each pilot project that the commission has found to be in the public interest, the 
7.31 	commission must make its determination on the specific amounts that are eligible for 
7.32 	recovery under the approved rate schedule within 90 days of final approval of the specific 
8.1 	pilot program or within 90 days of the public utility filing for approval of cost recovery for 
8.2 	the specific pilot program, whichever is later.
8.3 	(e) Nothing in this subdivision prohibits or deters the deployment of energy storage 
8.4 	systems.
8.5 	(f) For the purposes of this subdivision:
8.6 	(1) "energy storage system" has the meaning given in section 216B.2422, subdivision 
8.7 	1; and
8.8 	(2) "pilot project" means a project that is owned, operated, and controlled by a public 
8.9 	utility to optimize safe and reliable system operations and is deployed at a limited number 
8.10 	of locations in order to assess the technical and economic effectiveness of its operations.

8.11 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

8.12 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 216B.2422, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
8.13 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this 
8.14 	subdivision have the meanings given them.
8.15 	(b) "Utility" means an entity with the capability of generating 100,000 kilowatts or more 
8.16 	of electric power and serving, either directly or indirectly, the needs of 10,000 retail 
8.17 	customers in Minnesota. Utility does not include federal power agencies.
8.18 	(c) "Renewable energy" means electricity generated through use of any of the following 
8.19 	resources:
8.20 	(1) wind;
8.21 	(2) solar;
8.22 	(3) geothermal;
8.23 	(4) hydro;
8.24 	(5) trees or other vegetation;
8.25 	(6) landfill gas; or
8.26 	(7) predominantly organic components of wastewater effluent, sludge, or related 
8.27 	by-products from publicly owned treatment works, but not including incineration of 
8.28 	wastewater sludge.
8.29 	(d) "Resource plan" means a set of resource options that a utility could use to meet the 
8.30 	service needs of its customers over a forecast period, including an explanation of the supply 
9.1 	and demand circumstances under which, and the extent to which, each resource option 
9.2 	would be used to meet those service needs. These resource options include using, 
9.3 	refurbishing, and constructing utility plant and equipment, buying power generated by other 
9.4 	entities, controlling customer loads, and implementing customer energy conservation.
9.5 	(e) "Refurbish" means to rebuild or substantially modify an existing electricity generating 
9.6 	resource of 30 megawatts or greater.
9.7 	(f) "Energy storage system" means a commercially available technology that:
9.8 	(1) uses mechanical, chemical, or thermal processes to:
9.9 	(i) store energy, including energy generated from renewable resources and energy that 
9.10 	would otherwise be wasted, and deliver the stored energy for use at a later time; or
9.11 	(ii) store thermal energy for direct use for heating or cooling at a later time in a manner 
9.12 	that reduces the demand for electricity at the later time;
9.13 	(2) is composed of stationary equipment;
9.14 	(3) if being used for electric grid benefits, is operationally visible and capable of being 
9.15 	controlled by the distribution or transmission entity managing it, to enable and optimize the 
9.16 	safe and reliable operation of the electric system; and
9.17 	(4) achieves any of the following:
9.18 	(i) reduces peak or electrical demand;
9.19 	(ii) defers the need or substitutes for an investment in electric generation, transmission, 
9.20 	or distribution assets;
9.21 	(iii) improves the reliable operation of the electrical transmission or distribution systems, 
9.22 	while ensuring transmission or distribution needs are not created; or
9.23 	(iv) lowers customer costs by storing energy when the cost of generating or purchasing 
9.24 	it is low and delivering it to customers when those costs are high.

9.25 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

9.26 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 216B.2422, is amended by adding a subdivision 
9.27 	to read:
9.28 		Subd. 7.Energy storage systems assessment. (a) Each public utility required to file a 
9.29 	resource plan under subdivision 2 must include in the filing an assessment of energy storage 
9.30 	systems that analyzes how the deployment of energy storage systems contributes to:
10.1 	(1) meeting identified generation and capacity needs; and
10.2 	(2) evaluating ancillary services.
10.3 	(b) The assessment must employ appropriate modeling methods to enable the analysis 
10.4 	required in paragraph (a).

