1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/08/2021 03:51pm
A bill for an act
relating to energy; establishing a revolving loan account for energy conservation
in state buildings; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
sections 16B.86; 16B.87.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 16B.86, is amended to read:
new text begin
(a) For purposes of this section and section 16B.87, the
following terms have the meanings given them.
new text end
new text begin
(b) "Energy conservation" means a net reduction in energy use.
new text end
new text begin
(c) "Energy conservation improvement" means a project that results in energy efficiency
or energy conservation.
new text end
new text begin
(d) "Energy efficiency" means measures or programs:
new text end
new text begin
(1) that target consumer behavior, equipment, processes, or devices; and
new text end
new text begin
(2) whose implementation is designed to result in a net reduction in energy use.
new text end
new text begin
(e) "Project" means the energy conservation improvements financed by a loan made
under this section.
new text end
new text begin
(f) "State building" means a building owned by the state of Minnesota.
new text end
The deleted text begin productivitydeleted text end new text begin state building energy conservation
improvement revolvingnew text end loan account is new text begin established as new text end a deleted text begin specialdeleted text end new text begin separatenew text end account in the state
treasury. new text begin The commissioner shall credit to the account investment income, repayments of
principal and interest, and any other earnings arising from assets of the account. new text end Money in
the account is new text begin annually new text end appropriated to the commissioner of administration to make loans
to deleted text begin finance agency projects that will result in either reduced operating costs or increased
revenues, or both, for a state agencydeleted text end new text begin state agencies to implement energy conservation and
energy efficiency improvements in state buildings under section 16B.87. Money in the
account remains in the account until expendednew text end .
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 16B.87, is amended to read:
The deleted text begin Productivitydeleted text end new text begin State Building Energy Conservation
Improvementnew text end Loan Committee consists of the commissioners of administration, management
and budget, and deleted text begin revenuedeleted text end new text begin commercenew text end . The commissioner of administration serves as chair of
the committee. The members serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses.
new text begin (a) new text end An agency shall apply for a loan on a form
deleted text begin provideddeleted text end new text begin developednew text end by the commissioner of administrationdeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin that requires an applicant to
submit the following information:
new text end
new text begin
(1) a description of the proposed project, including existing equipment, structural
elements, operating characteristics, and other conditions affecting energy use that the energy
conservation improvements financed by the loan modify or replace;
new text end
new text begin
(2) the total estimated project cost and the loan amount sought;
new text end
new text begin
(3) a detailed project budget;
new text end
new text begin
(4) projections of the proposed project's expected energy and monetary savings;
new text end
new text begin
(5) information demonstrating the agency's ability to repay the loan; and
new text end
new text begin
(6) any additional information requested by the commissioner.
new text end
new text begin (b)new text end The committee shall review applications for loans and shall award a loan based upon
criteria adopted by the committee. deleted text begin The committee shall determine the amount, interest, and
other terms of the loan. The time for repayment of a loan may not exceed five years.
deleted text end
An agency receiving a loan under this section shall repay the loan
according to the terms of the loan agreement. The principal and interest must be paid to the
commissioner of administrationnew text begin ,new text end who shall deposit it in the deleted text begin productivitydeleted text end new text begin state building energy
conservation improvement revolvingnew text end loan deleted text begin funddeleted text end new text begin account. Payments of loan principal and
interest must begin no later than one year after the project is completednew text end .
new text begin
Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j),
$15,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is transferred from the renewable development account
established under Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, to the commissioner
of administration for deposit in the state building energy conservation improvement account
established in Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.86, for the purpose of providing loans to
state agencies for energy conservation projects under Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.87.
new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end