HF 2836

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/06/2014 01:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; excluding business customers from paying costs attributed
to meeting the state's solar energy standard; amending Minnesota Statutes 2013
Supplement, section 216B.1691, subdivision 2f.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, 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. 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 20 kilowatts or less.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(2) a paper mill, wood products manufacturer, sawmill, or oriented strand board
manufacturer new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (3) a business organization formed under chapter 300, 301, 302A, 303, 308A, 308B,
319B, 321, 322, 322B, or 323A new text end .

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.

(e) 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.

(f) 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.

(g) Beginning July 1, 2014, and each July 1 through 2020, each public utility shall
file a report with the commission reporting its progress in 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