10.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

10.6 	Sec. 5. [216C.375] SOLAR FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM.
10.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section and section 216C.376, 
10.8 	the following terms have the meanings given them.
10.9 	(b) "Developer" means an entity that installs a solar energy system on a school building 
10.10 	that has been awarded a grant under this section.
10.11 	(c) "Photovoltaic device" has the meaning given in section 216C.06, subdivision 16.
10.12 	(d) "School" means a school that operates as part of an independent or special school 
10.13 	district.
10.14 	(e) "School district" means an independent or special school district.
10.15 	(f) "Solar energy system" means photovoltaic or solar thermal devices.
10.16 		Subd. 2.Establishment; purpose. A solar for schools program is established in the 
10.17 	Department of Commerce. The purpose of the program is to provide grants to stimulate the 
10.18 	installation of solar energy systems on or adjacent to school buildings by reducing their 
10.19 	cost, and to enable schools to use the solar energy system as a teaching tool that can be 
10.20 	integrated into the school's curriculum.
10.21 		Subd. 3.Establishment of account. (a) A solar for schools program account is 
10.22 	established in the special revenue fund. Money received from the general fund must be 
10.23 	transferred to the commissioner of commerce and credited to the account. Money deposited 
10.24 	in the account remains in the account until expended, and does not cancel to the general 
10.25 	fund.
10.26 	(b) When a grant is awarded under this section, the commissioner shall reserve the grant 
10.27 	amount in the account.
10.28 		Subd. 4.Expenditures. (a) Money in the account may be used only:
10.29 	(1) for grant awards made under this section; and
10.30 	(2) to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the department to administer this section.
11.1 	(b) Grant awards made with funds in the account are to be used only for grants for solar 
11.2 	energy systems installed on or adjacent to school buildings receiving retail electric service 
11.3 	from a utility that is not subject to section 116C.779, subdivision 1.
11.4 		Subd. 5.Eligible system. (a) A grant may be awarded to a school under this section 
11.5 	only if the solar energy system that is the subject of the grant:
11.6 	(1) is installed on or adjacent to the school building that will consume the electricity 
11.7 	generated by the solar energy system, on property within the service territory of the utility 
11.8 	currently providing electric service to the school building; and
11.9 	(2) has a capacity that does not exceed the lesser of 40 kilowatts or 120 percent of the 
11.10 	estimated annual electricity consumption of the school building at which the solar energy 
11.11 	system is proposed to be installed.
11.12 	(b) A school district that receives a rebate or other financial incentive under section 
11.13 	216B.241 for a solar energy system and that demonstrates considerable need for financial 
11.14 	assistance, as determined by the commissioner, is eligible for a grant under this section for 
11.15 	the same solar energy system.
11.16 		Subd. 6.Application process. (a) The commissioner shall issue a request for proposals 
11.17 	to utilities, schools, and developers who may wish to apply for a grant under this section 
11.18 	on behalf of a school.
11.19 	(b) A utility or developer must submit an application to the commissioner on behalf of 
11.20 	a school on a form prescribed by the commissioner. The form must include, at a minimum, 
11.21 	the following information:
11.22 	(1) the capacity of the proposed solar energy system and the amount of electricity that 
11.23 	is expected to be generated;
11.24 	(2) the current energy demand of the school building on which the solar energy generating 
11.25 	system is to be installed, and information regarding any distributed energy resource, including 
11.26 	subscription to a community solar garden, that currently provides electricity to the school 
11.27 	building;
11.28 	(3) a description of any solar thermal devices proposed as part of the solar energy system;
11.29 	(4) the total cost of purchasing and installing the solar energy system, and its life-cycle 
11.30 	cost, including removal and disposal of system at the end of its life;
12.1 	(5) a copy of the proposed contract agreement between the school and the public utility 
12.2 	or developer that includes provisions addressing responsibility for maintenance of the solar 
12.3 	energy system;
12.4 	(6) the school's plan to make the solar energy system serve as a visible learning tool for 
12.5 	students, teachers, and visitors to the school, including how the solar energy system may 
12.6 	be integrated into the school's curriculum;
12.7 	(7) information that demonstrates the level of need of the school district for financial 
12.8 	assistance available under this section;
12.9 	(8) information that demonstrates the readiness of the school to implement the project, 
12.10 	including, but not limited to, the availability of the site on which the solar energy system 
12.11 	is to be installed, and the level of the school's engagement with the utility providing electric 
12.12 	service to the school building on which the solar energy system is to be installed on issues 
12.13 	relevant to the implementation of the project, including metering and other issues;
12.14 	(9) with respect to the installation and operation of the solar energy system, the 
12.15 	willingness and ability of the developer or the public utility to:
12.16 	(i) pay employees and contractors a prevailing wage rate, as defined in section 177.42, 
12.17 	subdivision 6; and
12.18 	(ii) adhere to the provisions of section 177.43;
12.19 	(10) how the developer or public utility plans to reduce the school's initial capital expense 
12.20 	for the purchase and installation of the solar energy system, and to provide financial benefits 
12.21 	to the school from the utilization of federal and state tax credits, utility incentives, and other 
12.22 	financial incentives; and
12.23 	(11) any other information deemed relevant by the commissioner.
12.24 	(c) The commissioner shall administer an open application process under this section at 
12.25 	least twice annually.
12.26 	(d) The commissioner shall develop administrative procedures governing the application 
12.27 	and grant award process.
12.28 		Subd. 7.Energy conservation review. At the commissioner's request, a school awarded 
12.29 	a grant under this section shall provide the commissioner information regarding energy 
12.30 	conservation measures implemented at the school building at which the solar energy system 
12.31 	is to be installed. The commissioner may make recommendations to the school regarding 
13.1 	cost-effective conservation measures it can implement and may provide technical assistance 
13.2 	and direct the school to available financial assistance programs.
13.3 		Subd. 8.Technical assistance. The commissioner shall provide technical assistance to 
13.4 	schools to develop and execute projects under this section.
13.5 		Subd. 9.Grant payments. The commissioner shall award a grant from the account 
13.6 	established under subdivision 3 to a school for the necessary costs associated with the 
13.7 	purchase and installation of a solar energy system. The amount of the grant shall be based 
13.8 	on the commissioner's assessment of the school's need for financial assistance.
13.9 		Subd. 10.Limitations. (a) No more than 50 percent of the grant payments awarded to 
13.10 	schools under this section may be awarded to schools where the proportion of students 
13.11 	eligible for free and reduced-price lunch under the National School Lunch Program is less 
13.12 	than 50 percent.
13.13 	(b) No more than ten percent of the total amount of grants awarded under this section 
13.14 	may be awarded to schools that are part of the same school district.
13.15 		Subd. 11.Application deadline. No application may be submitted under this section 
13.16 	after December 31, 2023.

