HF 560

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to renewable fuel use by state departments;
clarifying the state's policy of minimizing energy use
and requiring renewable fuels wherever appropriate;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 16C.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[16C.137] MINIMIZING ENERGY USE; RENEWABLE
FUELS.

Subdivision 1.

Legislative findings.

The legislature
finds that increased use of agricultural renewable fuels such as
ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen made from agricultural products
will reduce Minnesota's dependence on imported oil and help
protect our environment while providing enormous benefit to
Minnesota's rural communities and agricultural economy.
Furthermore, Minnesota has a unique economic advantage in the
ability to produce clean, renewable, domestic fuels and
Minnesota leads the nation in the production and use of ethanol
and biodiesel. State agencies need to be urged, once again, to
use cleaner fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen in state
vehicles, and to purchase vehicles capable of being powered by
these cleaner fuels as required by section 16C.135.

Subd. 2.

Goals and actions.

(a) Using 2005 as a
baseline, the state of Minnesota shall reduce the use of
gasoline by on-road vehicles owned by state departments by 25
percent by 2010 and by 50 percent by 2015, and the use of
petroleum-based diesel fuel in diesel-fueled vehicles by ten
percent by 2010 and 25 percent by 2015.

(b) To meet the goals established in paragraph (a), each
state department will, whenever legally, technically, and
economically feasible, subject to the specific needs of the
department and responsible management of agency finances:

(1) ensure that at least 75 percent of purchases of new
on-road vehicles, excluding emergency and law enforcement
vehicles:

(i) use "cleaner fuels" as that term is defined in section
16C.135, subdivision 1, clauses (1), (3), and (4); or

(ii) have fuel efficiency ratings that exceed 30 miles per
gallon for city usage or 35 miles per gallon for highway usage,
including but not limited to hybrid electric cars and
hydrogen-powered vehicles;

(2) increase its use of renewable transportation fuels,
including ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen from agricultural
products; and

(3) increase its use of Web-based Internet applications and
other electronic information technologies to enhance the access
to and delivery of government information and services to the
public, and reduce the reliance on the department's fleet for
the delivery of such information and services.

Subd. 3.

Smartfleet committee.

(a) The commissioner of
administration, or the commissioner's designee, shall chair a
SmartFleet Committee consisting of representatives designated by
the commissioners of the Pollution Control Agency, the
Departments of Agriculture and Commerce, and other state
departments that wish to participate. To ensure effective and
efficient state participation, the SmartFleet Committee must
assist state departments in implementing the requirements of
this section, including providing information, guidance, sample
policies and procedures, and technical and planning assistance.

(b) The SmartFleet Committee must evaluate the goals and
directives established in this section by December 2006 and
periodically thereafter. The committee may make recommendations
to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature
for new or adjusted goals and directives, in light of the
progress the state has made implementing this section, and of
the availability of new or improved technologies.

(c) For the systematic and efficient monitoring of progress
in implementing this section by the SmartFleet Committee, the
Department of Administration shall implement a fleet reporting
and information management system. Each department will use
this management system to demonstrate its progress in complying
with this section.

Subd. 4.

Exclusion.

Petroleum-based diesel fuel used in
a vehicle which a department has retrofit to use ultra low
sulfur diesel fuel and to add additional emissions control
technologies is excluded when evaluating progress toward the
reduction goals established in subdivision 2. This exclusion
applies only to vehicles purchased before the model year in
which the federal Environmental Protection Agency's new clean
diesel emission reduction rules take effect.

Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.

Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.