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Climate and Energy Finance and Policy

NINETEENTH MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Tuesday, March 16, 2021

STATE OF MINNESOTA NINETEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-SECOND SESSION



CLIMATE AND ENERGY FINANCE AND POLICY MINUTES

Representative Jamie Long, Chair of the Committee on Climate and Energy Finance and Policy, called the virtual meeting to order at 10:30 AM on March 16th, 2021 pursuant to House rule 10.01. The meeting was broadcast via Zoom and House Public Information Services.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:
Long, Jamie, Chair
Acomb, Patty, Vice Chair
Swedzinski, Chris, Republican Lead
Bierman, Robert
Boe, Greg
Christensen, Shelly
Franson, Mary
Gruenhagen, Glenn
Hollins, Athena
Hornstein, Frank
Igo, Spencer
Lee, Fue
Lippert, Todd
Lislegard, Dave
Mekeland, Shane
Munson, Jeremy
Stephenson, Zack

A quorum was present.

Bills not introduced at the time of the meeting are indicated by the House Research, Revisor, or Counsel code.

The Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Commerce Presented on the Budget:
• Joe Sullivan, Commissioner and Vice-Chair, Public Utilities Commission
• Will Seuffert, Executive Secretary, Public Utilities Commission
• Grace Arnold, Temporary Commissioner, Department of Commerce

Representative Lippert presented HF 1879, A bill for an act relating to energy; providing for reuse and redevelopment of qualified facilities; appropriating money to retire bonds to facilitate solar project at closed landfill; requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 115B.40, subdivision 1; 115B.412, subdivision 9.

Representative Lippert moved that HF 1879 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Lippert moved the HF1879A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 1879:
• David Shaffer, Executive Director, MnSEIA
• Brian Burandt, Vice President of Power Supply & Business Development, Connexus

Public testimony on HF 1879:
• Kirk Kudelka, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Rick Evans, Director of Regional Government Affairs, Xcel Energy

Representative Lippert renewed his motion that HF 1879, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Christensen presented HF 2054, A bill for an act relating to energy; requiring resource plans to include information on efforts to minimize impacts to workers due to facility retirement; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 216B.2422, by adding a subdivision.

Representative Christensen moved that HF 2054 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Christensen moved the HF2054A2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 2054:
• Kurt Zimmerman, Local 160, IBEW
• Duane Peters, Business Manager of Local 23, IBEW

Representative Christensen renewed her motion that HF 2054, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Her presented House Research BE078, A bill for an act relating to microgrids; providing a grant; appropriating money.

Testifying on House Research BE078:
• Dr. Don Weinkauf, Dean, University of St. Thomas School of Engineering
• Dr. Mahmoud Kabalan, Director, Center for Microgrid Research

The meeting was adjourned at 11:53 AM.


__________________________________________
Representative Jamie Long, Chair


__________________________________________
Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1879 (Lippert) - Energy qualified facility reuse and redevelopment provided, bond retirement to facilitate closed landfill solar project funding provided, reports required, and money appropriated.
  • HF2054 (Christensen) - Resource plans required to include efforts to minimize facility retirement worker impact.
House TV Video:
View Archive

03:35 - Public Utilities Commission budget presentation.
18:00 - Department of Commerce budget presentation.
29:05 - HF1879 (Lippert) Energy qualified facility reuse and redevelopment provided, bond retirement to facilitate closed landfill solar project funding provided, reports required, and money appropriated.
41:45 - HF2054 (Christensen) Resource plans required to include efforts to minimize facility retirement worker impact.
57:00 - HFXXXX (Her) Relating to microgrids; providing a grant; appropriating money.
Runs 1 hour, 24 minutes.


Public Utilities Commission Budget Presentation
Department of Commerce Budget Presentation
HF1879 (Lippert) - Energy qualified facility reuse and redevelopment provided, bond retirement to facilitate closed landfill solar project funding provided, reports required, and money appropriated.
HF2054 (Christensen) - Resource plans required to include efforts to minimize facility retirement worker impact.
HF XXX / BE078 (Her) Microgrid research and grant - 3/15/2021

*Bills may be added to the agenda

This remote hearing is taking place pursuant to Rule 10.01.

This remote hearing may be viewed via the House webcast schedule page: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/schedule.asp

Note: HTV 1 and HTV 2 will provide live closed captioning. Video archives of meetings streamed on HTV 3, 4, and 5 will have closed captions added. Other reasonable accessibility accommodations may be made with advance notice.

If you have questions about the accessibility of remote hearings or require an accommodation, please contact Jenny Nash at: jenny.nash@house.mn or by leaving a message at 651-296-4122. Do not contact Jenny about the content of this meeting.

Public Testimony:
• Members of the public who are interested in testifying must email Mike.Molzahn@house.mn by 3:00 p.m. the day before the meeting to ensure consideration. Testimony may be limited due to time constraints.
• If you plan to submit written testimony, please send it to Mike.Molzahn@house.mn by 3:00 p.m. the day before the meeting.

Meeting documents will be posted on the committee website: https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/Committees/Home/92008