as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/17/2020 12:29pm
A bill for an act
relating to energy; providing energy efficiency grants to commercial buildings;
appropriating money.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Commercial building" means a multifamily or commercial building that can benefit
from the installation of cost-effective energy improvements, as determined by an energy
audit.
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(c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce.
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(d) "Cost-effective energy improvement" means any renovation or retrofitting of a
building to improve energy efficiency that is permanently affixed to the property, results
in a net reduction in energy consumption, and has been identified in an energy audit as
repaying the energy improvement's purchase and installation costs in 20 years or less, based
on the amount of future energy saved and estimated future energy prices.
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(e) "Energy audit" has the meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.435,
subdivision 4.
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(f) "Multifamily building" means an apartment facility containing four or more dwelling
units that are rented by a person or family to use as a residence.
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The commissioner must establish a commercial building energy
efficiency grant program in the Department of Commerce to provide financial assistance
to owners of commercial buildings in which cost-effective energy improvements are installed.
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An application for a grant under this program must be made to
the commissioner on a form developed by the commissioner. The commissioner must
develop procedures to (1) solicit and review applications, and (2) award grants under this
section.
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When awarding grants under this section, the commissioner
must give preference to applications for cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in
multifamily buildings.
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Appropriations made to support the activities of this
section must be used only to:
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(1) provide grants under this section; and
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(2) reimburse the department's reasonable expenses to administer the grant program.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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$15,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of commerce to award commercial building energy efficiency grants under section 1. This
is a onetime appropriation. This appropriation remains available until December 31, 2022.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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