HF 2110

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/06/2021 12:59pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; modifying a public utility reporting requirement; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.1691, subdivision 2f.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.1691, subdivision 2f, is amended to
read:

Subd. 2f.

Solar energy standard.

(a) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions 2a
and 2b, each public utility shall generate or procure sufficient electricity generated by solar
energy to serve its retail electricity customers in Minnesota so that by the end of 2020, at
least 1.5 percent of the utility's total retail electric sales to retail customers in Minnesota is
generated by solar energy.

(b) For a public utility with more than 200,000 retail electric customers, at least ten
percent of the 1.5 percent goal must be met by solar energy generated by or procured from
solar photovoltaic devices with a nameplate capacity of 40 kilowatts or less.

(c) A public utility with between 50,000 and 200,000 retail electric customers:

(1) must meet at least ten percent of the 1.5 percent goal with solar energy generated by
or procured from solar photovoltaic devices with a nameplate capacity of 40 kilowatts or
less; and

(2) may apply toward the ten percent goal in clause (1) individual customer subscriptions
of 40 kilowatts or less to a community solar garden program operated by the public utility
that has been approved by the commission.

(d) The solar energy standard established in this subdivision is subject to all the provisions
of this section governing a utility's standard obligation under subdivision 2a.

(e) It is an energy goal of the state of Minnesota that, by 2030, ten percent of the retail
electric sales in Minnesota be generated by solar energy.

(f) For the purposes of calculating the total retail electric sales of a public utility under
this subdivision, there shall be excluded retail electric sales to customers that are:

(1) an iron mining extraction and processing facility, including a scram mining facility
as defined in Minnesota Rules, part 6130.0100, subpart 16; or

(2) a paper mill, wood products manufacturer, sawmill, or oriented strand board
manufacturer.

Those customers may not have included in the rates charged to them by the public utility
any costs of satisfying the solar standard specified by this subdivision.

(g) A public utility may not use energy used to satisfy the solar energy standard under
this subdivision to satisfy its standard obligation under subdivision 2a. A public utility may
not use energy used to satisfy the standard obligation under subdivision 2a to satisfy the
solar standard under this subdivision.

(h) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a solar renewable energy credit associated
with a solar photovoltaic device installed and generating electricity in Minnesota after
August 1, 2013, but before 2020 may be used to meet the solar energy standard established
under this subdivision.

(i) deleted text begin Beginning July 1, 2014, and each deleted text end new text begin By new text end July 1 deleted text begin through 2020, each deleted text end new text begin , 2021, a new text end public utility
deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end file a new text begin final new text end report with the commission deleted text begin reporting its deleted text end new text begin detailing the utility's new text end progress
deleted text begin in deleted text end new text begin toward new text end achieving the solar energy standard established under this subdivision.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end