STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTY-EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SEVENTH SESSION
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Tom Hackbarth, called the thirty-eighth meeting of the Committee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance to order at 8:22 a.m. on April 13, 2011, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
MCNAMARA, Denny, Chair
TORKELSON, Paul, Vice Chair
WAGENIUS, Jean
HILTY, Bill
ANDERSON, Paul
BEARD, Michael
DILL, David
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
FABIAN, Dan
FALK, Andrew
HACKBARTH, Tom
HANCOCK, David
HANSEN, Rick
KNUTH, Kate
PERSELL, John
QUAM, Duane
SCOTT, Peggy
A quorum was present at 8:23 a.m.
Rep. Anderson moved that the minutes from the committee meeting on April 12, 2011 be adopted. The motion prevailed.
HF1375 (Scott) Renewable energy standard compliance rate impact information required.
Rep. Scott moved that H.F. 1375 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy Omnibus bill.
Rep. Scott moved the
H1375A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
Rep. Scott presented H.F. 1375.
Bride Seifert, MN Chamber of Commerce, Josh Gackle, Wind on the Wires, John Rohlf, Medtronic, Linda Taylor, Fresh Energy, Sara Rummel, SEIU testified on H.F. 1375.
Rep. Falk moved to orally amend H.F. 1375 as follows:
Page 1, line 11, delete everything after "activities" and insert "that deal with transmission, fuel costs, maintenance, and all capital costs, including asset depreciation. Those".
Rep. Falk requested a roll call on his oral amendment.
AYES
FALK, Andrew
HANSEN, Rick
HILTY, Bill
KNUTH, Kate,
PERSELL, John
WAGENIUS, Jean
NAYS
MCNAMARA, Denny
ANDERSON, Paul
BEARD, Michael
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
FABIAN, Dan
HACKBARTH, Tom
HANCOCK, David
QUAM, Duane
SCOTT, Peggy
TORKELSON, Paul
ABSENT
DILL, David
On a vote of 6 AYES and 10 NAYS THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
Rep. Scott renewed her motion that H.F. 1375, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
H.F. 1375 was laid over.
HF1052 (Beard) Energy customers permitted to seek exemptions from a utility's conservation investment program, and clarifying changes made.
Rep. Beard moved that H.F. 1052 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy Omnibus bill.
Rep. Beard moved the
H1052A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
Rep. Beard presented H.F. 1052.
Bill Grant, MN Department of Commerce and Greg Walters, citizen testified on H.F. 1052.
Rep. Beard renewed his motion that H.F. 1052, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
H.F. 1052 was laid over.
HF1189 (Beard) Conservation improvement program exemption provisions modified.
Rep. Beard moved that H.F. 1189 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy Omnibus bill.
Rep. Beard presented H.F. 1189.
Andrew Moretzka, Mackall, Crounse & Moore, Tracey Olson, Granite Falls Energy, Andy Zurn, Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company, Peder Larson, MN Biofuels Association, Gary Myhrman, Rock Tenn, Linda Taylor, Fresh Energy, Bill Grant, MN Department of Commerce and Angie Kline, CenterPoint Energy testified on H.F. 1189.
Rep. Beard renewed his motion that H.F. 1189 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
H.F. 1189 was laid over.
HF1193 (Beard) Municipalities and electric cooperative associations regulations amended with respect to energy conservation programs.
Rep. Beard moved that H.F. 1193 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy Omnibus bill.
Rep. Beard moved the
H1193A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
Rep. Beard presented H.F. 1193.
Bob Jagusch, MMUA and Ted Kjos, Tri County Electric testified on H.F. 1193.
Rep. Hackbarth moved a recess to the call of the chair at 9:58 a.m.
Rep. Hackbarth reconvened the committee at 6:09 p.m. in room 5 of the State Office Building.
Gary Connett, Great River Energy, John Gasol, Connexus, Bill Grant, MN Department of Commerce, Linda Taylor, Fresh Energy, Angie Kline, CenterPoint Energy and Nancy Lang, Izack Walton League testified on H.F. 1193.
Rep. Beard renewed his motion that H.F. 1193, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
H.F. 1193 was laid over.
HF1025 (Beard) Utility rates required to be based primarily on cost of service between and among consumer classes.
Rep. Beard moved that H.F. 1025 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy Omnibus bill.
Rep. Beard moved the
H1025A2 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
Rep. Beard presented H.F. 1025.
Bride Seifert, MN Chamber of Commerce, Craig Pagel, Iron Mining Association, Andrew Moretzka, Mackall, Crouncse & Moore and Ron Elwood, Legal Services Advocacy Project testified on H.F. 1025.
Rep. Hilty moved to orally amend H.F. 1025 as follows:
Page 4, line 3, reinstate "and rate design".
The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
Rep. Beard renewed his motion that H.F. 1025, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
H.F. 1025 was laid over.
HF850 (Beard) Public Utilities Commission authority to approve multi-year rate plan clarified, and multiple rate riders consolidated into single large energy project.
Rep. Beard moved that H.F. 850 be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy Omnibus bill.
Rep. Beard moved the
H0850DE1 delete-all amendment to H.F. 850. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
Rep. Beard presented H.F. 850.
Rick Evans, Xcel Energy and Andrew Moretzka testified on H.F. 850.
Rep. Beard renewed his motion that H.F. 850, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in the Energy omnibus bill. The motion prevailed.
H.F. 850 was laid over.
H.F. 1440 (Beard) Hydroelectric facility municipal approval exception provided.
Rep. Beard moved that H.F.1440 be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.
Rep. Beard moved the
H1440A1 amendment. The motion prevailed. The amendment was adopted.
Todd Guerrero, Crown Hydroelectric LCC, Brian Rice, Hennepin County, John Erwin, Minneapolis Park Board, Harvey Edingler, Preservation Alliance of MN and Arlene Fried, citizen testified on H.F. 1440.
Rep. Beard renewed his motion that H.F. 1440, as amended, be recommended to pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections. The motion prevailed. H.F. 1440 was passed and re-referred to the Committee on Government Operations and Elections.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:09.
REP. TOM HACKBARTH
Mike Harris
Committee Legislative Assistant