Minnesota Legislature
HF 2014
as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/21/2023 10:22am
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A bill for an act
relating to energy conservation; expanding the uses of state supplementary
weatherization grants; establishing a weatherization training grant program; creating
an account; requiring a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes
2022, section 216C.264, subdivision 5, by adding subdivisions; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216C.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 216C.264, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 1a. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Low-income conservation program" means a utility program that offers energy
conservation services to low-income households under sections 216B.2403, subdivision 5,
and 216B.241, subdivision 7.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Preweatherization measure" has the meaning given in section 216B.2402, subdivision
20.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Weatherization assistance program" means the federal program described in Code
of Federal Regulations, title 10, part 440 et seq., designed to assist low-income households
reduce energy use in a cost-effective manner.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Weatherization assistance services" means the energy conservation measures installed
in households under the weatherization assistance program.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 216C.264, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:
new text begin Subd. 1b. new text end
new text begin State supplementary weatherization grants account. new text end
new text begin
(a) A state
supplementary weatherization grants account is established as a separate account in the
special revenue fund in the state treasury. The commissioner must credit appropriations and
transfers to the account. Earnings, including interest, dividends, and any other earnings
arising from assets of the account, must be credited to the account. Money remaining in the
account at the end of a fiscal year does not cancel to the general fund but remains in the
account until expended. The commissioner must manage the account.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes of
subdivision 5.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 216C.264, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5.
Grant allocation.
new text begin (a) new text end The commissioner must distribute supplementary state
grants in a manner consistent with the goal of producing the maximum number of weatherized
units. Supplementary state grants deleted text begin are provided primarily for the payment ofdeleted text end new text begin may be used:
new text end
new text begin
(1) to address physical deficiencies in a residence that increase heat loss, including
deficiencies that prohibit the residence from being eligible to receive federal weatherization
assistance;
new text end
new text begin
(2) to install preweatherization measures established by the commissioner under section
216B.241, subdivision 7, paragraph (g);
new text end
new text begin
(3) to increase the number of weatherized residences;
new text end
new text begin
(4) to conduct outreach activities to make income-eligible households aware of the
weatherization services available to income-eligible households, to assist applicants to fill
out applications for weatherization assistance, and to provide translation services where
necessary;
new text end
new text begin
(5) to enable a project in a multifamily building to proceed even if the project cannot
comply with the federal requirement that the project must be completed within the same
federal fiscal year in which a project begins;
new text end
new text begin
(6) to address shortages of workers trained to provide weatherization services, including
expanding training opportunities in existing and new training programs;
new text end
new text begin
(7) to support the operation of the weatherization training program under section
216C.2641;
new text end
new text begin (8) to pay new text end additional labor costs for the federal weatherization programdeleted text begin ,deleted text end new text begin ;new text end and
new text begin (9)new text end as an incentive for the increased production of weatherized units.
new text begin (b) new text end Criteria for the allocation of state grants to local agencies include existing local
agency production levels, emergency needs, and the potential for maintaining or increasing
acceptable levels of production in the area.
new text begin (c) new text end An eligible local agency may receive advance funding for 90 days' production, but
thereafter must receive grants solely on the basis of program criteria.
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 4.
new text begin
[216C.2641] WEATHERIZATION TRAINING GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end
new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Establishment. new text end
new text begin
The commissioner of commerce must establish a
weatherization training grant program to award grants to train workers for careers in the
weatherization industry.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Grants. new text end
new text begin
(a) The commissioner must award grants through a competitive grant
process.
new text end
new text begin
(b) An eligible entity under paragraph (c) seeking a grant under this section must submit
a written application to the commissioner using a form developed by the commissioner.
new text end
new text begin
(c) The commissioner may award grants under this section only to:
new text end
new text begin
(1) a nonprofit organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the United
States Internal Revenue Code;
new text end
new text begin
(2) a labor organization, as defined in section 179.01, subdivision 6; or
new text end
new text begin
(3) a job training center or educational institution that the commissioner of commerce
determines has the ability to train workers for weatherization careers.
new text end
new text begin
(d) Grant funds must be used to pay costs associated with training workers for careers
in the weatherization industry, including related supplies, materials, instruction, and
infrastructure.
new text end
new text begin
(e) When awarding grants under this section, the commissioner must give priority to
applications that provide the highest quality training to prepare trainees for weatherization
employment opportunities that meet technical standards and certifications developed by the
Building Performance Institute, Inc., or the Standard Work Specifications developed by the
United States Department of Energy for the federal Weatherization Assistance Program.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Reports. new text end
new text begin
By January 15, 2025, and each January 15 thereafter, the commissioner
must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house
of representatives committees with jurisdiction over energy policy. The report must detail
the use of grant funds under this section, including data on the number of trainees trained
and the career progress of trainees supported by prior grants.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Sec. 5. new text begin PREWEATHERIZATION MEASURES; APPROPRIATION.
new text end
new text begin
(a) $....... in fiscal year 2024 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of commerce to provide grants to community action agencies and other agencies that
weatherize residences to install preweatherization measures in residential buildings occupied
by eligible low-income households, as provided under Minnesota Statutes, sections
216B.2403, subdivision 5; 216B.241, subdivision 7; and 216C.264. This is a onetime
appropriation. Money made available from the appropriation under this section must be
expended by December 31, 2034.
new text end
new text begin
(b) Of the amount appropriated in paragraph (a):
new text end
new text begin
(1) up to ten percent may be used to supplement utility spending on preweatherization
measures as part of a low-income conservation program; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) up to ten percent may be used to:
new text end
new text begin
(i) recruit and train energy auditors and installers of weatherization assistance services;
and
new text end
new text begin
(ii) provide financial incentives to contractors and workers who install weatherization
assistance services.
new text end
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end