HF 2094

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to energy; providing for grants to schools and public buildings installing
heating units that use biomass; appropriating money; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216C.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [216C.355] RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS AND
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) "Biomass" means a heating fuel processed into
a solid form from the following sources:
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new text begin (1) herbaceous crops;
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new text begin (2) agricultural waste; or
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new text begin (3) trees and other woody crops grown specifically for utilization as a biomass
heating source.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Energy project study" means a study of a biomass energy-related capital
improvement project analyzed in sufficient detail to support a grant application. At a
minimum, it must include one year of energy consumption and cost data, a description of
existing and proposed energy facilities and conditions, a detailed description of the costs of
the project, and calculations sufficient to document the proposed energy and cost savings.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin Subject to the availability of funds, the commissioner shall
approve grants to a K-12 public school or a county, city, town, or any other political
subdivision for the costs of purchasing and installing a heating unit designed to burn
biomass in a building owned by the grant recipient. A grant may be provided under this
section only for a heating unit purchased after July 1, 2007, that is listed by Underwriters
Laboratories. A grant may not exceed the lesser of 25 percent of the total costs of
purchasing and installing an eligible heating unit or $50,000. The commissioner shall
endeavor to award grants throughout the regions of the state. No more than one grant may
be awarded in a county, unless an insufficient number of applications is received from
applicants located in other counties to exhaust available funds.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Application. new text end

new text begin Application for a grant under this section must be made by an
eligible applicant to the commissioner on a form the commissioner prescribes by rule. The
commissioner shall review each application to determine:
new text end

new text begin (1) whether the application is complete;
new text end

new text begin (2) whether the information, calculations, and estimates contained in the energy
project study are appropriate, accurate, and reasonable;
new text end

new text begin (3) whether the project is eligible for a grant;
new text end

new text begin (4) the amount of the grant for which the project is eligible; and
new text end

new text begin (5) other funding sources the applicant proposes to use to finance the project in
addition to a grant authorized by this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Additional information. new text end

new text begin During application review, the commissioner
may request additional information about a proposed project, including information on
project cost. Failure to provide information requested disqualifies a grant application.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Public accessibility of grant application data. new text end

new text begin Data contained in an
application submitted to the commissioner for a grant under this section, including
supporting technical documentation, is classified as "public data not on individuals" under
section 13.02, subdivision 14.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Conditions for grant approval. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may approve a grant
to an applicant only if the applicant demonstrates that the renewable energy project has a
payback period of ten years or less, and that it has made adequate provisions to assure
proper and efficient operation of the facility once the project is completed.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Rules. new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to implement this
section. The rules must contain at a minimum:
new text end

new text begin (1) standards for project eligibility;
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new text begin (2) criteria for reviewing grant applications; and
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new text begin (3) procedures and guidelines for program monitoring and evaluation.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $500,000 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of commerce
for the grants described in section 1.
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Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end