HF 164

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:34am

A bill for an act
relating to energy; requiring the commissioner of commerce to develop a state
plan for a green infrastructure; providing funding to create energy-efficient
residences; authorizing bonding to fund energy-efficient public buildings,
renewable energy for public schools, green industrial parks, and a solar
certification laboratory.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin STATE PREPARATION FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY FOR
A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Plan required. new text end

new text begin The federal government is discussing various federal
stimulus strategies to assist states to recover from the economic distress, including high
unemployment, that exists at the beginning of 2009. The commissioner of commerce
shall immediately develop a plan for the use of federal stimulus money in energy areas
traditionally within the jurisdiction of the commissioner, including public building
energy-efficiency retrofitting and renovation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Development of state plan; considerations. new text end

new text begin In developing the state
plan, the commissioner shall attempt to maximize the job development and the energy
conservation and efficiencies that can be achieved.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ENERGY-EFFICIENT RESIDENCES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Plan. new text end

new text begin To the extent that federal stimulus money is available for
this purpose, the commissioner of commerce shall develop and implement a plan to use
that federal money for residential energy-efficiency delivery and financing programs.
Those programs may include, without limitation, the training of personnel to provide
energy-related services, installation of energy-conserving devices and materials, provision
of energy services, weatherization, and activities related to utility energy conservation
improvement plans.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin Priority for participation in programs funded by the federal
stimulus money shall be given to homes determined to have high energy costs and high
energy savings potential. A portion of the federal money must be used for foreclosed
vacant homes.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin BONDING FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Public building energy-efficiency retrofitting and renovation. new text end

new text begin The
commissioner of commerce shall administer a program to fund energy conservation and
efficiency improvements in public buildings. Public buildings include, without limitation,
city, county, school district, and park buildings. Priority must be given to buildings
that have received an energy audit that identifies the building as one of the 200 least
energy-efficient public buildings.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Bonds issued. new text end

new text begin The state shall issue revenue bonds to fund energy
improvements under this section. Bonds issued must be repaid using energy savings
generated by the improvements.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS; FUNDING.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin School districts. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce shall make grants
to school districts to install wind turbines, solar heating or electric systems, solar hot water
systems, and geothermal systems. Priority for grants must be given to school districts that
have previously participated in energy-efficient improvement programs. A technical
determination must be made that the school building site is suitable for cost-effective
installation and operation of the renewable energy system.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Green industrial parks. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce shall make
grants to local units of government and economic development authorities to build
infrastructure for industrial parks that will contribute to a green economy as defined in
Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.437, subdivision 1. Priority must be given to sites
previously used as industrial sites, to sites that are in close proximity to public transit
lines, to sites in cities where unemployment rates are high, and to sites located in areas
that are economically distressed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Solar certification laboratory. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce shall
solicit proposals and provide funding for construction of a solar certification laboratory.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Bond authorization. new text end

new text begin The state shall issue revenue bonds to provide funds
for the purposes of this section.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end