Source: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/newlawsart2007-0.asp?storyid=608
Timestamp: 2015-07-06 09:12:26
Document Index: 733692580

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 5', 'Art. 5', 'Art. 2', 'Art. 2', 'Art. 2', 'Art. 2', 'Art. 2', 'Art. 4', 'Art. 4', 'Art. 4', 'Art. 4', 'Art. 3']

Energy - New Laws 2007
Sponsored by Rep. Bill Hilty (DFL-Finlayson) and Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon (DFL-Duluth), a law represents the bulk of the governor�s �Next Generation Energy Initiative,� which aims to bolster investments in renewable power, increase energy conservation and decrease Minnesota�s contribution to global warming.
Effective Aug. 1, 2007, the law calls for cutting the state�s greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent below 2005 base levels by 2015, 30 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050. (Art. 5, Sec. 2)
The law requires several state agencies and a wide array of stakeholders to work together to come up with a �climate change action plan� that will identify and evaluate a broad range of greenhouse gas reduction strategies, assess the potential costs and benefits of the various options, including the potential cost to consumers, and recommend a course of action to the Legislature by Feb. 1, 2008. The plan must also make recommendations on a proposed cap-and-trade system, whereby a cap would be placed on overall greenhouse gas emissions and power companies assigned �allowances� of emissions that they could trade with one another. (Art. 5, Sec. 2)
In addition, the law prohibits the construction of any power plants that would produce a net increase in carbon emissions after Aug. 1, 2009. The law states that unless "a comprehensive state law or rule � that directly limits and substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions" is enacted and is in effect by that date:
� no large fossil fuel-fired powerplant can be built in Minnesota;
� no utility can import electricity from a large fossil fuel-fired powerplant built in another state that was not operating on Jan. 1, 2007; and
� no Minnesota utility can purchase electricity from an outstate utility under a contract that exceeds 50 megawatts for a term of five years.
� establishing a statewide energy conservation goal of 1.5 percent of annual retail electric and gas sales (Art. 2, Sec. 4);
� expanding and improving the state�s conservation improvement program (Art. 2, Sec. 5);
� providing research and development and technical assistance to utility companies through the Department of Commerce (Art. 2, Sec. 5);
� increasing energy efficiency in state buildings (Art. 2, Sec. 5); and
� removing financial disincentives for utility companies to promote energy conservation by �decoupling� a utility�s revenue from its changes in energy sales. (Art. 2, Sec. 6)
The law also overhauls the state�s Community-Based Energy Development statutes by making a number of changes, including:
� expanding the types of projects that qualify for the program from wind only to include all renewable energy technologies, effective July 1, 2007 (Art. 4, Sec. 1);
� increasing the financial benefits for communities that invest in renewable power by stipulating that at least 51 percent of the gross revenues from any power purchase agreement flow to owners and qualifying local entities (Art. 4, Sec. 2);
� encouraging utilities to make use of C-BED projects in meeting the state�s renewable energy standard (Art. 4, Sec. 5); and
� removing a 2.7 cents per kilowatt hour cap on the price utilities pay for energy from C-BED projects (Art. 4, Sec. 3).
Effective July 1, 2007, landlords are required to make sure residential for-rent properties are fitted with weather stripping, caulking, storm windows, and storm doors when any such measure �will result in energy procurement cost savings � that will exceed the cost of implementing that measure.� (Art. 3, Sec. 5)
Return to New Laws 2007 or view all stories HF436/SF145*/CH136
House Chief Author: Hilty Senate Chief Author: Prettner Solon Effective Date(s): various
* The legislative bill marked with an asterisk denotes the file submitted to the governor.