1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to utilities; authorizing electric utilities 
  1.3             to offer green-pricing programs; proposing coding for 
  1.4             new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [216B.1691] [GREEN-PRICING PROGRAM.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] (a) For the purposes of this 
  1.8   section, the following terms have the meanings given them in 
  1.9   this subdivision. 
  1.10     (b) "Electric utility" has the meaning given it in section 
  1.11  216B.38, subdivision 5. 
  1.12     (c) "Green-pricing program" means a program of an electric 
  1.13  utility offering or selling renewable energy to the utility's 
  1.14  retail customers to satisfy some or all of the customer's 
  1.15  electric energy needs. 
  1.16     (d) "Renewable energy" means electricity produced through 
  1.17  use of one of the following means:  wind; solar; biomass; 
  1.18  decomposition gases produced by solid waste management 
  1.19  facilities; or low-head or refurbished hydro. 
  1.20     Subd. 2.  [AUTHORIZATION.] (a) An electric utility may only 
  1.21  offer a green-pricing program in accordance with this section. 
  1.22     (b) No electric utility may market renewable energy used to 
  1.23  satisfy any portion of the renewable energy mandates of sections 
  1.24  216B.2423 and 216B.2424 as part of a green-pricing program. 
  1.25     Subd. 3.  [VERIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT.] An electric 
  2.1   utility that offers a green-pricing program must be able to 
  2.2   demonstrate, upon request by the commission, the department, the 
  2.3   attorney general, or a customer of the utility, that the utility 
  2.4   is able to generate sufficient renewable energy or has arranged 
  2.5   for the generation of sufficient renewable energy to meet the 
  2.6   utility's total demand for renewable energy.  The utility shall 
  2.7   provide the commission, the department, and the attorney general 
  2.8   with any information requested by the commission to establish 
  2.9   the program's compliance with this section. 
  2.10     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.11     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.