1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to energy independence for Minnesota; setting 
  1.3             goals; creating a task force to identify domestic 
  1.4             energy opportunities and priorities; requiring annual 
  1.5             summary reports. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [ENERGY INDEPENDENCE GOAL; TIMELINE.] 
  1.8      (a) Minnesota consumers, especially commercial enterprises 
  1.9   involved in farming, forestry products, mining, transportation, 
  1.10  product processing, and tourism, rely heavily on the continued 
  1.11  availability of energy supplies at a stable and predictable cost.
  1.12  Foreign energy sources cannot be relied upon for either 
  1.13  availability or cost.  It is therefore appropriate for Minnesota 
  1.14  to establish a domestic energy program to ensure that the state 
  1.15  is never held hostage to the whims of foreign energy delivery by 
  1.16  outside interests. 
  1.17     (b) By July 1, 2010, the state of Minnesota intends to 
  1.18  provide at least 50 percent of its energy needs from sources 
  1.19  indigenous to the state.  By July 1, 2020, at least 95 percent 
  1.20  of the state's energy needs shall be derived from sources and 
  1.21  devices within the state. 
  1.22     Sec. 2.  [TASK FORCE; DUTIES; CREATION.] 
  1.23     (a) The commissioner of commerce, in consultation with the 
  1.24  commissioners of agriculture, transportation, and economic 
  1.25  development shall oversee the activities of a task force of 21 
  2.1   members whose principal responsibility is to develop an energy 
  2.2   policy for the state that will emphasize locally derived and 
  2.3   locally developed energy sources to meet the energy demands of 
  2.4   the state. 
  2.5      (b) Members of the task force consist of: 
  2.6      (1) the four commissioners identified in paragraph (a) or 
  2.7   their designees; 
  2.8      (2) two citizen members appointed by each of the 
  2.9   commissioners; 
  2.10     (3) three citizen members appointed by the governor; 
  2.11     (4) three members appointed by the senate rules and 
  2.12  administration subcommittee on committees; and 
  2.13     (5) three members appointed by the speaker of the house of 
  2.14  representatives. 
  2.15     (c) Terms, compensation, and removal of citizen members of 
  2.16  the task force are governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 
  2.17  15.059. 
  2.18     (d) The task force does not have a predetermined expiration 
  2.19  date. 
  2.20     Sec. 3.  [ALTERNATIVE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE 
  2.21  DEVELOPMENT.] 
  2.22     (a) The task force shall evaluate options and priorities 
  2.23  related to the goal of energy independence.  Options must 
  2.24  include: 
  2.25     (1) the development and production of energy from 
  2.26  alternative, nontraditional, and renewable sources; and 
  2.27     (2) energy conservation measures. 
  2.28     (b) To the maximum extent practicable, the task force shall 
  2.29  give priority in energy source development to resources derived 
  2.30  from agricultural production and to energy options available in 
  2.31  rural parts of the state.  These energy sources include, but are 
  2.32  not limited to: 
  2.33     (1) alternative diesel engine fuels derived from soybean 
  2.34  and other agricultural plant oils or animal fats; 
  2.35     (2) ethanol derived from grains or other agricultural 
  2.36  products or byproducts; 
  3.1      (3) methane or other combustible gases derived from the 
  3.2   processing of plant or animal wastes; 
  3.3      (4) biomass fuels such as short-rotation woody or fibrous 
  3.4   agricultural crops produced for conversion to useful energy; and 
  3.5      (5) further development of the solar, wind, and biomass 
  3.6   energy potential in rural areas of the state. 
  3.7      Sec. 4.  [ANNUAL REPORTS; RECOMMENDATIONS.] 
  3.8      By February 15, 2001, and February 15 of each year 
  3.9   thereafter, the commissioner of commerce shall deliver a summary 
  3.10  report to appropriate committees of the legislature on 
  3.11  activities and recommendations of the task force, including any 
  3.12  recommended changes in law or rule needed to accomplish the 
  3.13  state's goal of energy independence.