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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dan Fabian (R)

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Capitol Update from Rep. Dan Fabian

Friday, February 10, 2017

 

Dear Neighbors,

 

It’s been another busy week in Saint Paul. Here is an update with the latest news from the Capitol.

Rural Finance Authority Loans

On Monday, the House worked to pass a bill that is an urgency for many farmers across our state. The legislation calls for $35 million in bond proceeds to be allocated to future Rural Finance Authority Loans, a program that partners with ag lenders to provide low-cost financing to farmers that would not otherwise be available. These low-interest loans can help folks start a farm, expand their livestock or fix-up equipment.

This program has been successful private-public partnership over the years that benefits farmers statewide. However, because this program expired at the end of 2016, House Republicans worked to get this bill passed quickly, as this is a priority for many farmers planning for the upcoming growing season.

The bill, which passed unanimously, has been sent onto the Senate.

Local Road Wetland Replacement

On Thursday, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee heard my bill, House File 434, which is critical for local transportation projects statewide. The bill will temporarily modify local road wetland replacement requirements for transportation projects. Because of lack of funding in recent years, a number of wetland bank service areas do not have any credits for local transportation projects, meaning that without this bill, many county and township road construction projects will be on hold this spring.

We need these projects to move forward this year, so making temporary modifications to state law, as well as funding wetland replacement going forward is key to ensuring local transportation projects planned by local officials can happen throughout the state.

Energy Investment and Stability

On Thursday, the House passed three bills that help make energy more affordable for folks across the state.

House File 113 facilitates the building of a natural-gas fired power plant in central Minnesota. After the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) decided to delay their decision on building the plant, this bill will provide some stability to nearby communities, families, and workers in that area who were previously unsure of whether or not this project would be completed.

House File 234 is bipartisan legislation that clarifies regulation of consumer-owned utilities like our rural electric co-ops, removing unnecessary regulations and exempting rural co-ops from PUC jurisdiction with respect to net metering disputes. It also gives our local co-ops and ratepayer/members more power over setting rates.

Finally, House file 235 repeals the Made in Minnesota solar energy subsidy, a program heavily subsidized by ratepayers which benefits very few folks in our state. This bill also transfers money from the accounts of corporate books of an electric utility to a dedicated state fund. This will help ensure that funding is used accountably and invested in more prudent, cost-effective forms of alternative energy. Most importantly, it will help save ratepayers money.

Along with my legislation to reform the PUC, these bills are steps in the right direction that best serve the people of Minnesota as opposed to unelected regulatory agencies.

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My door is always open to the needs and priorities of our area. Please feel free to let me know if I can be of assistance to you and your family. I am here to serve you!

Dan

**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01A