1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to energy; renewables; establishing a green energy and development 
1.3 	demonstration project and related regulations; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. GREEN ENERGY AND DEVELOPMENT DEMONSTRATION 
1.6 	PROJECT.
 1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms 
1.8 	have the meanings given them.
1.9 	(b) "Green energy" means energy generated by an eligible energy technology of the 
1.10 	type specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.1691, subdivision 1.
1.11 	(c) "Low-income" means a person eligible for the low-income home energy 
1.12 	assistance program under Minnesota Statutes, section 216C.02, subdivision 1.
1.13 		Subd. 2.Project established; objectives. The commissioners of commerce and 
1.14 	employment and economic development shall establish a green energy and development 
1.15 	demonstration project. The purpose of the project is to develop and implement an energy 
1.16 	conservation business model that creates jobs in high unemployment areas and reduces 
1.17 	the cost of residential heating in low-income households in north central Minnesota by 
1.18 	manufacturing and installing solar panels and implementing weatherization outputs.
1.19 		Subd. 3.Project outcomes. The green energy and development demonstration 
1.20 	project under this section shall:
1.21 	(1) target the American Indian community for employment opportunities, business 
1.22 	development, economic development, workforce development, improved quality of living, 
1.23 	increases in expendable income due to energy conservation, and revenue retention;
1.24 	(2) alleviate the impact of reduced federal heating and energy assistance;
2.1 	(3) increase self-sufficiency in low-income households;
2.2 	(4) decrease dependency on nonrenewable energy sources;
2.3 	(5) increase the use of renewable energy resources;
2.4 	(6) enhance local economies with living wage jobs;
2.5 	(7) provide on-going workforce training opportunities that ensure well-trained and 
2.6 	qualified solar panel installers;
2.7 	(8) establish a sustainable economic engine for green energy tools and instruments; 
2.8 	and
2.9 	(9) educate the public on the benefits of green energy.
2.10 		Subd. 4.Appropriation; uses. (a) $1,070,000 in fiscal year 2015 is appropriated 
2.11 	from the general fund to the commissioners of commerce and employment and economic 
2.12 	development to support the green energy and development demonstration project under 
2.13 	this section. The appropriation shall be distributed as follows:
2.14 	(1) $700,000 for the purchase of 100 solar panels for low-income housing units in 
2.15 	the Leech Lake Housing Authority stock;
2.16 	(2) $250,000 for small business seed funding by Rural Renewable Energy Alliance;
2.17 	(3) $100,000 for additional training and energy conservation workforce 
2.18 	development; and
2.19 	(4) $20,000 for creation of a management database that tracks and monitors green 
2.20 	energy and development demonstration project outcomes, including: (i) training and 
2.21 	certifications, (ii) installation of solar panels on housing units, and (iii) overall energy 
2.22 	conservation.
2.23 	(b) The appropriation under this section does not cancel to the general fund, but 
2.24 	is available until spent.