1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; establishing the Minnesota efficient technology accelerator to 
1.3 	benefit Minnesota utility consumers by accelerating deployment and reducing the 
1.4 	cost of emerging and innovative efficient technologies;amending Minnesota 
1.5 	Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, by adding a subdivision.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.241, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.8 	to read:
1.9 		Subd. 11.Minnesota efficient technology accelerator. (a) The commissioner of 
1.10 	commerce may approve a proposal filed by a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization 
1.11 	possessing expertise and experience with energy efficiency programs and efficient technology 
1.12 	research for the establishment of the Minnesota efficient technology accelerator program 
1.13 	if the commissioner finds that the proposal: (1) is designed to accelerate deployment and 
1.14 	reduce the cost of emerging and innovative efficient technologies and approaches; and (2) 
1.15 	leads to lower energy costs for Minnesota consumers.
1.16 	(b) The initial program term may be for up to five years and, at the request of the 
1.17 	nonprofit, may be renewed by the commissioner for up to an additional five years. The 
1.18 	proposal must include a proposed budget and operational guidelines for the accelerator 
1.19 	including but not limited to an energy savings attribution and allocation methodology that 
1.20 	calculates net benefits from activities under the program.
1.21 	(c) Upon approval, each public utility with more than 30,000 customers must participate 
1.22 	in the program and direct a portion of the annual amount approved to implement the public 
1.23 	utility's plan under subdivision 2 to the program based on the amount of customer load the 
2.1 	utility serves in Minnesota. Costs incurred by a public utility under this subdivision are 
2.2 	recoverable under subdivision 2b. Costs for research projects under this subdivision that 
2.3 	the commissioner determines may be duplicative to projects that would be eligible for 
2.4 	funding under subdivision 1e may be deducted from the assessment under subdivision 1e 
2.5 	for utilities participating in the accelerator.

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