STATE OF MINNESOTA EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FOURTH SESSION
REGULATED INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Rep. Mike Beard, Vice Chair of the Regulated Industries Committee, called the eighth meeting unofficially to order at 2:35 p.m. on March 2, 2005 in Room 5 of the State Office Building. A quorum was not present.
The Clerk noted the roll.
Members present:
WESTROM, Torrey, Chair ANDERSON, I.
BEARD, Mike, Vice Chair ATKINS, Joe
CHARRON, Mike HANSEN, Rick
ERICKSON, Sondra HILTY, Bill
GUNTHER, Bob JOHNSON, Sheldon
HACKBARTH, Tom LESCH, John
HOPPE, Joe RUUD, Maria
LANNING, Morrie THISSEN, Paul
POWELL, Duke WALKER, Neva
SIMPSON, Dean
WESTERBERG, Andy
ZELLERS, Kurt
Members excused: EMMER
HUNTLEY
PETERSON, A.
HF 1347 (Gunther) Automatic recovery of electricity transmission costs provided, high-voltage transmission line certification requirements modified, and stakeholder group established to study state certification process.
Rep. Gunther provided an opening statement to the committee regarding HF 1347.
Rep. Beard called the meeting officially to order at 2:40 p.m. A quorum was present.
Rep. Gunther moved that HF 1347 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Transmission Policy Bill.
Rep. Ruud moved approval of the minutes for February 16, 2005. The motion prevailed.
Rep. Beard requested that the committee take action on the following bills:
From Policy to the Gaming Division: HF 1092, HF 1179, HF 1208, HF 1361
From Policy to the Liquor Subcommittee: HF 1163, HF 1226, HF 1376, HF 1415
Rep. Westerberg moved that the following House Files be referred to the Gaming Division of Regulated Industries: HF 1092, HF 1179, HF 1208, HF 1361. The motion prevailed.
Rep. Hoppe moved that the following House Files be referred to the Liquor Subcommittee of Regulated Industries: HF 1163, HF 1226, HF 1376, HF 1415. The motion prevailed.
Testimony on HF 1347 continued before the committee.
Judy Poferl, Xcel Energy, provided the committee with an overview of the bill.
Rep. Gunther renewed the motion that HF 1347 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Transmission Policy Bill.
HF 1332 (Peterson, A.) Community-based wind energy developments tariffs regulated.
Rep. Hilty presented HF 1332 on behalf of Rep. Peterson.
Rep. Hilty moved that HF 1332 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Transmission Policy Bill.
Rep. Hilty moved to amend HF 1332 (A05-0134 amendment). The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
The following individuals testified before the committee:
Rep. Bill Hilty
Dan Juhl
George Crocker, Executive Director, North America Water Office
Rep. Beard requested a copy of the GAO report pertaining to the C-Bed Project.
Testimony before the committee continued.
Rep. Hilty renewed the motion that HF 1332, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Transmission Policy Bill. The motion prevailed.
Rep. Beard noted that the committee was presented with a copy of citizen testimony submitted by Laura and John Reinhardt, Citizen and Landowner Rights Advocates.
HF 1344 (Westrom) Community-based energy development tariffs required, and renewable energy resources and objectives modified.
Rep. Westrom moved that HF 1344 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Transmission Policy Bill.
The following individuals testified before the committee:
Rep. Torrey Westrom
Edward Garvey, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Commerce
George Crocker, Executive Director, North America Water Office
Rep. Westrom renewed the motion that HF 1344 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Transmission Policy Bill. The motion prevailed.
Rep. Westrom assumed the gavel at 3:30 p.m.
HF XXX - Revisor No. 05-3050, (Gunther)
Rep. Gunther moved that HF XXX – Revisor No. 05-3050 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Omnibus Transmission Policy Bill.
Rep. Westrom, in concurrence with Rep. Gunther, noted that no official action could be taken on HF XXX – Revisor No. 05-3050 due to the fact that the bill had not been officially introduced.
The following individuals testified before the committee:
Rep. Bob Gunther
Beth Soholt, Wind on the Wires
Closing comments by the Chair regarding the upcoming committee schedule.
There was a brief period of open audience testimony regarding all bills presented before the committee. The following individuals testified:
Ken Nicholai, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission
Kristin Eide-Tollefson, Community United for Responsible Energy
Rep. Westerberg invited members of the Regulated Industries Policy Committee to join the Gaming Division for the March 8, 2005 meeting.
The committee acknowledged Rep. Erickson’s birthday.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
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REP. TORREY WESTROM
CHAIR
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Kathleen Anderson
Committee Legislative Assistant