1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to energy; requiring a study on the effect of 
  1.3             importation of Manitoba hydropower on the development 
  1.4             of renewable energy sources and related economic 
  1.5             development in Minnesota; appropriating money.  
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [EFFECTS OF HYDROPOWER IMPORTS.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [ANALYSIS.] The commissioner of commerce 
  1.9   must contract for an independent economic analysis of the 
  1.10  effects an increase in imports from new hydropower development 
  1.11  from Manitoba would have on Minnesota renewable energy 
  1.12  development, such as wind and biomass.  The analysis must 
  1.13  specifically address the impact on jobs, particularly in rural 
  1.14  Minnesota, of increased importation.  The commissioner must 
  1.15  report the results of the analysis to the chairs of the 
  1.16  legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over energy and 
  1.17  economic development issues by September 1, 2005.  
  1.18     Subd. 2.  [ASSESSMENT; APPROPRIATION.] The commissioner of 
  1.19  commerce shall assess each public utility, as defined in 
  1.20  Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.02, subdivision 4, generation 
  1.21  and transmission cooperative electric associations, and 
  1.22  municipal power agencies providing electric service in Minnesota 
  1.23  in addition to the assessments made under Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.24  section 216B.162, the amount needed to perform the analysis 
  1.25  required by subdivision 1, not to exceed $700,000.  The amount 
  2.1   assessed under this section is appropriated to the commissioner 
  2.2   of commerce for the purposes of subdivision 1.  The commissioner 
  2.3   shall apportion the assessment on the proportion of electric 
  2.4   energy imported from Manitoba in calendar year 2003 by an entity 
  2.5   to the total electricity imported into Minnesota by all those 
  2.6   entities being assessed in calendar year 2003.  The commissioner 
  2.7   shall assess and issue bills in accordance with the billing and 
  2.8   assessment procedures of Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.162, 
  2.9   to the extent consistent with this section.  
  2.10     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.11     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.