STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-THIRD MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETIETH SESSION
JOB GROWTH & ENERGY AFFORDABILITY
POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Pat Garofalo, Chair of the Job Growth & Energy Affordability Policy & Finance Committee, called the meeting to order at 10:16 AM on Monday, March 20, 2017, in Room 10 of the State Office Building. A quorum was present.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
GAROFALO, Pat
NEWBERGER, Jim
MAHONEY, Tim
CLARK, Karen
WAGENIUS, Jean
ANDERSON, Paul
BAHR, Cal
BAKER, Dave
DAVNIE, Jim
FABIAN, Dan
HOWE, Jeff
LAYMAN, Sandy
MAYE QUADE, Erin
MORAN, Rena
NEU, Anne
O’NEILL, Marion
RARICK, Jason
SCOTT, Peggy
SUNDIN, Mike
THISSEN, Paul
VOGEL, Bob
WEST, Nolan
Members excused:
METSA, Jason
Representative Davnie moved the minutes of March 17, 2017 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1327 (McDonald) FATHER project funding provided, and money appropriated. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Garofalo moved HF1327 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Michael Wirth-Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota; Scott Maloney, Executive Director, Family Services Rochester; Kyle Herring, Chair, Rochester Area Fatherhood Network; testified on HF1327.
Representative Garofalo renewed his motion that HF1327 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
HF1377 (O'Driscoll) Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing; stakeholder group established to develop recommendations for consumer protections, authorization for residential PACE financing suspended, and report required. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Scott moved HF1377 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Scott moved the H1377DE1 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Paul Eger, Vice President of Government Affairs, Minnesota Realtors; Ron Elwood, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aide; Julie Padilla, Regional Director, Renovate America; Craig Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Representative, League of Minnesota Cities; testified on HF1377.
Representative Scott renewed her motion that HF1377, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Dr. Rolf T. Weberg, Executive Director, Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota- Duluth, gave a presentation on the institute.
Representative Newberger assumed the gavel at 11:10 AM.
Representative Garofalo assumed the gavel at 11:30 AM.
HF1882 (West) Solar energy standard modified, and resource planning requirements amended. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative West moved HF1882 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative West moved the H1882A1 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Thor Underdahl, Government Affairs Representative, Minnesota Power; Loren Laugtug, Manager of Legislative Affairs, Otter Tail Power Company; Tom Karas, Clean Energy Consulting and Sales; Amy Blumenshire, citizen; Jean Ross, Vote-Climate.org; testified on HF1882.
Representative West renewed his motion that HF1882, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
The committee went into recess at 12:08 PM.
The committee reconvened in Room 120 of the Capitol Building at 6:08 PM.
HF1254 (Baker) Propane school buses and fueling station rebates provided, and Pollution Control Agency rebate program established. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Baker moved HF1254 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Baker moved the H1254DE2 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Roger Leider, Executive Director, Minnesota Propane Association; Greta Gauthier, Legislative Director, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Kathy Hollander, Volunteer, MN350; testified on HF1254.
Representative Baker renewed his motion that HF1254, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
HF2278 (Baker) Cooperative electric associations and municipal utilities exempted from participation in the state energy conservation program. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Baker moved HF2278 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Joe Sullivan, Manager of Strategic Relations, Center for Energy and Environment; Annie Levenson-Falk, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota; Will Nissen, Director of Energy Performance, Fresh Energy; Bill Grant, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Commerce; testified on HF2278.
Representative Baker renewed his motion that HF2278 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
HF2248 (Bahr) Large electrical customers allowed to purchase electricity from any supplier. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Bahr moved HF2248 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Andrew Moratzka, Partner, Stoel Rives law firm; David Strom, Research Director, Minnesota Conservative Energy Forum; Annie Levenson-Falk, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota; Bill Grant, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Commerce; David McMillan, Executive Vice President, Minnesota Power; Rick Evans, Director of Regional Government Affairs, Xcel Energy; Joe Sullivan, Manager of Strategic Relations, Center for Energy and Environment; testified on HF2248.
Representative Bahr renewed his motion that HF2248 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
HF2300 (Garofalo) Biomass mandate repealed, and continued governance for current mandate projects provided. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Garofalo moved HF2300 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Garofalo moved the H2300A1 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Rick Evans, Director of Regional Government Affairs, Xcel Energy; Ken Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer, District Energy St. Paul; testified on HF2300.
Representative Garofalo renewed his motion that HF2300, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
HF2052 (Schomacker) Renewable energy system permitting provisions modified. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Thissen moved HF2052 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Thissen presented the bill.
Representative Thissen moved the H2052A1 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Chris Kunkle, Regional Policy Manager, Wind on the Wires; testified on HF2052.
Representative Thissen renewed his motion that HF2052, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
HF1151 (Bahr) Pipeline requirement to obtain a certificate of need prior to construction eliminated. The bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Bahr moved HF1151 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Bahr moved the H1151A1 amendment be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Erin Roth, Executive Director, American Petroleum Institute; Leigh Currie, Energy Program Director, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy; Bill Grant, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Commerce; Tom Watson, President, Whitefish Area Property Owners Association; Kathy Hollander, Volunteer, MN350; Brent Murcia, citizen; Jean Ross, Vote-Climate.org; Phil Murray, MN350; Irene Folstrom, Great Lakes Program Coordinator, Minnesota Environmental Partnership; Molly Wilder-Cohen, citizen; Patty O’Keefe, Divestment Coordinator, MN350; testified on HF1151.
Representative Newberger assumed the gavel at 8:29 PM.
Representative Bahr renewed his motion that HF1151, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
HF1355 (Garofalo) Environmental settlement money required to be appropriated by law. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Representative Garofalo moved HF1355 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
Greta Gauthier, Legislative Director, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Eric Hallstrom, Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Management and Budget; testified on HF1355.
Representative Garofalo renewed his motion that HF1355 be laid over for possible inclusion in a later bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 PM.
Representative Pat Garofalo, Chair
Meagan Rice, Committee Legislative Assistant