HF 3139

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; requiring a report on greenhouse gases for new
building projects; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 16B.325;
Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 216C.052, subdivisions 3, 4.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 16B.325, is amended to read:

16B.325 SUSTAINABLE BUILDING GUIDELINES.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Energy, lighting, air quality, and other guidelines. new text end

The Department
of Administration and the Department of Commerce, with the assistance of other agencies,
shall develop sustainable building design guidelines for all new state buildings by January
15, 2003. The primary objectives of these guidelines are to ensure that all new state
buildings initially exceed existing energy code, as established in Minnesota Rules, chapter
7676, by at least 30 percent. The guidelines must focus on achieving the lowest possible
lifetime cost for new buildings and allow for changes in the guidelines that encourage
continual energy conservation improvements in new buildings. The design guidelines
must establish sustainability guidelines that include air quality and lighting standards and
that create and maintain a healthy environment and facilitate productivity improvements;
specify ways to reduce material costs; and must consider the long-term operating costs of
the building, including the use of renewable energy sources and distributed electric energy
generation that uses a renewable source or natural gas or a fuel that is as clean or cleaner
than natural gas. In developing the guidelines, the departments shall use an open process,
including providing the opportunity for public comment. The guidelines established under
this deleted text begin section deleted text end new text begin subdivision new text end are mandatory for all new buildings receiving funding from the
bond proceeds fund after January 1, 2004.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Greenhouse gases. new text end

new text begin The Department of Administration and the Department
of Commerce, with the assistance of other agencies, shall report to the legislature by
March 15, 2007, on guidelines and procedures for a requirement that no net increases in
greenhouse gases are allowed as a result of new building projects. The legislature will
determine if guidelines established under this subdivision will be mandatory for all new
buildings receiving funding from the bond proceeds fund after January 1, 2008.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 216C.052, subdivision 3, is
amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Assessment and appropriation.

In addition to the amount noted in
subdivision 2, the commission may assess utilities, using the mechanism specified in that
subdivision, up to an additional $500,000 annually through June 30, deleted text begin 2006 deleted text end new text begin 2008 new text end . The
amounts assessed under this subdivision are appropriated to the commission, and some or
all of the amounts assessed may be transferred to the commissioner of administration, for
the purposes specified in section 16B.325 and Laws 2001, chapter 212, article 1, section
3, as needed to implement those sections.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 216C.052, subdivision 4, is
amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Expiration.

deleted text begin This section expires deleted text end new text begin Subdivisions 1 and 2 expire new text end June 30,
2007. new text begin Subdivision 3 expires June 30, 2008, provided that after June 30, 2006, only up
to $500,000 assessment authorized by subdivision 3 may be made under the authority of
subdivision 3.
new text end