1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; requiring the commissioner of commerce to develop a state 
1.3 	plan for a green infrastructure; providing funding to create energy-efficient 
1.4 	residences; authorizing bonding to fund energy-efficient public buildings, 
1.5 	renewable energy for public schools, green industrial parks, and a solar 
1.6 	certification laboratory.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. STATE PREPARATION FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY FOR 
1.9 	A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
 1.10 		Subdivision 1.Plan required. The federal government is discussing various federal 
1.11 	stimulus strategies to assist states to recover from the economic distress, including high 
1.12 	unemployment, that exists at the beginning of 2009. The commissioner of commerce 
1.13 	shall immediately develop a plan for the use of federal stimulus money in energy areas 
1.14 	traditionally within the jurisdiction of the commissioner, including public building 
1.15 	energy-efficiency retrofitting and renovation.
1.16 		Subd. 2.Development of state plan; considerations. In developing the state 
1.17 	plan, the commissioner shall attempt to maximize the job development and the energy 
1.18 	conservation and efficiencies that can be achieved.

1.19 	Sec. 2. ENERGY-EFFICIENT RESIDENCES.
 1.20 		Subdivision 1.Plan. To the extent that federal stimulus money is available for 
1.21 	this purpose, the commissioner of commerce shall develop and implement a plan to use 
1.22 	that federal money for residential energy-efficiency delivery and financing programs. 
1.23 	Those programs may include, without limitation, the training of personnel to provide 
1.24 	energy-related services, installation of energy-conserving devices and materials, provision 
2.1 	of energy services, weatherization, and activities related to utility energy conservation 
2.2 	improvement plans.
2.3 		Subd. 2.Eligibility. Priority for participation in programs funded by the federal 
2.4 	stimulus money shall be given to homes determined to have high energy costs and high 
2.5 	energy savings potential. A portion of the federal money must be used for foreclosed 
2.6 	vacant homes.

2.7 	Sec. 3. BONDING FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
 2.8 		Subdivision 1.Public building energy-efficiency retrofitting and renovation. The 
2.9 	commissioner of commerce shall administer a program to fund energy conservation and 
2.10 	efficiency improvements in public buildings. Public buildings include, without limitation, 
2.11 	city, county, school district, and park buildings. Priority must be given to buildings 
2.12 	that have received an energy audit that identifies the building as one of the 200 least 
2.13 	energy-efficient public buildings.
2.14 		Subd. 2.Bonds issued. The state shall issue revenue bonds to fund energy 
2.15 	improvements under this section. Bonds issued must be repaid using energy savings 
2.16 	generated by the improvements.

2.17 	Sec. 4. RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS; FUNDING.
 2.18 		Subdivision 1.School districts. The commissioner of commerce shall make grants 
2.19 	to school districts to install wind turbines, solar heating or electric systems, solar hot water 
2.20 	systems, and geothermal systems. Priority for grants must be given to school districts that 
2.21 	have previously participated in energy-efficient improvement programs. A technical 
2.22 	determination must be made that the school building site is suitable for cost-effective 
2.23 	installation and operation of the renewable energy system.
2.24 		Subd. 2.Green industrial parks. The commissioner of commerce shall make 
2.25 	grants to local units of government and economic development authorities to build 
2.26 	infrastructure for industrial parks that will contribute to a green economy as defined in 
2.27 	Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.437, subdivision 1. Priority must be given to sites 
2.28 	previously used as industrial sites, to sites that are in close proximity to public transit 
2.29 	lines, to sites in cities where unemployment rates are high, and to sites located in areas 
2.30 	that are economically distressed.
2.31 		Subd. 3.Solar certification laboratory. The commissioner of commerce shall 
2.32 	solicit proposals and provide funding for construction of a solar certification laboratory.
2.33 		Subd. 4.Bond authorization. The state shall issue revenue bonds to provide funds 
2.34 	for the purposes of this section.

3.1 	Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 3.2 	Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment.