SF 657

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:14am

A bill for an act
relating to energy; providing direction for the use of federal stimulus funding
for energy programs.

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

Section 1. new text begin FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING; GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR
ENERGY PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purpose of sections 1 to 7, "stimulus funding" or
"funding" means federal stimulus funding provided to the state by the federal stimulus
funding legislation for energy programs, including, without limitation, energy programs
described in sections 2 to 7.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Stimulus fund allocation and use principles. new text end

new text begin Stimulus funding shall be
allocated and expended according to the following principles:
new text end

new text begin (1) project administrators, including the commissioner of commerce, shall attempt to
maximize job creation and energy conservation and energy demand reduction that can
be achieved by stimulus funding;
new text end

new text begin (2) consistent with the job creation and energy conservation goals program, projects
shall be selected based on relative cost-effectiveness and achieving the maximum ongoing
energy savings per stimulus dollar spent and the ability to meet federal deadlines for the
obligation and expenditure of federal stimulus funds so that no federal funding is lost
due to failure to meet deadlines;
new text end

new text begin (3) stimulus funding must be used for projects geographically distributed across
the state;
new text end

new text begin (4) whenever practical, stimulus funds should be coordinated with existing utility
conservation programs and other leveraged funds. Preference should be given to loan
programs and other programs that recycle funding and effectively coordinate with and
leverage existing utility programs and private dollars; and
new text end

new text begin (5) preference should be given to projects that use stimulus funds immediately and
return some of the funds to the state for funding additional projects.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce, in coordination with the Departments of Education
and Administration, shall develop an action plan to spend stimulus funds consistent
with this section. This plan must include application procedures for funding and the
development of a system to track all funds expended, energy savings caused, and jobs
created by the investment of stimulus funding. The commissioner of commerce may
select and hire contractors to assist in the development of the plan and tracking system
using expedited procurement procedures.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin WEATHERIZATION.
new text end

new text begin All stimulus funds for weatherization must be allocated by the director of the
Office of Energy Security. The director must designate a single staff member responsible
for the funds who must approve all fund expenditures along with the director. Existing
providers of weatherization services must be fully utilized before additional providers of
weatherization services are added. Programs that include rental units shall be developed,
including developing procedures to streamline low-income rental unit participation in
programs. Priority shall be given to serving the largest number of new weatherization
clients consistent with federal eligibility requirements.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING RENOVATIONS.
new text end

new text begin The Department of Commerce and the Office of Energy Security must coordinate
the use of stimulus funds with the public building enhanced energy-efficiency program.
The commissioner may expedite sole-source contracting for work related to this project.
The improvements funded by this project should have a priority for lighting upgrades,
energy recommissioning, and other cost-effective energy projects that have already been
designed and are ready for immediate implementation. Energy-efficiency conservation
block grants may be used to advance public building enhanced energy-efficiency program
projects by either reducing energy bills during a savings repayment period or decreasing
the number of years for payback of energy improvement investments.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDINGS.
new text end

new text begin The Department of Education with the assistance of the Department of Commerce
and the Office of Energy Security shall develop a plan and procedures to select, fund,
and implement projects for the use of stimulus funds. The Department of Education
may expedite sole-source contracting for work related to the improvement. The
improvements should have a priority for lighting upgrades, energy recommissioning, and
other cost-effective energy projects that have already been designed and are ready for
immediate implementation. Energy-efficiency conservation block grants may be used to
advance public building enhanced energy-efficiency program projects by either reducing
energy bills during a savings repayment period or decreasing the number of years for
payback of energy improvement investments.
new text end

Sec. 5. new text begin STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
new text end

new text begin The Department of Administration, with the assistance of the Department of
Commerce and the Office of Energy Security, shall develop a plan and procedures
to select, fund, and implement projects using stimulus funds. The Department of
Administration may expedite sole-source contracting for work related to the improvement.
The improvements shall have a priority for lighting upgrades, energy recommissioning,
and other cost-effective energy projects that have already been designed and are ready for
immediate implementation. Energy-efficiency conservation block grants may be used to
advance public building enhanced energy-efficiency program projects by either reducing
energy bills during a savings repayment period or decreasing the number of years for
payback of energy improvement investments.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS.
new text end

new text begin A portion of the stimulus funds received by the Department of Commerce must be
used to fund a window replacement and insulation program for existing housing occupied
by low or moderate-income households. The development and implementation of this
financing program must be coordinated with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.
new text end

new text begin To the extent that funds are available, the Department of Commerce may also
provide some funding to projects that serve commercial and industrial facilities.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Home energy auditors and technicians. new text end

new text begin The director of the Office
of Energy Security shall oversee training of energy auditors necessary for energy projects
using stimulus funding and may allocate funding for that purpose. Technical skills training
must include insulation, air sealing, and mechanical work.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Energy manager and building operator training. new text end

new text begin The director of the
Office of Energy Security shall coordinate and monitor training and certification of
energy managers, building operators, and other energy professionals necessary for energy
projects using stimulus funding and may allocate funding for that purpose. Training
strategies must be designed to meet the wide range of facilities managers and the wide
range of buildings sizes and types.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Training activity guidelines. new text end

new text begin In addition to training individuals already
employed in implementing energy programs, the director shall attempt to recruit
individuals for training to perform work in energy projects using stimulus funding who
are unemployed, especially targeting unemployed or underemployed individuals in
construction trades and crafts. The director shall utilize the full capacity of current training
providers, including, but not limited to, opportunities industrialization centers, skilled
trades labor unions, and nonprofit organizations with historic expertise in energy efficiency.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 7 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end