HF 3513

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/23/2016 11:16am

A bill for an act
relating to energy; establishing an electric vehicle promotion program; providing
for electric vehicle rebates and incentives; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [216B.1615] ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROMOTION PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section and section
216B.1616, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Electric vehicle charging station" means a public or private parking space
served by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer
of electric energy by conductive or inductive means to a battery or other energy storage
device in an electric vehicle.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Electric vehicle infrastructure" means structures, machinery, and equipment
necessary and integral to support an electric vehicle, including electric vehicle charging
stations and battery exchange stations.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Public utility" has the meaning given in section 216B.02, subdivision 4.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Electric vehicle" or "plug-in vehicle" means an electric drive motor vehicle
that (1) draws propulsion using a traction battery having at least five kilowatt hours of
capacity, (2) uses an external source of energy to recharge the battery, and (3) has a gross
vehicle weight rating of up to 14,000 pounds.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program. new text end

new text begin (a) By August 1, 2017, each public utility serving a city of the
first class must file with the commission a program to promote (1) the purchase of electric
vehicles by their customers, and (2) the construction of electric vehicle infrastructure.
new text end

new text begin (b) The program may include, but is not limited to, the following elements:
new text end

new text begin (1) educational resources for individuals, electric vehicle dealers, multifamily
housing developers and property management companies, vehicle fleet managers, and
other potential electric vehicle users;
new text end

new text begin (2) vehicle charging equipment, electric utility infrastructure, services, or financial
support for residences and workplaces; and
new text end

new text begin (3) research and demonstration projects evaluating the value electric vehicles can
provide to the grid.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Program review and implementation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce
must review the program plans submitted under this section. The commissioner must
approve, modify, or reject the plan based on the plan's effectiveness in promoting electric
vehicles among utility customers, and the extent to which the plan will result in the
construction of electric vehicle infrastructure. If the commissioner rejects a utility's
plan, the utility must submit a new plan for commissioner review, subject to a schedule
determined by the commissioner. The utility must begin implementing the plan after
approval, subject to a schedule determined by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Cost recovery. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must approve recovery of costs
reasonably incurred by a public utility to implement and administer the program in
subdivision 2. Notwithstanding section 216B.16, subdivision 8, paragraph (a), clause (3),
the commissioner must also approve recovery of costs for expenses incurred by a public
utility to provide public advertisement as part of a promotion program.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner may allow a return on investment at the level approved in
the utility's last general rate case.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reporting. new text end

new text begin Beginning one year after implementing a program approved by
the commissioner, each public utility implementing a plan under this section must report
annually to the commissioner on (1) its activities to promote electric vehicle usage and the
outcomes of those efforts, and (2) the potential to utilize plug-in vehicles as grid services.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [216B.1616] ELECTRIC VEHICLE REBATES AND INCENTIVES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, "dealer" has the meaning
given in section 80E.03, subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin The purchaser or leaser of an electric vehicle is eligible for a
rebate if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the electric vehicle:
new text end

new text begin (i) has not been previously owned;
new text end

new text begin (ii) has not been modified from the original manufacturer's specifications; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) is purchased after the effective date of this act for use by the purchaser and
not for resale;
new text end

new text begin (2) the purchaser or leaser:
new text end

new text begin (i) is a resident of Minnesota, as defined in section 290.01, subdivision 7, paragraph
(a), when the electric vehicle is purchased or leased;
new text end

new text begin (ii) is a business that has a valid address in Minnesota from which business is
conducted;
new text end

new text begin (iii) is a nonprofit corporation incorporated under chapter 317A; or
new text end

new text begin (iv) is a political subdivision of this state; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the purchaser or leaser:
new text end

new text begin (i) has not received a rebate or tax credit for the purchase of an electric vehicle from
Minnesota or another state; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) registers the electric vehicle in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Rebate amounts. new text end

new text begin Subject to subdivision 5, paragraph (c), the
commissioner is authorized to award rebates under this section in the following amounts:
new text end

new text begin (1) for a battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle that is eligible for a
maximum rebate under the federal plug-in vehicle rebate program, up to $2,500; and
new text end

new text begin (2) for a plug-in hybrid vehicle that is eligible for less than a maximum rebate under
the federal plug-in vehicle rebate program, up to $1,500.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Limits. new text end

new text begin The number of rebates awarded under this section are limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) no more than one rebate per resident household; and
new text end

new text begin (2) no more than one rebate per business entity per year.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Program administration. new text end

new text begin (a) Applications for a rebate under this section
must be filed with the commissioner on a form developed by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner must develop administrative procedures governing the
application and rebate award process. Applications must be reviewed and rebates awarded
by the commissioner on a first-come, first-served basis.
new text end

new text begin (c) The commissioner may reduce the rebate amounts provided under subdivision 3
or restrict program eligibility based on fund availability or other factors.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires June 30, 2021.
new text end