FORTY SIXTH MEETING

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY SIXTH 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 31st, 2022 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.

Vice Chair Acomb moved that the minutes of March 17th, 2022, be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Presenting on Met Council’s Zero Emission Bus Transition Plan:
• Nick Thompson, Assistant General Manager of Capital Projects, Metro Transit
• Joshua Houdek, Senior Program Manager of Land Use and Transportation, Sierra Club

Representative Lee presented HF 4631, a bill for an act relating to public buildings; appropriating money for research to integrate weather trends in designing and operating public buildings to reduce operational costs and prevent damage from extreme weather events; requiring a report.

Representative Lee moved that HF 4631 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Representative Lee moved the HF4631DE2 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 4631:
• Richard Graves, Director of Sustainable Building Research, University of Minnesota

Representative Lee renewed his motion that HF 4631, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion.

Representative Acomb presented HF3759, a bill for an act relating to higher education; appropriating money for a weather resilience program in the University of Minnesota Extension Service.

Representative Acomb moved that HF3759 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Testifying on HF 3759:
• Dr. Heidi Roop, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Minnesota

Representative Acomb renewed her motion that HF3759 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Representative Christensen presented HF3985, a bill for an act relating to economic development; modifying the community energy transition grant program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 116J.55, subdivisions 1, 5; Laws 2020, chapter 118, section 5, subdivision 1.

Representative Christensen moved that HF3985 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Testifying on HF 3985:
• Max Peters, Cohasset City Administrator, President of the Coalition of Utility Cities

Representative Christensen renewed her motion that HF3985 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Representative Hollins presented HF 4653, a bill for an act relating to energy; allowing a public utility to file a program with the public utilities commission to promote the deployment of electric school buses; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 216B.

Representative Hollins moved that HF4653 be laid over for possible inclusion.

Testifying on HF 4653:
• Jeff Nelson, MN350’s Clean Transportation Team
• Thomas Lucy, St. Paul Public Schools

Representative Hollins renewed her motion that HF 4653 be laid over for possible inclusion.

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.

Representative Lislegard moved the HF1978DE2 amendment, THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Testifying on HF 1978:
• John Arbogast, United Steel Workers District 11
• Kevin Pranis, campaign director, LiUNA

Representative Lislegard renewed his motion that HF1978, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:51 AM.


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Representative Jamie Long, Chair

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Mike Hermanson, Committee Legislative Assistant