No need to prove need for new natural gas plants?

There were three sides to the debate over lifting a regulation on new natural-gas plants Wednesday in the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee.

HF341, sponsored by Rep. Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent), would let companies building such plants skip the Certificate of Need process — joining a list of facilities, including some solar and wind generating plants, that a law enacted last year exempts from the requirement.

Rep. Chris Swedzinski

The hearing included supporters and opponents of the bill —but also people who want to repeal the 2014 exemptions altogether.

The committee held the bill over for possible inclusion in a later bill.

Swedzinski has no specific generating plant project in mind in sponsoring the bill. Rather, he wanted to create conditions so natural gas projects would be built in Minnesota instead of across the border.

“Minnesota’s outdated regulatory system puts us at a competitive disadvantage,” Swedzinski said.

Committee Chair Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) said he sponsored the 2014 law because facilities that don’t sell to Minnesota customers shouldn’t have to meet a requirement meant to protect in-state ratepayers.

The state’s Certificate of Need process helps determine if a project is in the public interest, said utility regulatory attorney Carol Overland, adding that local units of government aren’t equipped to evaluate proposed power plants.

Red Wing resident Alan Muller told the committee he advocates rolling back all exemptions to Certificate of Need. Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL-St. Paul) voiced agreement. “We did not put any kind of time limit on the exemptions for solar and wind. We should re-regulate all these things at a certain point.”

Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls) cited a goal in Minnesota law of transitioning to a renewable energy economy. “Your bill is taking us in the very opposite direction,” she said. “Why add to the global warming problem?”

Swedzinski said he intended to address economic concerns. Garofalo added that he viewed such goals in state law as “harmless. They’re not mandates. They’re aspirational.”

The companion, SF237, sponsored by Sen. Julie Rosen (R-Vernon Center), awaits action by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee