as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 02/13/2015 08:51am
A bill for an act
relating to energy; amending the prohibition on new sources of fossil-fuel
generated electricity to include only those sources constructed in Minnesota;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 216H.03, subdivisions 3, 4, 7.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 216H.03, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Unless
preempted by federal law, until a comprehensive and enforceable state law or rule
pertaining to greenhouse gases that directly limits and substantially reduces, over time,
statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissions is enacted and in effect, and except as
allowed in subdivisions 4 to 7, on and after August 1, 2009, no person shalldeleted text begin :
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deleted text begin (1)deleted text end construct within the state a new large energy facility that would contribute to
statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissionsdeleted text begin ;deleted text end new text begin .
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(2) import or commit to import from outside the state power from a new large energy
facility that would contribute to statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissions; or
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(3) enter into a new long-term power purchase agreement that would increase
statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissions. For purposes of this section, a long-term
power purchase agreement means an agreement to purchase 50 megawatts of capacity
or more for a term exceeding five years.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 216H.03, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
(a) The deleted text begin prohibitionsdeleted text end new text begin
prohibitionnew text end in subdivision 3 deleted text begin dodeleted text end new text begin doesnew text end not apply if the project proponent demonstrates to
the Public Utilities Commission's satisfaction that it will offset the new contribution to
statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissions with a carbon dioxide reduction project
identified in paragraph (b) and in compliance with paragraph (c).
(b) A project proponent may offset in an amount equal to or greater than the
proposed new contribution to statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissions in either,
or a combination of both, of the following ways:
(1) by reducing an existing facility's contribution to statewide power sector carbon
dioxide emissions; or
(2) by purchasing carbon dioxide allowances from a state or group of states that has a
carbon dioxide cap and trade system in place that produces verifiable emissions reductions.
(c) The Public Utilities Commission shall not find that a proposed carbon dioxide
reduction project identified in paragraph (b) acceptably offsets a new contribution to
statewide power sector carbon dioxide emissions unless the proposed offsets are permanent,
quantifiable, verifiable, enforceable, and would not have otherwise occurred. This section
does not exempt emissions that have been offset under this subdivision and emissions
exempted under subdivisions 5 to 7 from a cap and trade system if adopted by the state.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 216H.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
The prohibitions in subdivision 3 do not apply to:
(1) a new large energy facility under consideration by the Public Utilities
Commission pursuant to proposals or applications filed with the Public Utilities
Commission before April 1, 2007, or to any power purchase agreement related to a facility
described in this clause. The exclusion of pending proposals and applications from the
prohibitions in subdivision 3 does not limit the applicability of any other law and is not an
expression of legislative intent regarding whether any pending proposal or application
should be approved or denied;
(2) a contract not subject to commission approval that was entered into prior to
April 1, 2007, to purchase power from a new large energy facility that was approved by
a comparable authority in another state prior to that date, for which municipal or public
power district bonds have been issued, and on which construction has begun;
(3) a new large energy facility deleted text begin or a power purchase agreement between a Minnesota
utility and a new large energy facilitydeleted text end located deleted text begin outsidedeleted text end new text begin withinnew text end Minnesota that the Public
Utilities Commission has determined is essential to ensure the long-term reliability of
Minnesota's electric system, to allow electric service for increased industrial demand,
or to avoid placing a substantial financial burden on Minnesota ratepayers. An order
of the commission granting an exemption under this clause is stayed until the June 1
following the next regular or annual session of the legislature that begins after the date of
the commission's final order; or
(4) a new large energy facility with a combined electric generating capacity of less
than 100 megawatts, which did not require a Minnesota certificate of need, which received
an air pollution control permit to construct from an adjoining state before January 1, 2008,
and on which construction began before July 1, 2008, or to any power purchase agreement
related to a facility described in this clause.
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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