1.1.................... moves to amend H.F. No. 773 as follows:
1.2Delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

1.3    "Section 1. TITLE.
1.4This act may be cited as the Solar Energy Jobs Act of 2013.

1.5    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.03, is amended to read:
1.6216B.03 REASONABLE RATE.
1.7Every rate made, demanded, or received by any public utility, or by any two or
1.8more public utilities jointly, shall be just and reasonable. Rates shall not be unreasonably
1.9preferential, unreasonably prejudicial, or discriminatory, but shall be sufficient, equitable,
1.10and consistent in application to a class of consumers. To the maximum reasonable extent,
1.11the commission shall set rates to encourage energy conservation and renewable energy use
1.12and to further the goals of sections 216B.164, 216B.241, 216B.411, and 216C.05. Any
1.13doubt as to reasonableness should be resolved in favor of the consumer. For rate-making
1.14purposes a public utility may treat two or more municipalities served by it as a single class
1.15wherever the populations are comparable in size or the conditions of service are similar.

1.16    Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.16, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.17to read:
1.18    Subd. 6e. Solar energy production incentive. (a) Except as otherwise provided in
1.19this subdivision, all assessments authorized by section 216B.411 incurred in connection
1.20with the solar energy production incentive shall be recognized and included by the
1.21commission in the determination of just and reasonable rates as if the expenses were
1.22directly made or incurred by the utility in furnishing utility service.
1.23(b) The commission shall not include expenses for the solar energy production
1.24incentive in determining just and reasonable electric rates for retail electric service
2.1provided to customers eligible for the low-income electric rate discount authorized by
2.2subdivision 14.

