HF 1992

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:57am

A bill for an act
relating to energy; establishing a working group; requiring a report; appropriating
money.

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

Section 1. new text begin SOLAR CITIES WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; members. new text end

new text begin A solar cities working group is
established. Members are appointed jointly by the chairs of the senate and house of
representatives committees with primary jurisdiction over energy policy, and consist of
representatives of at least the following:
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new text begin (1) cities designated as solar cities under the United States Department of Energy
Solar America Initiative;
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new text begin (2) a public utility providing electric service to consumers in the cities identified
under clause (1);
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new text begin (3) one or more businesses providing or intending to provide solar energy installation
services to residential, small business, or small institutional electricity consumers;
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new text begin (4) one or more businesses providing or intending to provide solar energy installation
services to large commercial, institutional, or industrial electricity consumers;
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new text begin (5) one or more businesses providing or intending to provide solar thermal
installation services to residential and business customers;
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new text begin (6) one or more nonprofit organizations providing energy conservation and energy
efficiency services to electricity consumers; and
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new text begin (7) one or more nonprofit advocacy organizations promoting solar energy.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Goal; activities. new text end

new text begin The goal of the solar cities working group is to develop
strategies to accelerate the rate of solar thermal and electric energy installations in all
building types. To achieve that goal, the working group shall undertake the following
activities:
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new text begin (1) identify legal, administrative, financial, and operational barriers to increasing the
installation of solar energy, and measures to overcome them;
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new text begin (2) identify financial and regulatory mechanisms that stimulate the development of
solar energy;
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new text begin (3) identify ways to link solar energy development with energy conservation and
energy efficiency strategies and programs;
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new text begin (4) integrate efforts and initiatives taken by the cities identified in paragraph (a),
clause (1), with broader Minnesota efforts and initiatives; and
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new text begin (5) monitor trends in technologies and costs for solar generation.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin By October 1, 2009, and October 1, 2010, the working group
shall submit a report by each date to the Legislative Energy Commission on its activities,
including recommendations for increasing the utilization of solar energy in Minnesota.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $7,000,000 is appropriated from state energy program funds received under
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, to the
commissioner of commerce for grants to increase the installation of solar energy projects
in Minnesota. At least $3,500,000 must be used for innovative projects located in the
proposed light rail central corridor in cities that have been designated solar cities by the
United States Department of Energy. The remainder of the economic stimulus funds
allocated for solar energy development under this section must be used for programs to
reduce the costs of solar projects statewide. The commissioner shall consult with the
working group in developing solar incentive programs for all building types.
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