13.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

13.18 	Sec. 6. [216C.376] SOLAR FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN UTILITY 
13.19 	SERVICE TERRITORY.
13.20 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. The utility subject to section 116C.779 shall 
13.21 	operate a program to develop, and to supplement with additional funding, financial 
13.22 	arrangements that allow schools to benefit from state and federal tax and other financial 
13.23 	incentives that schools are ineligible to receive directly in order to enable schools to install 
13.24 	and operate solar energy systems that can be used as teaching tools and integrated into the 
13.25 	school curriculum.
13.26 		Subd. 2.Required plan. (a) By October 1, 2019, the public utility must file a plan for 
13.27 	the solar for schools program with the commissioner. The plan must contain but is not 
13.28 	limited to the following elements:
13.29 	(1) a description of how entities that are eligible to take advantage of state and federal 
13.30 	tax and other financial incentives that reduce the cost of purchasing, installing, and operating 
13.31 	a solar energy system that schools are ineligible to take advantage of directly, can share a 
14.1 	portion of those financial benefits with schools at which a solar energy system will be 
14.2 	installed;
14.3 	(2) a description of how the public utility will utilize funds appropriated to the program 
14.4 	under this section to provide additional financial assistance to schools at which a solar 
14.5 	energy system will be installed;
14.6 	(3) certification that the financial assistance provided under this section to a school by 
14.7 	the public utility must include the full value of the renewable energy certificates associated 
14.8 	with the generation of electricity by the solar energy system receiving financial assistance 
14.9 	under this section over the lifetime of the solar energy system;
14.10 	(4) an estimate of the amount of financial assistance that the public utility will provide 
14.11 	to a school under clauses (1) to (3) on a per kilowatt-hour produced basis, and the length 
14.12 	of time financial assistance will be provided;
14.13 	(5) certification that the transaction between the public utility and the school for electricity 
14.14 	is the buy-all/sell-all method by which the public utility will charge the school for all 
14.15 	electricity the school consumes at the applicable retail rate schedule for sales to the school 
14.16 	based on the school's customer class, and shall credit or pay the school at the rate established 
14.17 	in subdivision 5;
14.18 	(6) administrative procedures governing the application and financial benefit award 
14.19 	process, and the costs the public utility and the department are projected to incur to administer 
14.20 	the program;
14.21 	(7) the public utility's proposed process for periodic reevaluation and modification of 
14.22 	the program; and
14.23 	(8) any additional information required by the commissioner.
14.24 	(b) The public utility may not implement the program until the commissioner approves 
14.25 	the public utility's plan submitted under this subdivision. The commissioner shall approve 
14.26 	a plan under this subdivision that the commissioner determines to be in the public interest 
14.27 	no later than December 31, 2019. Any proposed modifications to the plan approved under 
14.28 	this subdivision must be approved by the commissioner.
14.29 		Subd. 3.System eligibility. A solar energy system is eligible to receive financial benefits 
14.30 	under this section if it meets all of the following conditions:
14.31 	(1) the solar energy system must be located on or adjacent to a school building receiving 
14.32 	retail electric service from the public utility and completely located within the public utility's 
14.33 	electric service territory, provided that any land situated between the school building and 
15.1 	the site where the solar energy system is installed is owned by the school district in which 
15.2 	the school building operates; and
15.3 	(2) the total aggregate nameplate capacity of all distributed generation serving the school 
15.4 	building, including any subscriptions to a community solar garden under section 216B.1641, 
15.5 	may not exceed the lesser of one megawatt (alternating current) or 120 percent of the average 
15.6 	annual electric energy consumption of the school building.
15.7 		Subd. 4.Application process. (a) A school seeking financial assistance under this section 
15.8 	must submit an application to the public utility, including a plan for how the school will 
15.9 	use the solar energy system as a visible learning tool for students, teachers, and visitors to 
15.10 	the school, and how the solar energy system may be integrated into the school's curriculum.
15.11 	(b) The public utility shall award financial assistance under this section on a first-come, 
15.12 	first-served basis.
15.13 	(c) The public utility shall discontinue accepting applications under this section after all 
15.14 	funds appropriated under subdivision 5 are allocated to program participants, including 
15.15 	funds from canceled projects.
15.16 		Subd. 5.Benefits information. Before signing an agreement with the public utility to 
15.17 	receive financial assistance under this section, a school must obtain from the developer and 
15.18 	provide to the public utility information the developer shared with potential investors in the 
15.19 	project regarding future financial benefits to be realized from installation of a solar energy 
15.20 	system at the school, and potential financial risks.
15.21 		Subd. 6.Purchase rate; cost recovery; renewable energy credits. (a) The public utility 
15.22 	shall purchase all of the electricity generated by a solar energy system receiving financial 
15.23 	assistance under this section at a rate of $.105 per kilowatt-hour generated.
15.24 	(b) Payments by the public utility of the rate established under this subdivision to a 
15.25 	school receiving financial assistance under this section are fully recoverable by the public 
15.26 	utility through the public utility's fuel clause adjustment.
15.27 	(c) The renewable energy credits associated with the electricity generated by a solar 
15.28 	energy system installed under this section are the property of the public utility that is subject 
15.29 	to this section.
15.30 		Subd. 7.Limitation. (a) No more than 50 percent of the financial assistance provided 
15.31 	by the public utility to schools under this section may be provided to schools where the 
15.32 	proportion of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch under the National School 
15.33 	Lunch Program is less than 50 percent.
16.1 	(b) No more than ten percent of the total amount of financial assistance provided by the 
16.2 	public utility to schools under this section may be provided to schools that are part of the 
16.3 	same school district.
16.4 		Subd. 8.Technical assistance. The commissioner shall provide technical assistance to 
16.5 	schools to develop and execute projects under this section.
16.6 		Subd. 9.Application deadline. No application may be submitted under this section 
16.7 	after December 31, 2023.