2.3    Sec. 4. [216B.1641] VALUE OF SOLAR RATE.
2.4    Subdivision 1. Definition. For the purposes of this section, "solar photovoltaic
2.5device" has the meaning given in section 216C.06, subdivision 16, and must meet the
2.6requirements of section 216C.25.
2.7    Subd. 2. Applicability. (a) This section, as well as any rules adopted by the
2.8commission or the Department of Commerce to implement this section, shall apply:
2.9(1) beginning with the effective date of this section, to the two public utilities
2.10with the highest Minnesota retail electricity sales and the generation and transmission
2.11cooperative with the highest Minnesota wholesale electricity sales; and
2.12(2) beginning July 1, 2015, to all Minnesota electric utilities, including cooperative
2.13electric associations and municipal electric utilities.
2.14(b) Notwithstanding section 216B.164, an owner of a solar photovoltaic device may,
2.15with respect to the purchase price paid by a utility to an owner of a solar photovoltaic device,
2.16elect to be governed under this section or section 216B.164. All other provisions of section
2.17216B.164, except those in subdivision 3 and subdivision 4, paragraphs (a) to (c), shall
2.18apply to an owner of a solar photovoltaic device electing to be governed under this section.
2.19    Subd. 3. Interconnection. Utilities shall be required to interconnect with a solar
2.20photovoltaic device whose owner offers to provide available energy or capacity and elects
2.21to be governed under this section.
2.22    Subd. 4. Standard contract. The commission shall establish a statewide uniform
2.23form of contract that must be used by a purchasing utility an owner of a solar photovoltaic
2.24device who elects to be governed under this section. The term of a power purchase
2.25agreement entered into under this section must be no less than 20 years and must provide
2.26for payments of the value of solar rate as approved by the commission under this section.
2.27    Subd. 5. Purchases. The utility to which an owner of a solar photovoltaic device
2.28electing to be governed under this section is interconnected shall purchase, throughout
2.29the term of the power purchase agreement, all energy and capacity made available by the
2.30owner of the solar photovoltaic device. All purchases must be made at the value of solar
2.31rate approved by the commission under this section that is current as of the date the power
2.32purchase agreement is effective.
2.33    Subd. 6. Value of solar rate; calculation. By October 1, 2013, the Department of
2.34Commerce shall calculate the value of solar rate for each utility subject to the provisions
3.1of this section. The value of solar rate is expressed on a per kilowatt-hour basis and is
3.2equal to the sum of the following components:
3.3(1) line loss savings equal to the value of the average amount of electricity lost
3.4through transmission and distribution when electricity is generated by the utility's nonsolar
3.5photovoltaic generators;
3.6(2) transmission and distribution capacity savings equal to the value of delaying
3.7the need for capital investment in a utility's transmission and distribution system by
3.8contracting to purchase energy from solar photovoltaic devices;
3.9(3) energy savings equal to the reduction in a utility's wholesale energy costs realized
3.10as a result of energy purchases from solar photovoltaic devices;
3.11(4) generation capacity savings equal to the value of the benefit of the capacity
3.12added to the utility's system by solar photovoltaic devices;
3.13(5) fuel price hedge value equal to the value of eliminating price uncertainty
3.14associated with the utility's purchases of fuel for electricity generation;
3.15(6) environmental benefits equal to the premium retail customers are willing to pay
3.16to consume energy produced from renewable resources; and
3.17(7) economic development benefits equal to the net increase in local employment and
3.18taxes generated from the manufacture, operation, and maintenance of solar photovoltaic
3.19devices compared with the same measures associated with nonsolar photovoltaic devices.
3.20    Subd. 7. Value of solar rate; information. The Department of Commerce shall
3.21solicit information from each utility subject to the provisions of this section to assist it in
3.22calculating the value of solar rate. A utility shall provide the information requested by the
3.23department in a timely fashion.
3.24    Subd. 8. Value of solar rate; process. The Department of Commerce shall solicit
3.25comments and recommendations from utilities, ratepayers, and other interested parties
3.26regarding the calculation of the value of solar rate.
3.27    Subd. 9. Value of solar rate; adjustments. By January 1, 2015, and every January
3.281 thereafter through 2049, the commissioner shall make a determination as to whether
3.29the value of solar rate needs to be adjusted in order to reflect current conditions in energy
3.30markets or changes in the value of the components calculated in subdivision 6. In making
3.31that determination, the commissioner shall solicit comments and recommendations from
3.32interested parties in the same manner as required under subdivision 8. After considering
3.33the comments and recommendations, the commissioner may adjust the value of solar rate.
3.34    Subd. 10. Value of solar rate; billing. Notwithstanding section 216B.164, an
3.35owner of a solar photovoltaic device who elects to receive the value of solar rate for
3.36electricity generated by the system that is sold to a utility must be:
4.1(1) charged by the utility the applicable rate schedule for sales to that class of
4.2customer for all electricity consumed by the customer;
4.3(2) paid the value of solar rate by the utility for all electricity generated by the
4.4solar photovoltaic device;
4.5(3) provided by the utility with a monthly bill that contains, in addition to the
4.6amounts in clauses (1) and (2), the net amount owed to the utility or net credit realized by
4.7the owner for that month and on a year-to-date basis; and
4.8(4) provided by the utility with a meter that allows for the separate calculation of the
4.9amount of electricity consumed and generated at the property.
4.10    Subd. 11. Commission review; approval. (a) The commissioner shall submit the
4.11value of solar rate calculated under subdivision 6 and the comments and recommendations
4.12received under subdivisions 7 and 8 to the commission for its review and approval. The
4.13commission shall review the rate and the comments and recommendations and may, at its
4.14discretion, solicit additional comments and recommendations from utilities, ratepayers,
4.15and other interested parties regarding the calculation of the value of solar rate.
4.16(b) By January 1 of 2014, and each January 1 thereafter through 2049, the
4.17commission shall approve or modify the value of solar rate submitted to it by the
4.18commissioner. The commission shall, by order, direct all electric utilities subject to this
4.19section to begin paying the value of solar rate most recently approved by the commission
4.20to owners of solar photovoltaic devices who sign a new standard contract under this
4.21section on or after the first day of the first month following the effective date of the order.
4.22EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

4.23    Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.1691, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.24    Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) Unless otherwise specified in law, "eligible energy
4.25technology" means an energy technology that generates electricity from the following
4.26renewable energy sources:
4.27(1) solar;
4.28(2) wind;
4.29(3) hydroelectric with a capacity of less than 100 megawatts;
4.30(4) hydrogen, provided that after January 1, 2010, the hydrogen must be generated
4.31from the resources listed in this paragraph; or
4.32(5) biomass, which includes, without limitation, landfill gas; an anaerobic digester
4.33system; the predominantly organic components of wastewater effluent, sludge, or related
4.34by-products from publicly owned treatment works, but not including incineration of
4.35wastewater sludge to produce electricity; and an energy recovery facility used to capture
5.1the heat value of mixed municipal solid waste or refuse-derived fuel from mixed municipal
5.2solid waste as a primary fuel.
5.3    (b) "Electric utility" means a public utility providing electric service, a generation
5.4and transmission cooperative electric association, a municipal power agency, or a power
5.5district.
5.6    (c) "Total retail electric sales" means the kilowatt-hours of electricity sold in a year
5.7by an electric utility to retail customers of the electric utility or to a distribution utility
5.8for distribution to the retail customers of the distribution utility. "Total retail electric
5.9sales" does not include the sale of hydroelectricity supplied by a federal power marketing
5.10administration or other federal agency, regardless of whether the sales are directly to a
5.11distribution utility or are made to a generation and transmission utility and pooled for
5.12further allocation to a distribution utility.
5.13    (d) "Renewable energy credit" means a certificate of proof, issued through the
5.14accounting system approved by the commission under subdivision 4, attesting that one
5.15unit of electricity was generated and delivered by an eligible energy technology, and
5.16including all renewable and environmental attributes associated with the production of
5.17electricity from the eligible energy technology.
5.18EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

5.19    Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.1691, is amended by adding a
5.20subdivision to read:
5.21    Subd. 2f. Solar energy standard. (a) In addition to the requirements of subdivision
5.222a, each electric utility shall generate or procure sufficient electricity generated by solar
5.23energy to serve its retail customers in Minnesota or the retail customers of a distribution
5.24utility to which the electric utility provides wholesale electric service, so that at least the
5.25following standard percentages of the electric utility's total retail electric sales to retail
5.26customers in Minnesota are generated by solar energy by the end of the year indicated:

5.27	(1)	2016	0.52 percent
5.28	(2)	2020	1.56 percent
5.29	(3)	2025	4.02 percent
5.30	(4)	2030	10.06 percent

5.31(b) The solar energy standard established in this subdivision is subject to all the
5.32provisions of this section governing a utility's standard obligation under subdivision 2a.
5.33(c) Electricity generated by a solar energy project may apply towards a utility's
5.34solar energy standard.
6.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

6.2    Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.1691, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
6.3    Subd. 4. Renewable energy credits. (a) To facilitate compliance with this section,
6.4the commission, by rule or order, shall establish by January 1, 2008, a program for
6.5tradable renewable energy credits for electricity generated by eligible energy technology.
6.6The credits must represent energy produced by an eligible energy technology, as defined in
6.7subdivision 1. Each kilowatt-hour of renewable energy credits must be treated the same as
6.8a kilowatt-hour of eligible energy technology generated or procured by an electric utility if
6.9it is produced by an eligible energy technology. The program must permit a credit to be
6.10used only once. The program must treat all eligible energy technology equally and shall
6.11not give more or less credit to energy based on the state where the energy was generated or
6.12the technology with which the energy was generated. The commission must determine the
6.13period in which the credits may be used for purposes of the program.
6.14    (b) A renewable energy credit associated with electricity generated in Minnesota by
6.15an eligible energy technology is owned by the owner of the eligible energy technology
6.16facility that generated the electricity unless:
6.17    (1) the renewable energy credit is assigned to another entity by law;
6.18    (2) the renewable energy credit was transferred to another entity by contract
6.19executed prior to July 1, 2013; or
6.20    (3) the renewable energy credit was assigned to another entity by order of the
6.21commission prior to July 1, 2013.
6.22    (c) A renewable energy credit may be transferred only through a contract. A utility
6.23may not require transfer of a renewable energy credit as a condition for executing a
6.24contract required under sections 216B.1611 or 216B.164.
6.25    (d) In lieu of generating or procuring energy directly to satisfy the eligible energy
6.26technology objective or standard of this section, an electric utility may utilize renewable
6.27energy credits allowed under the program to satisfy the objective or standard.
6.28    (c) (e) The commission shall facilitate the trading of renewable energy credits
6.29between states.
6.30    (d) (f) The commission shall require all electric utilities to participate in a
6.31commission-approved credit-tracking system or systems. Once a credit-tracking system is
6.32in operation, the commission shall issue an order establishing protocols for trading credits.
6.33(e) (g) An electric utility subject to subdivision 2a, paragraph (b), may not sell
6.34renewable energy credits to an electric utility subject to subdivision 2a, paragraph (a),
6.35until 2021.
7.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

