1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; establishing grant program for renewable energy projects; 
1.3 	appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM.
 1.6 	(a) The commissioner of commerce shall establish a program to award grants to 
1.7 	energy projects that meet the following conditions:
1.8 	(1) the project qualifies as a community-based energy development (C-BED) project, 
1.9 	as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.1612, subdivision 2, paragraph (g);
1.10 	(2) for wind projects, the project must be located in an area where the measured 
1.11 	wind resource is Class 4 or above;
1.12 	(3) the project begins commercial operation after July 1, 2009;
1.13 	(4) the project does not receive renewable energy payment incentives under 
1.14 	Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.41; and
1.15 	(5) the project meets any other conditions established under the American Recovery 
1.16 	and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5, for use of these funds.
1.17 	(b) The department shall develop an application form, application review procedures, 
1.18 	criteria that projects must meet in order to be considered for a grant award, procedures 
1.19 	and guidelines for project monitoring and evaluation, and other administrative procedures 
1.20 	necessary to fully implement a grant program.
1.21 	(c) The maximum grant to a project is $500,000.
1.22 	(d) No more than two projects in a single county may receive a grant under this 
1.23 	section.
2.1 	(e) No C-BED qualifying owner may financially participate in more than one project 
2.2 	that receives a grant under this section.
2.3 	(e) Grant awards must be geographically dispersed throughout the state.

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

2.5 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.6 	$15,000,000 is appropriated from federal stimulus funding received by the Office 
2.7 	of Energy Security from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public 
2.8 	Law 111-5, to the commissioner of commerce for grants to renewable energy projects, 
2.9 	as provided in section 1.

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