HF 3946

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/15/2018 02:34pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; modifying the solar energy standard; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2017 Supplement, section 216B.1691, subdivision 2f.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2017 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.

deleted text begin (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 20 kilowatts or less.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end A public utility deleted text begin with between 50,000 and 200,000 retail electric customers:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) deleted text end 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 deleted text begin ; deleted text end new text begin , new text end and

deleted text begin (2) deleted text end may apply toward the ten percent goal deleted text begin in clause (1) deleted text end 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.

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end 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.

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (d) new text end 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.

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end 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 large customer facility, as defined in section 216B.241, subdivision 1, that has been
exempted by the commissioner from the investment and expenditure requirements under
section 216B.241, subdivision 1a 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.

deleted text begin (g) deleted text end new text begin (f) new text end 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.

deleted text begin (h) deleted text end new text begin (g) new text end 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.

deleted text begin (i) deleted text end new text begin (h) new text end 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