16.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

16.9 	Sec. 7. [216C.45] ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION REVOLVING 
16.10 	LOAN PROGRAM.
16.11 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this 
16.12 	subdivision have the meanings given them.
16.13 	(b) "Borrower" means the state, counties, cities, other governmental entities, nonprofit 
16.14 	organizations, and private businesses eligible under this section to apply for and receive 
16.15 	loans from the electric vehicle charging station revolving loan fund.
16.16 	(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce.
16.17 	(d) "Electric vehicle" has the meaning given in section 169.011, subdivision 26a.
16.18 	(e) "Electric vehicle charging station" means an electric component assembly or cluster 
16.19 	of component assemblies designed specifically to charge an electric vehicle battery by 
16.20 	transferring electric energy to a battery or a storage device in the electric vehicle.
16.21 	(f) "Loan" means financial assistance provided for all or part of the cost of an electric 
16.22 	vehicle charging station project, including money for design, development, purchase, or 
16.23 	installation.
16.24 		Subd. 2.Revolving loan fund. The commissioner must establish an electric vehicle 
16.25 	charging station revolving loan fund to make loans for all or part of the cost of an electric 
16.26 	vehicle charging station project installed in Minnesota.
16.27 		Subd. 3.Administration. (a) The commissioner must establish a minimum interest rate 
16.28 	for loans to ensure that necessary loan administration costs are covered. The minimum 
16.29 	interest rate must not exceed:
16.30 	(1) one percent interest for a loan to a borrower that is the state, other governmental 
16.31 	entity, or a nonprofit organization; or
17.1 	(2) three percent interest for a loan to a borrower that is a private business.
17.2 	(b) Loan repayment of principal and loan interest payments must be paid to the department 
17.3 	for deposit in the revolving loan fund for subsequent distribution or use consistent with the 
17.4 	requirements under this section.
17.5 	(c) When a loan is repaid, 60 percent of the loan repayment must be retained in the 
17.6 	electric vehicle charging station revolving loan fund. The remaining 40 percent must be 
17.7 	transferred to the renewable development account under section 116C.779, until the total 
17.8 	amount transferred to the renewable development account equals $1,500,000.
17.9 		Subd. 4.Applications. (a) A loan applicant must submit an application to the 
17.10 	commissioner on forms prescribed by the commissioner.
17.11 	(b) The applicant must provide the following information:
17.12 	(1) the estimated cost of the project and the amount of the loan sought;
17.13 	(2) other possible sources of funding in addition to loans sought from the electric vehicle 
17.14 	charging station revolving loan fund;
17.15 	(3) the proposed methods and sources of funds to repay loans received; and
17.16 	(4) information demonstrating the financial status and ability of the borrower to repay 
17.17 	loans.
17.18 		Subd. 5.Use of loan funds. (a) Loans made with funds from the electric vehicle charging 
17.19 	station revolving loan fund may be used to design, develop, purchase, and install electric 
17.20 	vehicle charging stations at locations in Minnesota.
17.21 	(b) An electric vehicle charging station project receiving loan funds under this section 
17.22 	must be available for public use.
17.23 		Subd. 6.Evaluation of projects. (a) The commissioner must consider the following 
17.24 	information when evaluating a project:
17.25 	(1) a description of the nature and purpose of the proposed project, including an 
17.26 	explanation of the need for the project and the reasons why the project is in the public 
17.27 	interest;
17.28 	(2) the relationship of the project to the local area's needs;
17.29 	(3) the estimated project cost and the loan amount sought;
17.30 	(4) proposed sources of funding in addition to the loan sought from the electric vehicle 
17.31 	charging station revolving loan fund;
18.1 	(5) the need for the project as part of the overall transportation system; and
18.2 	(6) the overall economic impact of the project.
18.3 	(b) When evaluating projects, the commissioner may consult with the commissioner of 
18.4 	transportation regarding the electric vehicle charging needs throughout the state.
18.5 		Subd. 7.Maximum loan amount. The maximum loan amount under this section is 
18.6 	$....... per electric vehicle charging station project.
18.7 		Subd. 8.User fees. As a condition of accepting a loan under this section, a borrower 
18.8 	must agree to charge a per hour user fee for use of an electric vehicle charging station funded 
18.9 	by the loan. A borrower must use at least 25 percent of the fees collected to repay the loan 
18.10 	and pay for expenses associated with operating and maintaining the electric vehicle charging 
18.11 	station funded by the loan.
18.12 		Subd. 9.Report to legislature. On or before March 15, 2020, and each March 15 
18.13 	thereafter, the commissioner must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
18.14 	house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction over energy and 
18.15 	transportation policy and finance regarding the revolving loan program. The report must 
18.16 	include (1) a description of the projects and an account of loans made from the revolving 
18.17 	loan fund during the preceding calendar year, (2) the revolving loan fund balance, and (3) 
18.18 	an explanation of administrative expenses.

