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

1.5 	Section 1. RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANTS.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.7 	the meanings given.
1.8 	(b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of commerce.
1.9 	(c) "Department" means the Department of Commerce.
1.10 	(d) "Energy conservation improvement" means a project that results in a net reduction 
1.11 	in energy use.
1.12 	(e) "Principal residence" means property classified as class 1a or 1b under Minnesota 
1.13 	Statutes, section 273.13, subdivision 22, and the house portion of property classified as 
1.14 	class 2a under Minnesota Statutes, section 273.13, subdivision 23.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Establishment. The commissioner must establish a residential energy efficiency 
1.16 	grant program in the Department of Commerce to provide grants to homeowners to make 
1.17 	energy conservation improvements that reduce a home's energy consumption.
1.18 		Subd. 3.Application. An application for a grant under this program must be made to 
1.19 	the commissioner on a form developed by the commissioner. The commissioner must 
1.20 	develop procedures to (1) solicit and review applications, and (2) award grants under this 
1.21 	section.
2.1 		Subd. 4.Eligible applicants. An applicant for a grant under this section:
2.2 	(1) must be a Minnesota resident who owns a home that is the owner's principal residence, 
2.3 	and in which all energy conservation improvements to be supported by the grant are to be 
2.4 	installed; and
2.5 	(2) may also receive financial assistance from a utility or another source for the same 
2.6 	energy conservation improvement for which a grant under this section is sought.
2.7 		Subd. 5.Eligible expenditures. Appropriations made to support the activities of this 
2.8 	section must be used only to:
2.9 	(1) provide grants under this section; and
2.10 	(2) reimburse the department's reasonable expenses to administer this section.
2.11 		Subd. 6.Grant amount. A grant awarded under this section must not exceed the lesser 
2.12 	of $2,000 or 34 percent of the total cost of the energy conservation improvements made in 
2.13 	the home.

2.14 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.
 2.15 	(a) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.16 	commissioner of commerce for the residential energy efficiency grant program under section 
2.17 	1.
2.18 	(b) $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 is appropriated from the general fund to the 
2.19 	commissioner of commerce to supplement funds made available to the state by federal law 
2.20 	to weatherize the residences of low-income persons, as provided in Minnesota Statutes, 
2.21 	section 216C.264.