HF 2175

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:00am

A bill for an act
relating to environment; establishing a grant program for idling reduction
technology purchases; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [116.935] METRO TRANSIT DIESEL BUS IDLING REDUCTION
DEVICE GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin As used in this section:
new text end

new text begin (1) "bus" has the meaning given in section 169.011, subdivision 11;
new text end

new text begin (2) "idling reduction device" means equipment that is installed on a diesel-powered,
regular route transit bus owned and operated by the Metropolitan Council to reduce
long-duration idling of that bus and that is designed to provide heat, air conditioning, or
electricity that would otherwise require operation of the main drive engine while the bus
is temporarily parked or stationary; and
new text end

new text begin (3) "regular route transit" has the meaning given in section 174.22, subdivision 8.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Authority and eligibility. new text end

new text begin The commissioner may award a grant to the
Metropolitan Council for up to 50 percent of the purchase and installation costs for one or
more idling reduction devices if the Metropolitan Council:
new text end

new text begin (1) pays at least 50 percent of the purchase and installation cost for each idling
reduction device covered by the grant without the use of other financial assistance from
this state or from a local governmental unit in this state; and
new text end

new text begin (2) agrees to collect and report information relating to the operation and performance
of each idling reduction device covered by the grant, as required by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin (a) Grant funds may be used by the recipient to purchase and
install an idling reduction device, if it will result in decreased emissions of one or more air
contaminants from the bus on which it is installed or decreased energy use by the bus.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner shall withhold payment of at least 20 percent of the grant until
the recipient has complied with the conditions established by the commissioner, including
providing any required information.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner shall collect and summarize information from grant recipients
relating to the operation and performance of each idling reduction device and make the
information available for downloading free of charge on the agency's Web site.
new text end

new text begin (d) The grant program in this section shall be implemented only if the agency's
application for federal funding, as required under subdivision 4, is successful.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Federal funds. new text end

new text begin The agency must submit an application to the federal
Environmental Protection Agency for competitive grant funds made available under the
federal Diesel Emission Reduction Act's State Clean Diesel Grant Program, as specified in
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5. The application
must request funding to reduce the cost of purchasing and installing idling reduction
devices in diesel-powered regular route transit buses. Any funds awarded to the agency as
a result of the application must be expended on the grant program described in this section.
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