7.2    Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.23, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
7.3    Subd. 1a. Authority to issue refund. (a) On determining that a public utility has
7.4charged a rate in violation of this chapter, a commission rule, or a commission order, the
7.5commission, after conducting a proceeding, may require the public utility to refund to its
7.6customers, in a manner approved by the commission, any revenues the commission finds
7.7were collected as a result of the unlawful conduct. Any refund authorized by this section
7.8is permitted in addition to any remedies authorized by section 216B.16 or any other law
7.9governing rates. Exercising authority under this section does not preclude the commission
7.10from pursuing penalties under sections 216B.57 to 216B.61 for the same conduct.
7.11(b) This section must not be construed as allowing:
7.12(1) retroactive ratemaking;
7.13(2) refunds based on claims that prior or current approved rates have been unjust,
7.14unreasonable, unreasonably preferential, discriminatory, insufficient, inequitable, or
7.15inconsistent in application to a class of customers; or
7.16(3) refunds based on claims that approved rates have not encouraged energy
7.17conservation or renewable energy use, or have not furthered the goals of section 216B.164,
7.18216B.241 , 216B.411, or 216C.05.
7.19    (c) A refund under this subdivision does not apply to revenues collected more than
7.20six years before the date of the notice of the commission proceeding required under this
7.21subdivision.

7.22    Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.241, subdivision 5c, is amended to read:
7.23    Subd. 5c. Large solar electric generating plant. (a) For the purpose of this
7.24subdivision:
7.25(1) "project" means a solar electric generation project consisting of arrays of solar
7.26photovoltaic cells with a capacity of up to two megawatts located on the site of a closed
7.27landfill in Olmsted County owned by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and
7.28(2) "cooperative electric association" means a generation and transmission
7.29cooperative electric association that has a member distribution cooperative association to
7.30which it provides wholesale electric service in whose service territory a project is located.
7.31(b) A cooperative electric association may elect to count all of its purchases of
7.32electric energy from a project toward only one of the following:
7.33(1) its energy-savings goal under subdivision 1c; or
7.34(2) its energy objective or solar energy standard under section 216B.1691.
8.1(c) A cooperative electric association may include in its conservation plan purchases
8.2of electric energy from a project. The cost-effectiveness of project purchases may be
8.3determined by a different standard than for other energy conservation improvements
8.4under this section if the commissioner determines that doing so is in the public interest
8.5in order to encourage solar energy. The kilowatt hours of solar energy purchased by a
8.6cooperative electric association from a project may count for up to 33 percent of its one
8.7percent savings goal under subdivision 1c or up to 22 percent of its 1.5 percent savings
8.8goal under that subdivision. Expenditures made by a cooperative association for the
8.9purchase of energy from a project may not be used to meet the revenue expenditure
8.10requirements of subdivisions 1a and 1b.
8.11EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

8.12    Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216B.2411, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
8.13    Subd. 3. Other provisions. (a) Electricity generated by a facility constructed with
8.14funds provided under this section and using an eligible renewable energy source may be
8.15counted toward the renewable energy objectives solar energy standard, as applicable, in
8.16section 216B.1691, subject to the provisions of that section.
8.17(b) Two or more entities may pool resources under this section to provide assistance
8.18jointly to proposed eligible renewable energy projects. The entities shall negotiate and
8.19agree among themselves for allocation of benefits associated with a project, such as the
8.20ability to count energy generated by a project toward a utility's renewable energy objectives
8.21 solar energy standard, as applicable, under section 216B.1691. The entities shall provide a
8.22summary of the allocation of benefits to the commissioner. A utility may spend funds under
8.23this section for projects in Minnesota that are outside the service territory of the utility.

8.24    Sec. 11. [216B.2413] SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION INCENTIVE ACCOUNT.
8.25    Subdivision 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the terms defined in this
8.26subdivision have the meanings given them.
8.27(a) "Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission.
8.28(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce.
8.29(c) "Department" means the Department of Commerce.
8.30(d) "Gross annual retail electricity sales" means annual electric sales to all retail
8.31customers in a public utility's Minnesota service territory.
8.32(e) "Public utility" has the same meaning as provided in section 216B.02,
8.33subdivision 4.
9.1    Subd. 2. Account established; account management. A solar energy production
9.2incentive account is established as a separate account in the special revenue fund in the
9.3state treasury. The commissioner of management and budget shall credit to the account
9.4the amounts authorized under this section and appropriations and transfers to the account.
9.5Earnings, such as interest, dividends, and any other earnings arising from account assets,
9.6must be credited to the account. Funds remaining in the account at the end of a fiscal
9.7year are not canceled to the general fund but remain in the account. The commissioner
9.8shall manage the account.
9.9    Subd. 3. Purpose. The purpose of the account is to pay the solar energy
9.10production incentive to owners of qualified solar photovoltaic devices, including related
9.11administrative costs, under section 216C.411.
9.12    Subd. 4. Assessment. Beginning January 1, 2014, and each January 1 thereafter
9.13through January 1, 2049, the department shall assess each public utility an amount, not to
9.14exceed 1.33 percent of its gross annual retail electricity sales within the state during the
9.15preceding calendar year, as required to carry out the purpose of section 216C.411. Such
9.16assessments are not subject to the cap on assessments provided by section 216B.62, or
9.17any other law.
9.18EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