18.19 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

18.20 	Sec. 8. PRAIRIE ISLAND NET ZERO PROJECT.
18.21 		Subdivision 1.Program established. The Prairie Island net zero project is established 
18.22 	with the goal of the Prairie Island Indian community developing an energy system that 
18.23 	results in net zero emissions.
18.24 		Subd. 2.Grant. The commissioner of employment and economic development must 
18.25 	enter into a grant contract with the Prairie Island Indian community to provide the amount 
18.26 	appropriated under section 12 to stimulate research, development, and implementation of 
18.27 	renewable energy projects benefiting the Prairie Island Indian community or its members. 
18.28 	Any examination conducted by the commissioner of employment and economic development 
18.29 	to determine the sufficiency of the financial stability and capacity of the Prairie Island Indian 
18.30 	community to carry out the purposes of this grant is limited to the Community Services 
18.31 	Department of the Prairie Island Indian community.
19.1 		Subd. 3.Plan; report. The Prairie Island Indian community must file a plan with the 
19.2 	commissioner of employment and economic development no later than July 1, 2019, 
19.3 	describing the Prairie Island net zero project elements and implementation strategy. The 
19.4 	Prairie Island Indian community must file a report on July 1, 2020, and each July 1 thereafter 
19.5 	until the project is complete, describing the progress made in implementing the project and 
19.6 	the uses of expended funds. A final report must be completed within 90 days of the date 
19.7 	the project is complete.

