HF 560

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to renewable fuel use by state departments;
clarifying the state's policy of minimizing energy use
and requiring renewable fuels wherever appropriate;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 16C.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [16C.137] MINIMIZING ENERGY USE; RENEWABLE
FUELS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Legislative findings. new text end

new text begin The legislature
finds that increased use of agricultural renewable fuels such as
ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen made from agricultural products
will reduce Minnesota's dependence on imported oil and help
protect our environment while providing enormous benefit to
Minnesota's rural communities and agricultural economy.
Furthermore, Minnesota has a unique economic advantage in the
ability to produce clean, renewable, domestic fuels and
Minnesota leads the nation in the production and use of ethanol
and biodiesel. State agencies need to be urged, once again, to
use cleaner fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen in state
vehicles, and to purchase vehicles capable of being powered by
these cleaner fuels as required by section 16C.135.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Goals and actions. new text end

new text begin (a) Using 2005 as a
baseline, the state of Minnesota shall reduce the use of
gasoline by on-road vehicles owned by state departments by 25
percent by 2010 and by 50 percent by 2015, and the use of
petroleum-based diesel fuel in diesel-fueled vehicles by ten
percent by 2010 and 25 percent by 2015.
new text end

new text begin (b) To meet the goals established in paragraph (a), each
state department will, whenever legally, technically, and
economically feasible, subject to the specific needs of the
department and responsible management of agency finances:
new text end

new text begin (1) ensure that at least 75 percent of purchases of new
on-road vehicles, excluding emergency and law enforcement
vehicles:
new text end

new text begin (i) use "cleaner fuels" as that term is defined in section
16C.135, subdivision 1, clauses (1), (3), and (4); or
new text end

new text begin (ii) have fuel efficiency ratings that exceed 30 miles per
gallon for city usage or 35 miles per gallon for highway usage,
including but not limited to hybrid electric cars and
hydrogen-powered vehicles;
new text end

new text begin (2) increase its use of renewable transportation fuels,
including ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen from agricultural
products; and
new text end

new text begin (3) increase its use of Web-based Internet applications and
other electronic information technologies to enhance the access
to and delivery of government information and services to the
public, and reduce the reliance on the department's fleet for
the delivery of such information and services.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Smartfleet committee. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of
administration, or the commissioner's designee, shall chair a
SmartFleet Committee consisting of representatives designated by
the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency, the
Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, and other state
departments that wish to participate. To ensure effective and
efficient state participation, the SmartFleet Committee must
assist state departments in implementing the requirements of
this section, including providing information, guidance, sample
policies and procedures, and technical and planning assistance.
new text end

new text begin (b) The SmartFleet Committee must evaluate the goals and
directives established in this section by December 2006 and
periodically thereafter. The committee must make
recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees of
the legislature on February 1 of each year for new or adjusted
goals and directives, in light of the progress the state has
made implementing this section, and of the availability of new
or improved technologies.
new text end

new text begin (c) For the systematic and efficient monitoring of progress
in implementing this section by the SmartFleet Committee, the
Department of Administration shall implement a fleet reporting
and information management system. Each department will use
this management system to demonstrate its progress in complying
with this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Exclusion. new text end

new text begin Petroleum-based diesel fuel used in
a vehicle which a department has retrofit to use ultra low
sulfur diesel fuel and to add additional emissions control
technologies is excluded when evaluating progress toward the
reduction goals established in subdivision 2. This exclusion
applies only to vehicles purchased before the model year in
which the federal Environmental Protection Agency's new clean
diesel emission reduction rules take effect.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end