9.19    Sec. 12. [216C.411] SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION INCENTIVE.
9.20    Subdivision 1. Incentive payment; appropriation. (a) Incentive payments may be
9.21made under this section only to an owner of a solar photovoltaic device who has:
9.22(1) submitted to the commissioner, on a form prescribed by the commissioner, an
9.23application to receive the incentive; and
9.24(2) received from the commissioner in writing a determination that the solar
9.25photovoltaic device qualifies for the incentive.
9.26(b) There is annually appropriated from the solar energy production incentive
9.27account established under section 216B.2413 to the commissioner of commerce sums
9.28sufficient to make the payments required under this section.
9.29    Subd. 2. Eligibility window; payment duration. (a) Payments may be made
9.30under this section only for electricity generated from a solar photovoltaic device that is
9.31operational and generating electricity from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2049.
9.32(b) Payment of the incentive begins and runs consecutively from the date the solar
9.33photovoltaic device begins generating electricity.
10.1(c) A solar photovoltaic device may receive payments under this section for a period
10.2of 20 years. No payment may be made under this section for electricity generated after
10.3December 31, 2049.
10.4    Subd. 3. Amount of payment. (a) An incentive payment is based on the number
10.5of kilowatt hours of electricity generated. The per-kilowatt amount of the payment for
10.6each category of qualified solar photovoltaic device listed below is equal to the applicable
10.7reference price specified in this subdivision minus the value of solar rate determined by
10.8the commissioner of commerce under section 216B.1641.

10.9	Nameplate Capacity	Reference Price
10.10	Residential	....... cents
10.11	Non-residential:
10.12	under 25 megawatts	....... cents
10.13 10.14	rooftop, 25 kilowatts to 2 megawatts	....... cents
10.15 10.16	ground-mounted, 25 kilowatts to 2 megawatts	....... cents

10.17(b) By January 1, 2015, and every January 1 thereafter through 2049, the
10.18commissioner shall make a determination as to whether the reference price needs to
10.19be adjusted in order to reflect current conditions in energy markets. In making the
10.20determination, the commissioner shall solicit comments and recommendations from
10.21utilities, ratepayers, and other interested parties regarding the calculation of the reference
10.22price. After considering the comments and recommendations, the commissioner may
10.23adjust the reference price.
10.24(c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "reference price" means the lowest
10.25per-kilowatt price for electricity generated by a qualified solar photovoltaic system the
10.26commissioner determines is sufficient to provide an economic incentive that will result
10.27in the development of aggregate capacity in this state to meet the solar energy standard
10.28established in section 216B.1691, subdivision 2f.
10.29    Subd. 4. Additional payment; Made in Minnesota. (a) The commissioner of
10.30commerce shall determine an additional incentive amount to be paid to owners of solar
10.31photovoltaic devices that are "Made in Minnesota."
10.32(b) For the purposes of this subdivision:
10.33(1) "Made in Minnesota" means the manufacture in this state of solar photovoltaic
10.34modules:
10.35(i) at a manufacturing facility located in Minnesota that is registered and authorized
10.36to manufacture and apply the UL 1703 certification mark to those solar photovoltaic
10.37modules by Underwriters Laboratory, CSA International, Intertek, or an equivalent
10.38UL-approved independent certification agency;
11.1(ii) that bear UL 1703 certification marks from Underwriters Laboratory (UL), CSA
11.2International, Intertek, or an equivalent UL-approved independent certification agency,
11.3which marks must be physically applied to the modules at a manufacturing facility
11.4described in clause (1); and
11.5(iii) that are manufactured in Minnesota via manufacturing processes that must
11.6include tabbing, stringing, and lamination; or
11.7(iv) by interconnecting low-voltage DC photovoltaic elements that produce the final
11.8useful photovoltaic output of the modules.
11.9A solar photovoltaic module that is manufactured by attaching microinverters, DC
11.10optimizers, or other power electronics to a laminate or solar photovoltaic module that has
11.11received UL 1703 certification marks outside Minnesota from Underwriters Laboratory
11.12(UL), CSA International, Intertek, or an equivalent UL-approved independent certification
11.13agency is not "Made in Minnesota" under this subdivision.
11.14    (2) "Solar photovoltaic module" has the meaning given in section 116C.7791,
11.15subdivision 1.
11.16EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