19.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

19.9 	Sec. 9. BIOMASS BUSINESS COMPENSATION.
19.10 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
19.11 	the meanings given.
19.12 	(b) "Biomass plant" means the biomass plant identified under Minnesota Statutes, section 
19.13 	116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (f).
19.14 	(c) "Early termination" means the early termination of the power purchase agreement 
19.15 	authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.2424, subdivision 9, with the biomass 
19.16 	plant.
19.17 	(d) "Operating income" means a business's revenue minus its operating expenses.
19.18 		Subd. 2.Office of Administrative Hearings; claims process. (a) The chief 
19.19 	administrative law judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings must assign an 
19.20 	administrative law judge to administer a claims award process to compensate businesses 
19.21 	negatively affected by the early termination. The chief administrative law judge may develop 
19.22 	a process, prescribe forms, identify documentation affected businesses must submit with 
19.23 	claims, and issue awards to eligible businesses consistent with this section. The process 
19.24 	must allow, but not require, an authorized representative from each business that applies 
19.25 	for compensation to appear in person before the assigned administrative law judge to provide 
19.26 	evidence in support of the business's claim.
19.27 	(b) The chief administrative law judge may contract with and use the services of financial 
19.28 	or other consultants to examine financial documentation presented by claimants or otherwise 
19.29 	assist in the evaluation and award of claims.
19.30 	(c) Records submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings as part of the claims 
19.31 	process constitute business data under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.591.
19.32 	(d) An award made under this section is final and is not subject to judicial review.
20.1 	(e) An award made under this section does not constitute an admission of liability by 
20.2 	the state for any damages or other losses suffered by a business affected by the early 
20.3 	termination.
20.4 		Subd. 3.Eligibility. To be eligible for an award of compensation, an affected business 
20.5 	must meet the following criteria:
20.6 	(1) as of May 1, 2017, the affected business was operating under the terms of a valid 
20.7 	written contract, or an oral contract that is sufficiently supported by business records, with 
20.8 	the company operating the biomass plant or the fertilizer plant integrated with the biomass 
20.9 	plant to supply or manage material for, or receive material from, the biomass plant or the 
20.10 	fertilizer plant integrated with the biomass plant;
20.11 	(2) the affected business is located in the state; and
20.12 	(3) as the result of the early termination, the affected business suffered:
20.13 	(i) decreased operating income; or
20.14 	(ii) the loss of value of investments in real or personal property essential to its business 
20.15 	operations with the biomass plant.
20.16 		Subd. 4.Types of claims. (a) An eligible business may make claims for a compensation 
20.17 	award based on either or both:
20.18 	(1) decreased operating income; or
20.19 	(2) the loss of value of investments in real or personal property essential to its business 
20.20 	operations with the biomass plant.
20.21 	(b) To establish and quantify a claim for decreased operating income, an eligible business 
20.22 	must:
20.23 	(1) demonstrate its operating income over the past five years derived from supplying or 
20.24 	managing material for, or receiving material from, the biomass plant;
20.25 	(2) present evidence of any alternative business opportunities it has pursued or could 
20.26 	pursue to mitigate the loss of revenue from the termination of its contract with the biomass 
20.27 	plant; and
20.28 	(3) demonstrate the amount that the business's annual operating income, including 
20.29 	operating income from any alternative business opportunities, after the termination of the 
20.30 	business's contract with the biomass plant is less than the five-year average of the business's 
20.31 	annual operating income before the early termination.
21.1 	(c) To establish and quantify a loss of value of investments in real or personal property 
21.2 	claim, an eligible business must provide sufficient evidence of:
21.3 	(1) the essential nature of the investment made in the property to fulfill the contract with 
21.4 	the biomass plant;
21.5 	(2) the extent to which the eligible business is able to repurpose the property for another 
21.6 	productive use after the early termination, including but not limited to the use, sales, salvage, 
21.7 	or scrap value of the property for which the loss is claimed; and
21.8 	(3) the value of the eligible business's nondepreciated investment in the property.
21.9 		Subd. 5.Limitations on awards. (a) A compensation award for a decreased operating 
21.10 	income claim must not exceed the amount calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph (b), 
21.11 	clause (3), multiplied by two.
21.12 	(b) The use, sales, salvage, or scrap value of the property for which a loss is claimed 
21.13 	must be deducted from a compensation award for a loss of value of investments in real or 
21.14 	personal property claim.
21.15 	(c) A payment received from business interruption insurance policies, settlements, or 
21.16 	other forms of compensation related to the termination of the business's contract with the 
21.17 	biomass plant must be deducted from any compensation award provided under this section.
21.18 		Subd. 6.Priority. The chief administrative law judge may give priority to claims by 
21.19 	eligible businesses that demonstrate a significant effort to pursue alternative business 
21.20 	opportunities or to conduct other loss mitigation efforts to reduce its claimed losses related 
21.21 	to the termination of its contract with the company operating the biomass plant.
21.22 		Subd. 7.Awarding claims. If the amount provided for compensation in the biomass 
21.23 	business compensation account established under section 10 is insufficient to fully award 
21.24 	all claims eligible for an award, all awards must be adjusted proportionally based on the 
21.25 	value of the claim.
21.26 		Subd. 8.Deadlines. The chief administrative law judge must make the application 
21.27 	process for eligible claims available by August 1, 2019. A business seeking an award under 
21.28 	this section must file all claims with the chief administrative law judge within 60 days of 
21.29 	the date the chief administrative law judge makes the application process for eligible claims 
21.30 	available. All preliminary awards on eligible claims must be made within 120 days of the 
21.31 	deadline date to file claims. Any requests to reconsider an award denial must be filed with 
21.32 	the chief administrative law judge within 60 days of the notice date for preliminary awards. 
21.33 	All final awards for eligible claims must be made within 60 days of the deadline date to file 
22.1 	reconsideration requests. The commissioner of management and budget must pay all awarded 
22.2 	claims within 45 days of the date the commissioner of management and budget receives 
22.3 	notice of the final awards from the chief administrative law judge.
22.4 		Subd. 9.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2022.

