SF 2536

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/18/2019 01:53pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; modifying provisions for solar energy systems and
renewable sources on state-owned buildings; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018,
sections 16B.32, subdivision 1a; 16B.323, subdivision 2.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 16B.32, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

deleted text begin Onsite deleted text end Energy generation from renewable sources.

A state agency that
prepares a predesign for a new building must consider meeting at least two percent of the
energy needs of the building from renewable sources deleted text begin located on the building site deleted text end . For
purposes of this subdivision, "renewable sources" are limited to wind and the sun. The
predesign must include an explicit cost and price analysis of complying with the two-percent
requirement compared with the present and future costs of energy supplied by a public
utility from a location away from the building site and the present and future costs of
controlling carbon emissions. If the analysis concludes that the building should not meet at
least two percent of its energy needs from renewable sources deleted text begin located on the building site deleted text end ,
the analysis must provide explicit reasons why not. The building may not receive further
state appropriations for design or construction unless at least two percent of its energy needs
are designed to be met from renewable sources, unless the commissioner finds that the
reasons given by the agency for not meeting the two-percent requirement were supported
by evidence in the record.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 16B.323, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Solar energy system.

(a) As provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), a project for
the construction or major renovation of a state building, after the completion of a cost-benefit
analysis, may include installation of solar energy systems deleted text begin of up to 300 kilowatts capacity
on, adjacent, or in proximity to the state building deleted text end new text begin on state-owned buildings and land new text end .

(b) The capacity of a solar energy system deleted text begin must be less than 300 kilowatts to the extent
necessary to match the electrical load of the building, or the capacity deleted text end must be no more than
necessary to keep the costs for the installation below the five percent maximum set by
paragraph (c).

(c) The cost of the solar energy system must not exceed five percent of the appropriations
from the bond proceeds fund for the construction or renovation of the state building. Purchase
and installation of a solar thermal system may account for no more than 25 percent of the
cost of a solar energy system installation.

(d) A project subject to this section is ineligible to receive a rebate for the installation
of a solar energy system under section 116C.7791 or from any utility.