11.17    Sec. 13. STUDY OF POTENTIAL FOR SOLAR ENERGY INSTALLATIONS
11.18ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
11.19(a) The commissioner of commerce shall contract with an independent consultant
11.20selected through a request for proposal process to produce a report analyzing the potential
11.21for electricity generation resulting from the installation of solar photovoltaic devices on
11.22and adjacent to public buildings in this state. The study must:
11.23(1) determine, for buildings identified under the process initiated in Laws 2001,
11.24chapter 212, article 1, section 3, commonly referred to as the B3 program, the amount
11.25of space available for the installation of solar photovoltaic devices and the maximum
11.26solar electricity generation potential; and
11.27(2) utilize existing data on energy efficiency potential developed under the B3
11.28program and determine how investments in energy efficiency for these buildings could
11.29be combined with solar photovoltaic systems to enhance a building's overall energy
11.30efficiency. The analysis must include a schedule for installing solar photovoltaic systems
11.31on public buildings at a rate of four percent of available space per year and must prioritize
11.32installations that result in the largest benefits with the shortest payback periods.
11.33(b) By January 1, 2014, the commissioner of commerce shall submit a copy of the
11.34report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with
11.35primary jurisdiction over energy policy and state government finance.
12.1EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

12.2    Sec. 14. SOLAR INTERCONNECTION STUDY.
12.3Each public utility, cooperative association, and municipal utility selling electricity
12.4shall, by November 1, 2013, provide to the commissioner of commerce an assessment
12.5of the capacity available on its electric distribution system for interconnecting solar
12.6photovoltaic devices installed on or adjacent to nonresidential buildings in the utility's
12.7service area. For each such potential interconnection point, the utility must calculate the
12.8maximum capacity of solar photovoltaic devices that could be installed on or adjacent to
12.9nearby nonresidential buildings, the amount of available capacity that could be installed
12.10without upgrading the utility's distribution system, and the cost of the upgrade necessary
12.11to accommodate the installation of the maximum capacity and lesser amounts.
12.12EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

12.13    Sec. 15. VALUE OF ON-SITE ENERGY STORAGE STUDY.
12.14The commissioner of commerce shall contract with an independent consultant
12.15selected through a request for proposal process to produce a report analyzing the potential
12.16costs and benefits of installing utility-managed energy storage devices in residential and
12.17commercial buildings in this state. The study must:
12.18(1) estimate the potential value of on-site energy storage devices as a
12.19load-management tool to reduce costs for individual customers and for the utility,
12.20including, but not limited to, reductions in energy, particularly peaking, costs, and
12.21capacity costs;
12.22(2) examine the interaction of energy storage devices with on-site solar photovoltaic
12.23devices; and
12.24(3) analyze existing barriers to the installation of on-site energy storage devices by
12.25utilities, and examine strategies and design potential economic incentives to overcome
12.26those barriers.
12.27By January 1, 2014, the commissioner of commerce shall submit the study to the chairs
12.28and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy
12.29policy and finance.

12.30    Sec. 16. VALUE OF SOLAR THERMAL STUDY.
12.31The commissioner of commerce shall contract with an independent consultant
12.32selected through a request for proposal process to produce a report analyzing the potential
12.33costs and benefits of expanding the installation of solar thermal projects, as defined in
13.1Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.2411, subdivision 2, in residential and commercial
13.2buildings in this state. The study must examine the potential for solar thermal projects
13.3to reduce heating and cooling costs for individual customers and to reduce costs at the
13.4utility level as well. The study must also analyze existing barriers to the installation of
13.5on-site energy storage devices by utilities, and examine strategies and design potential
13.6economic incentives to overcome those barriers. By January 1, 2014, the commissioner
13.7of commerce shall submit the study to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
13.8legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy policy and finance.
13.9EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.

13.10    Sec. 17. SEVERABILITY.
13.11 If any provision of this act is found to be unconstitutional and void, the remaining
13.12provisions of this act are valid.
13.13EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment."
13.14Amend the title accordingly