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Climate and Energy Finance and Policy

TWENTIETH MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Wednesday, March 17, 2021

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTIETH 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 6:00 PM on March 17th, 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.

Representative Long presented HF 2216, A bill for an act relating to energy; establishing a loan program for municipal utilities paying unusually high prices for natural gas in February 2021; establishing a program to defray high natural gas bills from the February 2021 price spike for low-income households; appropriating money.

Representative Long moved that HF 2216 be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Representative Long moved the HF2216DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 2216:
• Bob Eleff, House Research
• Katie Sieben, Chair, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
• Joe Sullivan, Vice-Chair, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
• Aditya Ranade, Deputy Commissioner, Commerce
• Annie Levenson-Falk, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board
• Bill Grant, Executive Director, Minnesota Community Action Partnership
• Kent Sulem. Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association
• Kris Manderfeld, Utilities Director, New Ulm Public Utilities
• Jack Kegel, CEO, Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association
• Rick Evans, Director of Regional Governmental Affairs, Xcel Energy

Representative Long renews his motion that HF 2216, as amended, be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Representative Long requested a roll call on his motion to refer HF 2216, as amended, to Ways and Means.

AYES:
Long
Acomb
Swedzinski
Bierman
Boe
Christensen
Franson
Gruenhagen
Hornstein
Igo
Lee
Lippert
Lislegard
Mekeland
Stephenson

NAYS:
Munson

ABSTAINED:
Hollins

There being 15 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 abstention, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Bierman presented HF 1135, A bill for an act relating to energy; eliminating the sunset for recovery of gas utility infrastructure costs; repealing Laws 2005, chapter 97, article 10, section 3, as amended.

Representative Bierman moved that HF 1135 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Testifying on HF 1135:
• Patrick Schillinger, Vice President, Minnesota Energy Resources Corp

Public testimony on HF 1135:
• Justin Fay, Lead Director of Public Affairs, Fresh Energy
• Mike Bull, Director of Policy and External Affairs, Center for Energy and the Environment

Representative Mekeland moved the HF1135A1 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Bierman renewed his motion that HF 1135 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:12 PM.


__________________________________________
Representative Jamie Long, Chair


__________________________________________
Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant


More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1135 (Bierman) - Gas utility infrastructure cost recovery sunset eliminated.
  • HF2216 (Long) - Municipal utilities paying unusually high prices for natural gas in February 2021 loan program established, program established to defray high natural gas bills from February 2021 price spike for low-income households, and money appropriated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

02:59 - HF2216 (Long) Municipal utilities paying unusually high prices for natural gas in February 2021 loan program established, program established to defray high natural gas bills from February 2021 price spike for low-income households, and money appropriated.
59:31 - HF1135 (Bierman) Gas utility infrastructure cost recovery sunset eliminated.
Runs 1 hour, 13 minutes.


HF2216 (Long) - Municipal utilities paying unusually high prices for natural gas in February 2021 loan program established, program established to defray high natural gas bills from February 2021 price spike for low-income households, and money appropriated.
HF1135 (Bierman) - Gas utility infrastructure cost recovery sunset eliminated.
*Bills may be added to the agenda
**HF 2216 has been introduced and replaced the HF XXX / BE072.

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