HF 1919

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/21/2019 05:30pm

A bill for an act
relating to economic development; creating the community energy transition
competitive grant program; transferring money; creating an advisory council;
requiring reports; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter
116J.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116J.55] COMMUNITY ENERGY TRANSITION GRANTS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms in this
subdivision have the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Advisory council" means the Community Energy Transition Grant Advisory Council
created in this section.
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new text begin (c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of employment and economic development.
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new text begin (d) "Eligible community" means a county, municipality, or tribal government that hosts
an investor-owned electric generating plant powered by coal, nuclear energy, or natural gas.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall establish a community energy transition
grant program to award grants to promote economic development in eligible communities.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Funding. new text end

new text begin (a) A community energy transition account is created in the special
revenue fund in the state treasury. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner
for grants as provided in this section and must be expended only as provided in this section.
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new text begin (b) On July 1, 2019, $15,000,000 is transferred from the renewable development account
under section 116C.779 to the commissioner for deposit in the community energy transition
account.
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new text begin (c) On July 1, 2020, and on each July 1 thereafter, $10,000,000 is transferred from the
renewable development account under section 116C.779 to the commissioner for deposit
in the community energy transition account. This transfer must be made before any other
payments or transfers required under section 116C.779.
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new text begin (d) Until July 1, 2024, expenditures from the community energy transition account must
be less than $2,000,000 each fiscal year.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Grants to eligible communities. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must award grants to
eligible communities through a competitive grant process.
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new text begin (b) To receive grant funds, an eligible community must submit a written application to
the commissioner, using a form developed by the commissioner.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner must consider the recommendations of the Community Energy
Transition Grant Advisory Council before selecting grant recipients.
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new text begin (d) Grants must be used to plan for or address the economic and social impact on the
community of plant retirement or transition. Specific uses may include but are not limited
to:
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new text begin (1) research;
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new text begin (2) planning;
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new text begin (3) studies;
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new text begin (4) capital improvements;
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new text begin (5) incentives for businesses to open, relocate, or expand; and
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new text begin (6) job training.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Advisory council. new text end

new text begin (a) By September 1, 2019, the commissioner shall appoint
representatives to a Community Energy Transition Grant Advisory Council composed of
the following members:
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new text begin (1) the commissioner of employment and economic development, or a designee;
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new text begin (2) the commissioner of transportation, or a designee;
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new text begin (3) the commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, or a designee;
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new text begin (4) the commissioner of natural resources, or a designee;
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new text begin (5) the commissioner of commerce, or a designee;
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new text begin (6) the commissioner of administration, or a designee;
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new text begin (7) one representative of the Prairie Island Indian community;
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new text begin (8) two representatives of workers at investor-owned electric generating plants powered
by coal, nuclear energy, or natural gas; and
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new text begin (9) four representatives of eligible communities, of which, two must be counties, two
must be municipalities, at least one must host a coal plant, and at least one must host a
nuclear plant.
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new text begin After the initial appointments, members of the advisory council shall be appointed no later
than January 15 of every odd-numbered year and shall serve until January 15 of the next
odd-numbered year. Members may be removed and vacancies filled as provided in section
15.059, subdivision 4. Appointed members are eligible for reappointment.
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new text begin (b) The advisory council shall elect a chair and other officers at its first meeting.
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new text begin (c) The advisory council shall review applications for community energy transition
grants and make recommendations to the commissioner of employment and economic
development.
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new text begin (d) A member of the advisory council must not participate in the consideration of an
application from the community that member represents.
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new text begin (e) Members of the advisory council serve without compensation or payment of expenses.
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new text begin (f) The commissioner of employment and economic development or the commissioner's
designee shall provide meeting space and administrative services for the advisory council.
All costs necessary to support the advisory council's operations must be absorbed using
existing appropriations available to the commissioner.
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new text begin (g) The advisory council is subject to chapter 13D, but may close a meeting to discuss
sensitive private business information included in grant applications. Data related to an
application for a grant submitted to the advisory council is governed by section 13.599.
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new text begin (h) The commissioner shall convene the first meeting of the advisory council no later
than September 1, 2019.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Reports to the legislature. new text end

new text begin By January 15, 2021, and each January 15 thereafter,
the commissioner must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
committees of the house of representatives and the senate having jurisdiction over economic
development that details the use of grant funds. When possible, this report must include
data on the economic impact achieved by each grant.
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