1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; providing factors to be considered in approving solar 
1.3 	photovoltaic modules for a public utility solar project; appropriating money. 
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. PUBLIC UTILITY SOLAR PROJECT.
 1.6 	(a) For the purposes of this section: (1) "project" means a public utility solar project 
1.7 	for an investor-owned utility, in partnership with the Minnesota Army National Guard, 
1.8 	consisting of arrays of solar photovoltaic modules with a capacity of up to ten megawatts 
1.9 	located at a military and civilian training facility in Morrison County; and (2) "utility" 
1.10 	means the public utility in whose service territory a project is located.
1.11 	(b) A utility must obtain approval from the Public Utilities Commission for the solar 
1.12 	photovoltaic modules to be installed at a project. In approving modules, the commission 
1.13 	may consider module performance, taking into account additional factors beyond a 
1.14 	calculation of lowest cost. The additional factors to be considered by the commission 
1.15 	include, but are not limited to:
1.16 	(1) the local economic benefits derived from the purchase and use of modules 
1.17 	manufactured in-state;
1.18 	(2) the manufacturer's and suppliers' total combined experience as supported by 
1.19 	evidence of years of solar manufacturing experience, manufacturing certifications, 
1.20 	component sourcing criteria, testing, and number of years of actual field experience;
1.21 	(3) the projected performance of the solar modules over an expected life of 30 
1.22 	years or more as supported by product design, third-party lab testing, and manufacturers 
1.23 	and component suppliers' field experience;
2.1 	(4) the projected durability, safety, and reliability of the solar modules over an 
2.2 	expected life of 30 years or more, as supported by product design, third-party lab testing, 
2.3 	and manufacturers' and component suppliers' field experience;
2.4 	(5) a minimum ten-year solar module workmanship warranty and 30-year solar 
2.5 	module power warranty, with a minimum warranted power performance of 80 percent in 
2.6 	year 30;
2.7 	(6) whether the solar modules comply with the "Made in USA" standard established 
2.8 	by the United States Federal Trade Commission because all or virtually all of the product's 
2.9 	significant parts and processing are of United States origin; and
2.10 	(7) a third-party certification supporting the environmental sustainability of module 
2.11 	component sources and manufacturing processes.

2.12 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

2.13 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.14 	$50,000 in fiscal year 2016 is appropriated from the general fund to the Public 
2.15 	Utilities Commission for costs associated with the evaluation required for a public utility 
2.16 	solar project under section 1.