1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for grants for installation 
1.3 	of solar energy projects in K-12 public schools. 
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. INSTALLATION OF SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS IN K-12 
1.6 	SCHOOLS.
 1.7 	(a) $5,000,000 is appropriated from federal stimulus funding to the commissioner of 
1.8 	commerce for grants to school districts to pay the costs of installing solar energy projects 
1.9 	to generate energy used in public K-12 schools, including swimming pools owned and 
1.10 	operated by the school district. In awarding grants, the commissioner must determine, at a 
1.11 	minimum, the following:
1.12 	(1) that the physical condition of the school building is sufficient to support the 
1.13 	efficient operation of the solar energy project;
1.14 	(2) that enrollment projections for the school indicate no significant possibility that 
1.15 	the school may close within ten years; and
1.16 	(3) that the projected cumulative energy savings exceed the grant amount and the 
1.17 	corresponding debt service within 15 years for a qualifying solar thermal project, and 
1.18 	within 20 years for a photovoltaic device.
1.19 	(b) For the purposes of this section, "solar energy" means:
1.20 	(1) a photovoltaic device, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.06, 
1.21 	subdivision 16; or
1.22 	(2) a qualifying solar thermal project, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 
1.23 	216B.2411, subdivision 2, and which includes modifications made to a distribution system 
1.24 	to distribute heating or cooling throughout a building.
2.1 	(c) For purposes of this section, "federal stimulus funding" means money provided 
2.2 	to the state by federal stimulus funding legislation for energy programs.

2.3 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.