1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; modifying provisions for solar energy systems and 
1.3 	renewable sources on state-owned buildings;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, 
1.4 	sections 16B.32, subdivision 1a; 16B.323, subdivision 2.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 16B.32, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 1a.Onsite Energy generation from renewable sources. A state agency that 
1.8 	prepares a predesign for a new building must consider meeting at least two percent of the 
1.9 	energy needs of the building from renewable sources located on the building site. For 
1.10 	purposes of this subdivision, "renewable sources" are limited to wind and the sun. The 
1.11 	predesign must include an explicit cost and price analysis of complying with the two-percent 
1.12 	requirement compared with the present and future costs of energy supplied by a public 
1.13 	utility from a location away from the building site and the present and future costs of 
1.14 	controlling carbon emissions. If the analysis concludes that the building should not meet at 
1.15 	least two percent of its energy needs from renewable sources located on the building site, 
1.16 	the analysis must provide explicit reasons why not. The building may not receive further 
1.17 	state appropriations for design or construction unless at least two percent of its energy needs 
1.18 	are designed to be met from renewable sources, unless the commissioner finds that the 
1.19 	reasons given by the agency for not meeting the two-percent requirement were supported 
1.20 	by evidence in the record.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 16B.323, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.22 		Subd. 2.Solar energy system. (a) As provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), a project for 
1.23 	the construction or major renovation of a state building, after the completion of a cost-benefit 
2.1 	analysis, may include installation of solar energy systems of up to 300 kilowatts capacity 
2.2 	on, adjacent, or in proximity to the state building on state-owned buildings and land.
2.3 	(b) The capacity of a solar energy system must be less than 300 kilowatts to the extent 
2.4 	necessary to match the electrical load of the building, or the capacity must be no more than 
2.5 	necessary to keep the costs for the installation below the five percent maximum set by 
2.6 	paragraph (c).
2.7 	(c) The cost of the solar energy system must not exceed five percent of the appropriations 
2.8 	from the bond proceeds fund for the construction or renovation of the state building. Purchase 
2.9 	and installation of a solar thermal system may account for no more than 25 percent of the 
2.10 	cost of a solar energy system installation.
2.11 	(d) A project subject to this section is ineligible to receive a rebate for the installation 
2.12 	of a solar energy system under section 116C.7791 or from any utility.