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Climate and Energy Finance and Policy

TWENTY-FIRST MEETING

2021-2022 Regular Session - Thursday, March 18, 2021

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-FIRST 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 18th, 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
Franson, Mary
Gruenhagen, Glenn
Hollins, Athena
Hornstein, Frank
Igo, Spencer
Lee, Fue
Lippert, Todd
Lislegard, Dave
Mekeland, Shane
Munson, Jeremy
Stephenson, Zack

A quorum was present.

Representative Stephenson presented HF 239, A bill for an act relating to energy; establishing the Natural Gas Innovation Act; encouraging natural gas utilities to develop innovative resources; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B.

Representative Stephenson moved that HF 239 be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Representative Stephenson moved the HF0239DE1 amendment.

Representative Stephenson moved the A5 amendment to the DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Stephenson renewed his motion to adopt the HF0239DE1 amendment, as amended. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 239:
• Erica Larson, Regulatory Analyst, CenterPoint Energy
• Kevin Pranis, Campaign Director, LIUNA
• Mike Bull, Director of Policy and External Affairs, Center for Energy and Environment

Public testimony on HF 239:
• Jessica Tritsch, Senior Campaign Representative, Sierra Club
• Carolyn Berninger, Climate & Energy Policy Analyst, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
• Margaret Cherne-Hendrick, Lead Director of Energy Transition, Fresh Energy

Representative Long moved the HF0239A4 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Lee moved the HF0239A6 amendment.

Representative Franson requested a roll call on the HF0239A6 amendment.

AYES:
Long
Acomb
Bierman
Christensen
Hollins
Hornstein
Lee
Lippert
Lislegard
Stephenson


NAYS:
Swedzinski
Boe
Franson
Gruenhagen
Igo
Mekeland
Munson

There being 10 ayes and 7 nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Franson moved the HF0239A1 amendment.

Representative Franson requested a roll call on the HF0239A1 amendment.

AYES:
Swedzinski
Boe
Franson
Gruenhagen
Igo
Mekeland
Munson

NAYS:
Long
Acomb
Bierman
Christensen
Hollins
Hornstein
Lee
Lippert
Lislegard
Stephenson

There being 7 ayes and 10 nays, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Mekeland moved the HF0239A2 amendment. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL. THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Swedzinski offered the HF0239A3 amendment.

Representative Swedzinski withdrew the HF0239A3 amendment.

Representative Stephenson renewed his motion that HF 239, as amended, be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Representative Stephenson requested a roll call on his motion to refer HF 239 to the Committee on Ways and Means.

AYES:
Long
Bierman
Christensen
Hollins
Hornstein
Lee
Lippert
Lislegard
Stephenson


NAYS:
Acomb
Swedzinski
Boe
Franson
Gruenhagen
Igo
Mekeland
Munson

There being 9 ayes and 8 nays, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Lee presented HF 1270, A bill for an act relating to workforce development; appropriating funds for a pilot project to train youth from underserved communities for careers in the clean energy sector.

Representative Lee moved that HF 1270 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative moved the HF1270A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 1270:
• Jamez Staples, CEO, Northgate Development and Renewable Energy Partners
• Antonio Cardonia, Vice President of Career Readiness, Project for Pride and Living
• Kristy Snyder, Director, Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP) Program
• Jim Verhoye, Director, Avivo Institute of Career and Technical Education
• Cynthia Gomez, Career Specialist, Plymouth Christian Youth Center

Public testimony on HF 1270:
• Kyle Samejima, Executive Director, Minneapolis Climate Action
• Lee Samelson, Organizer, Community Power MN

Representative Lee renewed his motion that HF 1270, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Representative Lislegard presented HF 1978, A bill for an act relating to energy; appropriating money for a grant to the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority to expand a city-owned building housing a solar panel manufacturer.

Representative Lislegard moved that HF 1978 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Testifying on HF 1978:
• Martin Pochtaruk, CEO, Heliene
• Craig Wainio, City Administrator, Mountain Iron

Public testimony on HF 1978:
• Peter Teigland, Policy Associate, MnSEIA

Representative Lislegard renewed his motion that HF 1978 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:02 PM.


__________________________________________
Representative Jamie Long, Chair


__________________________________________
Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant

More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF239 (Stephenson) - Natural Gas Innovation Act established, and natural gas utilities encouraged to develop innovative resources, reports required, and money appropriated.
  • HF1270 (Lee) - Clean energy sector career training pilot project for youth from underserved communities funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF1978 (Lislegard) - Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority grant funding provided to expand city-owned building housing solar panel manufacturer, and money appropriated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:14 - HF239 (Stephenson) Natural Gas Innovation Act established, and natural gas utilities encouraged to develop innovative resources.
47:01 - HF1270 (Lee) Clean energy sector career training pilot project for youth from underserved communities funding provided, and money appropriated.
1:17:04 - HF1978 (Lislegard) Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority grant to expand city-owned building housing solar panel manufacturer funding provided, and money appropriated.
Runs 1 hour, 33 minutes.


HF239 (Stephenson) - Natural Gas Innovation Act established, and natural gas utilities encouraged to develop innovative resources.
HF1270 (Lee) - Clean energy sector career training pilot project for youth from underserved communities funding provided, and money appropriated.
HF1978 (Lislegard) - Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority grant to expand city-owned building housing solar panel manufacturer funding provided, and money appropriated.
*Bills may be added to the agenda

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