22.5 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

22.6 	Sec. 10. BIOMASS BUSINESS COMPENSATION ACCOUNT.
22.7 		Subdivision 1.Account established. A biomass business compensation account is 
22.8 	established as a separate account in the special revenue fund in the state treasury. 
22.9 	Appropriations and transfers to the account must be credited to the account. Earnings, such 
22.10 	as interest, and any other earnings arising from the assets of the account are credited to the 
22.11 	account. Funds remaining in the account as of December 31, 2021, must be transferred to 
22.12 	the renewable development account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779.
22.13 		Subd. 2.Funding for the special account. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 
22.14 	116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j), on July 1, 2019, $40,000,000 must be transferred 
22.15 	from the renewable development account under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, to 
22.16 	the biomass business compensation account established under subdivision 3. The transferred 
22.17 	funds are appropriated to pay eligible obligations under the biomass business compensation 
22.18 	program established under section 9.
22.19 		Subd. 3.Payment of expenses. The chief administrative law judge must certify to the 
22.20 	commissioner of management and budget the total costs incurred to administer the biomass 
22.21 	business compensation claims process. The commissioner of management and budget must 
22.22 	transfer an amount equal to the certified costs incurred for biomass business compensation 
22.23 	claim activities from the renewable development account under Minnesota Statutes, section 
22.24 	116C.779, and deposit it in the administrative hearings account under Minnesota Statutes, 
22.25 	section 14.54. Transfers may occur quarterly throughout the fiscal year and must be based 
22.26 	on quarterly cost and revenue reports, with final certification and reconciliation after each 
22.27 	fiscal year. The total amount transferred under this subdivision must not exceed $200,000.
22.28 		Subd. 4.Expiration. This section expires June 30, 2022.

22.29 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

22.30 	Sec. 11. GREEN ROOF ADVISORY TASK FORCE; REPORT.
 22.31 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For the purposes of this section, "green roof" means the roof 
22.32 	of a building on which:
23.1 	(1) photovoltaic devices, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.06, are sited; 
23.2 	or
23.3 	(2) a vegetative landscape and associated elements are installed, which may include:
23.4 	(i) a growing medium;
23.5 	(ii) a waterproof membrane to protect the roof;
23.6 	(iii) a barrier to prevent plant roots from damaging the roof;
23.7 	(iv) a filter layer to prevent the growing medium from washing away;
23.8 	(v) thermal insulation to protect the vegetation and the building;
23.9 	(vi) a drainage system; and
23.10 	(vii) structural support.
23.11 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The Green Roof Advisory Task Force consists of the following 
23.12 	members:
23.13 	(1) the state building official, appointed under Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.127, 
23.14 	or the state building official's designee;
23.15 	(2) a representative of the Building Owners and Managers Association Greater 
23.16 	Minneapolis, appointed by the president of the association;
23.17 	(3) up to three representatives from Minnesota companies with extensive experience 
23.18 	installing green roofs, appointed by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency;
23.19 	(4) a cochair of the Committee on the Environment of the American Institute of Architects 
23.20 	Minnesota, or the cochair's designee;
23.21 	(5) a horticultural expert from the University of Minnesota Extension, appointed by the 
23.22 	dean of extension;
23.23 	(6) a representative of the University of Minnesota Center for Sustainable Building 
23.24 	Research, appointed by the director of the center;
23.25 	(7) a representative of the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association, appointed by 
23.26 	the president of the association;
23.27 	(8) a representative from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association;
23.28 	(9) a representative of the Minnesota State Building Trades Council appointed by the 
23.29 	council;
23.30 	(10) the commissioner of commerce, or the commissioner's designee; and
24.1 	(11) other members appointed by the advisory task force that it deems to be helpful in 
24.2 	carrying out its duties under subdivision 3.
24.3 	(b) Members of the advisory task force are not to be compensated for activities associated 
24.4 	with the advisory task force.
24.5 	(c) The Department of Commerce must serve as staff to the advisory task force.
24.6 		Subd. 3.Duties. The advisory task force's duties are to review and evaluate:
24.7 	(1) laws relating to green roofs enacted in American cities and states and in foreign 
24.8 	countries;
24.9 	(2) estimates of the impacts of operating green roofs on:
24.10 	(i) energy use in the buildings on which the green roofs are installed and any associated 
24.11 	reductions in the emission of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants;
24.12 	(ii) roof replacement costs; and
24.13 	(iii) management costs for storm water; and
24.14 	(3) any other information the task force deems relevant.
24.15 		Subd. 4.Report. By March 1, 2020, the advisory task force must submit a report to the 
24.16 	chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees 
24.17 	with primary jurisdiction over energy policy and environmental policy. The report must 
24.18 	contain the task force's findings and recommendations, including discussion of the benefits 
24.19 	and problems associated with requiring buildings of a certain type and size to install green 
24.20 	roofs.
24.21 		Subd. 5.Sunset. The task force shall sunset April 1, 2020.

