SF 2471

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 07/01/2019 03:24pm

A bill for an act
relating to solar energy; appropriating money for a solar generation on closed
landfill properties study.

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

Section 1. new text begin SOLAR GENERATION ON CLOSED LANDFILL PROPERTIES;
STUDY.
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new text begin (a) The Environmental Quality Board may contract with one or more independent
consultants to conduct a study on the feasibility of locating solar photovoltaic devices on
land that is enrolled in the Pollution Control Agency's closed landfill program established
under Minnesota Statutes, section 115B.39 to 115B.445. The board, in collaboration with
the Pollution Control Agency and the consultants, must create a subset of approximately
two dozen closed landfill project sites displaying a variety of relevant legal and physical
characteristics to be analyzed. For each site, the study must:
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new text begin (1) examine the legal status of the site and any constraints that may prohibit or limit the
installation of privately owned solar photovoltaic devices on the site as a result of law or
the use of specific funding mechanisms to acquire or remediate the properties, including:
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new text begin (i) general obligation bonds;
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new text begin (ii) revenue from the remediation fund established in Minnesota Statutes, section 116.155;
and
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new text begin (iii) settlements from landfill-related insurance coverage;
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new text begin (2) assess any other tax or financial barriers to the installation of solar photovoltaic
devices on closed landfill properties;
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new text begin (3) develop and evaluate strategies to overcome any barriers to the installation of solar
photovoltaic devices identified in clauses (1) and (2);
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new text begin (4) evaluate the extent to which the physical characteristics of the landfill and the
contained waste may restrict the siting of solar photovoltaic devices and associated
equipment;
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new text begin (5) assess the potential and logistics for solar energy generation, including but not limited
to:
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new text begin (i) solar insolation potential;
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new text begin (ii) proximity to substations; and
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new text begin (iii) proximity of the electricity generated to potential consumers, including public
agencies, low-income communities, and areas where environmental justice concerns are
present;
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new text begin (6) describe the regulatory processes of local units of government that must issue
approvals and permits for the project, in order to develop a successful strategy to obtain
local approvals and permits; and
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new text begin (7) develop a cost-benefit analysis of installing solar photovoltaic devices whose
generated electricity is to be consumed by the adjacent community.
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new text begin (b) By ...., 2020, the Environmental Quality Board must submit the study containing
findings and recommendations for subsequent action to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the senate and house of representatives committees with primary jurisdiction
over energy policy and finance.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to the Environmental
Quality Board to conduct the study on deploying solar photovoltaic devices on closed landfill
program sites described in section 1.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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