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Climate and Energy Finance and Policy

TWENTY-SECOND MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Thursday, March 25, 2021

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-SECOND 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 25th, 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
Gruenhagen, Glenn
Hollins, Athena
Hornstein, Frank
Igo, Spencer
Lee, Fue
Lippert, Todd
Lislegard, Dave
Mekeland, Shane
Munson, Jeremy
Stephenson, Zack

Excused:
Franson, Mary

A quorum was present.

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

Representative Christensen presented HF 1750, A bill for an act relating to economic development; establishing the Energy Transition Legacy Office; creating an advisory committee for transition communities and workers; requiring the development of a state transition plan for communities and workers impacted by the retirement of power plants; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.

Representative Christensen moved that HF 1750 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Christensen moved the HF1750A2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 1750:
• Mary McComber, Mayor, Oak Park Heights
• Max Peters, Cohasset City Administrator

Public Testimony on HF 1750:
• Jamie Fitzke, Legislative Policy Manager, Center for Energy and Environment
• Audrey Partridge, Regulatory Policy Manager, Center for Energy and Environment
• Rick Evans, Director of Reginal Government Affairs, Xcel Energy

Representative Swedzinski moved the HF1750A3 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Mekeland moved the HF1750A4 amendment.

Representative Mekeland offered an oral amendment to the HF1750A4 amendment as follows: Page 1, line 3, after “Monticello,” insert “Grant Falls, Fergus Falls, Hoigt lakes,” THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE ORAL AMENDMENT WAS INCORPORATED.

Representative Mekeland requested a roll call on the HF1750A4 amendment, as amended.

AYES:
Swedzinski
Boe
Gruenhagen
Igo
Lislegard
Mekeland
Munson

NAYS:
Long
Acomb
Bierman
Christensen
Hollins
Hornstein
Lee
Lippert

ABSTAINED:
Stephenson

EXCUSED:
Franson

There being 7 ayes, 8 nays, 1 abstention, and 1 excused, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Christensen renewed her motion that HF 1750, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Bierman presented HF1850, A bill for an act relating to taxation; income; providing a temporary credit for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems.

Representative Bierman moved that HF 1850 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Bierman moved the HF1850A2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 1850:
• Griffin Dooling, Vice President, Blue Horizon Energy
• Micah Johnson, Operations Manager, Solar Connection
• Micah Courneya, Inside Sales Manager, All Energy Solar

Representative Bierman renewed his motion that HF1850, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Acomb presented House Research BE081, a bill for an act relating to climate change; providing a grant to the University of Minnesota to generate projections of climate variables across the state through the rest of this century; appropriating money.

Testifying on House Research BE061:
• Heidi Roop, Professor of Climate Science, University of Minnesota

Representative Lee presented HF2386, A bill for an act relating to energy; establishing a grant program to promote energy conservation and renewable energy systems in certain buildings; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216C.

Testifying on HF 2386:
• Matt Kazinka, Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager, Lake Street Business Council
• Renee Spillum, Senior Project Manager, Redesign Inc
• Ben Passer, Lead Director, Fresh Energy
• Jamie Fitzke, Legislative Policy Manager, Center for Energy and Environment
Public Testimony on HF 2386:
• Ingrid C. A. Rasmussen, Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran


The meeting was adjourned at 12:01 PM.


__________________________________________
Representative Jamie Long, Chair


__________________________________________
Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1750 (Christensen) - Energy Transition Legacy Office established, transition communities and worker advisory committee created, state transition plan development required for communities and workers impacted by power plant retirement, and money appropriated.
  • HF1850 (Bierman) - Solar energy system purchase and installation temporary credit provided.
House TV Video:
View Archive

02:50 - HF1750 (Christensen) Energy Transition Legacy Office established, transition communities and worker advisory committee, state transition plan development required for communities and worker impacted by power plan retirement, and money appropriated.
31:37 - HF1850 (Bierman) Solar energy system purchase and installation temporary credit provided.
51:07 - HFXXXX/BE081 (Acomb) Providing a grant to the University of Minnesota to generate projections of climate variables across the state through the rest of this century; appropriating money.
1:11:41 - HFXXVX/21-03629 (Lee) Establishing a grant program to promote energy conservation and renewable energy systems in certain buildings; requiring a report; appropriating money.
*Both HFXXXX/21-03629 and HFXXXX/BE081 are being heard informationally.
Runs 1 hour, 30 minutes.


HF1750 (Christensen) - Energy Transition Legacy Office established, transition communities and worker advisory committee, state transition plan development required for communities and worker impacted by power plan retirement, and money appropriated.
HF1850 (Bierman) - Solar energy system purchase and installation temporary credit provided.
HF XXX / BE081 (Acomb) Small area climate model projections for Minnesota
HF XXX / 21-03629 (Lee) establishing a grant program to promote energy conservation and renewable energy systems in certain buildings
*Bills may be added to the agenda
**HF XXX / 21-03629 and HF XXX / BE081 are being heard informationally

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