24.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

24.23 	Sec. 12. REPORT; COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF ENERGY STORAGE 
24.24 	SYSTEMS.
 24.25 	(a) The commissioner of commerce must contract with an independent consultant selected 
24.26 	through a request for proposal process to produce a report analyzing the potential costs and 
24.27 	benefits of energy storage systems, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.2422, 
24.28 	subdivision 1, in Minnesota. The study may also include scenarios examining energy storage 
24.29 	systems that are not capable of being controlled by a utility. The commissioner must engage 
24.30 	a broad group of Minnesota stakeholders, including electric utilities and others, to develop 
24.31 	and provide information for the report. The study must:
25.1 	(1) identify and measure the different potential costs and savings produced by energy 
25.2 	storage system deployment, including but not limited to:
25.3 	(i) generation, transmission, and distribution facilities asset deferral or substitution;
25.4 	(ii) impacts on ancillary services costs;
25.5 	(iii) impacts on transmission and distribution congestion;
25.6 	(iv) impacts on peak power costs;
25.7 	(v) impacts on emergency power supplies during outages;
25.8 	(vi) impacts on curtailment of renewable energy generators; and
25.9 	(vii) reduced greenhouse gas emissions;
25.10 	(2) analyze and estimate the:
25.11 	(i) costs and savings to customers that deploy energy storage systems;
25.12 	(ii) impact on the utility's ability to integrate renewable resources;
25.13 	(iii) impact on grid reliability and power quality; and
25.14 	(iv) effect on retail electric rates over the useful life of a given energy storage system 
25.15 	compared to providing the same services using other facilities or resources;
25.16 	(3) consider the findings of analysis conducted by the Midcontinent Independent System 
25.17 	Operator on energy storage capacity accreditation and participation in regional energy 
25.18 	markets, including updates of the analysis; and
25.19 	(4) include case studies of existing energy storage applications currently providing the 
25.20 	benefits described in clauses (1) and (2).
25.21 	(b) By December 31, 2019, the commissioner of commerce must submit the study to 
25.22 	the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives 
25.23 	committees with jurisdiction over energy policy and finance.

25.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

25.25 	Sec. 13. APPROPRIATION; PRAIRIE ISLAND NET ZERO PROJECT.
 25.26 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j), 
25.27 	$20,000,000 in fiscal year 2020; $7,500,000 in fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023; and 
25.28 	$3,700,000 in fiscal year 2024 are appropriated from the renewable development account 
25.29 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, to the commissioner of 
26.1 	employment and economic development for a grant to the Prairie Island Indian community 
26.2 	to establish the net zero project under section 8.

26.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

26.4 	Sec. 14. APPROPRIATION; ENERGY STORAGE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
 26.5 	$150,000 in fiscal year 2019 is appropriated from the renewable development account 
26.6 	in the special revenue fund established in Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 
26.7 	1, to the commissioner of commerce, to conduct an energy storage systems cost-benefit 
26.8 	analysis. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until June 30, 2020.

26.9 	Sec. 15. APPROPRIATION; GREEN ROOF TASK FORCE.
 26.10 	$55,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the renewable development account 
26.11 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), to the 
26.12 	commissioner of commerce to complete the green roof report required under section 11.

26.13 	Sec. 16. APPROPRIATION; SOLAR FOR SCHOOLS.
 26.14 	(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j), 
26.15 	$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 are appropriated from 
26.16 	the renewable development account established under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, 
26.17 	subdivision 1, to the commissioner of commerce for transfer to the public utility that is 
26.18 	subject to Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.376, for the purposes of awarding grants and 
26.19 	financial assistance to schools under the solar for schools program under Minnesota Statutes, 
26.20 	section 216C.376.
26.21 	(b) This appropriation may be used by the commissioner to reimburse the reasonable 
26.22 	costs incurred by the public utility to administer the solar for schools program under 
26.23 	Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.375, and the reasonable costs of the department to review 
26.24 	and approve the public utility's plan, and any proposed modifications to that plan and to 
26.25 	provide technical assistance, under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.376, subdivisions 2 
26.26 	and 8.

26.27 	Sec. 17. APPROPRIATION; ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION 
26.28 	REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM.
 26.29 	Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j), 
26.30 	$1,500,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the renewable development account 
26.31 	under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, to the commissioner of commerce for the 
27.1 	electric vehicle charging station revolving loan program under Minnesota Statutes, section 
27.2 	216C.45. This appropriation must be used only for loans made for electric vehicle charging 
27.3 	station projects in the service area of a public utility that owns a nuclear electric generating 
27.4 	plant in Minnesota. The commissioner may use up to three percent of this amount to 
27.5 	administer the program. This is a onetime appropriation and is available until expended.