HF 1469

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:51am

A bill for an act
relating to local government; city of St. Paul; appropriating money for
demonstration program for commercial and industrial energy efficiency
improvements.

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

Section 1. new text begin GRANT OF FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS TO ST. PAUL
PORT AUTHORITY FOR USE IN DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO
PROVIDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated to the commissioner of finance from the federal stimulus funds
received by the state, for a grant to the Port Authority of the city of St. Paul for its use
in developing and implementing a demonstration program to provide for the design,
financing, and installation of energy efficiency improvements in commercial and industrial
facilities.
new text end

new text begin The Port Authority may use grant funds for all costs necessary to design, develop,
and implement a commercial-industrial program to fund energy efficiency improvements,
including, but not limited to, the costs of administration, marketing, and financing related
due-diligence analyses, origination and servicing, training, measurement, and verification.
The Port Authority shall use grant funds for loans, guarantees, bond financing, shared
savings agreements, grants, or other financing arrangements to pay all costs necessary to
the design, procurement, construction, and installation of energy efficiency improvements.
new text end

new text begin For purposes of this grant, an "energy efficiency improvement" is any measure
that is expected to result in reduced use, or more efficient use, of electricity, natural gas,
or other fuels.
new text end

new text begin Priority must be given to energy efficiency improvements that achieve the following
objectives to the greatest extent: reduction in total energy use and energy costs of
facilities; improvement in the economic competitiveness of facilities; and creation or
retention of jobs at improved facilities. In addition, such a commercial-industrial energy
efficiency improvement program must be designed and implemented to generate so much
demand for energy-related products and services, including engineering, skilled trades,
and construction services, that it contributes significantly to business and job creation
objectives.
new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any limitations contained in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 469, the
Port Authority may take all actions, and enter into all agreements, necessary to design,
develop, and implement a commercial-industrial program to fund energy efficiency
improvements within the Minnesota service territory of a utility that provides natural gas
or electric service to customers within the city of St. Paul; and this authorization includes
all actions necessary to design, submit for approval, and implement a conservation
improvement project under a utility's conservation improvement program pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.241. A utility participating through its conservation
improvement program is entitled to claim the energy savings towards its energy-savings
goal established in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.241.
new text end

new text begin As a prerequisite for this grant, the Port Authority must submit for approval to the
commissioner of commerce a proposal for inclusion of a commercial-industrial program
to fund energy efficiency improvements in a utility's conservation improvement program
as an indirect-impact conservation improvement project for the years 2009 through 2012,
the purpose of which is to maximize the energy savings and overall cost-effectiveness
of energy efficiency improvements in commercial and industrial facilities that result
from the coordinated use of grant funds provided by this appropriation and the utility's
conservation improvement program funds. Grant funds provided by this appropriation
must be made available to the Port Authority only upon final approval of this conservation
improvement project.
new text end

new text begin The Port Authority shall provide all reports and information required by the director
of the Office of Energy Security in order to provide information needed to review the Port
Authority's use of grant funds under guidelines established by the director.
new text end