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Climate and Energy Finance and Policy

FORTY FOURTH MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Thursday, March 24, 2022

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY FOURTH 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 24th, 2022 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
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

Excused:
Bierman, Robert

A quorum was present.

Representative Sandstede presented HF3944, a bill for an act relating to energy; responding to the polar vortex in February 2021; allowing a refundable tax credit for excess energy costs due to extreme cold weather in February 2021; requiring utilities to disclose certain information; appropriating money.

Representative Long moved that HF 4404 be re-referred to the committee on Taxes.

Representative Long moved the HF4404DE1 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Stephenson moved the HF3944A4 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.


Testifying on HF 3944:
• Kent Sulem, Director of Government Relations, Minnesota Municipal Utility
• David Olson, Owatonna Utilities
• Luke Peterson, Hibbing Public Utilities
• Kris Manderfeld, Manager at New Ulm Utilities
• Annie Levenson-Falk, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board
• Will Seuffert, Executive Secretary, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Representative Long renewed his motion that HF 3944, as amended, be re-referred to the committee on Taxes.

Representative Gruenhagen requested a roll call on his motion to re-refer HF3944, as amended, to the committee on Taxes.

AYES:
Long
Acomb
Boe
Christensen
Franson
Gruenhagen
Hollins
Hornstein
Igo
Lee
Lippert
Lislegard
Mekeland
Munson
Stephenson

NAYS:
Swedzinski

EXCUSED:
Bierman

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

Representative Rasmusson presented HF4567, a bill for an act relating to energy; creating a process regulated by the Public Utilities Commission allowing natural gas utilities to sell bonds as a way to reduce economic impacts on customers when extraordinary events damage utility infrastructure or impose significant costs; establishing an account; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B.

Representative Long moved that HF4567 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Representative Long moved the HF4567A2 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 4567:
• Jason Ryan, Executive Vice President, Regulatory Services and Government Affairs, CenterPoint Energy
• Annie Levenson-Falk, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board

Public testimony on HF 4567:
• Cameron Raether, Resident, Good Thunder

Representative Long renewed his motion that HF 4567, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:56 AM.


__________________________________________
Representative Jamie Long, Chair

__________________________________________
Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF3944 (Sandstede) - Polar Vortex of February 2021; refundable individual income tax credit for excess energy cost due to extreme cold weather allowed, utilities required to disclose information, grants to public utilities provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF4567 (Rasmusson) - Public Utilities Commission regulation process created allowing natural gas utilities to sell bonds as a way to reduce economic impacts on customers when extraordinary events damage utility infrastructure or impose significant costs, account established, and money appropriated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:38 - Presentations on natural gas price affordability.
18:50 - HF3944 (Sandstede) Polar Vortex of February 2021; refundable tax credit for excess energy cost due to extreme cold weather allowed, utilities required to disclose information, and money appropriated.
56:48 - HF4567 (Rasmusson) Public Utilities Commission regulation process created allowing natural gas utilities to sell bonds as a way to reduce economic impacts on customers when extraordinary events damage utility infrastructure or impose significant costs, account established, and money appropriated.
Runs 1 hour, 26 minutes.


Presentations on natural gas price swings
HF 3944 (Sandstede) - Polar Vortex of February 2021; refundable tax credit for excess energy cost due to extreme cold weather allowed, utilities required to disclose information, and money appropriated.
HF 4567 (Rasmusson) creating a process regulated by the Public Utilities Commission​ allowing natural gas utilities to sell bonds as a way to reduce economic impacts​ on customers when extraordinary events damage utility infrastructure or impose​ significant costs

This remote hearing is taking place pursuant to Rule 10.01.

If you wish to submit written testimony or testify via Zoom, please send the written testimony or the request to testify to Mike.Molzahn@house.mn by noon the day before the meeting.

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

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

All events are closed-captioned.

To provide feedback on digital accessibility of meeting information, please submit comments through the Minnesota Legislature Accessibility & Usability Comment Form. If you require an accommodation, please contact John Howe at: John.Howe@house.mn or by leaving a message at 651-296-3208. Please do not contact him with questions about the substance of the meeting agenda. To learn more about requesting an accommodation, please visit the FAQs for Disability Access.