A bill for an act
relating to economic development; establishing the Energy Transition Legacy
Office; creating an advisory committee for transition communities and workers;
requiring the development of a state transition plan for communities and workers
impacted by the retirement of power plants; appropriating money; proposing coding
for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Electric generating unit" or "EGU" means a solid fuel-fired steam generating unit
that serves a generator that produces electricity for sale to the electric grid.
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(c) "Impacted community" means a municipality, tribal government, or county that is
the host of an energy power plant that has one or more electric generating units with a
projected or estimated retirement date.
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(d) "Impacted worker" means a Minnesota worker laid off from employment on or after
the effective date of a power plant retirement.
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(a) The Energy Transition Legacy Office is
established within the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The office
must remain in existence until all impacted communities are supported through energy
power plant retirements.
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(b) The director of the Energy Transition Legacy Office must be appointed by the
governor. The director must be qualified by experience in issues related to energy, economic
development, and the environment.
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(c) The office may employ staff necessary to carry out the duties of the office as provided
in this section.
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The purpose of the office is to:
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(1) serve impacted communities and transition workers through the retirement of power
plant units;
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(2) implement the recommendations in the final Minnesota energy transition legacy
plan;
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(3) improve communication among local, state, federal, and private entities regarding
the power plant retirement planning and process;
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(4) address local tax and fiscal issues related to the power plant retirement and develop
solutions to support communities and workers; and
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(5) drive the creation and implementation of economic support programs, including but
not limited to property tax revenue replacement, community energy transition programs,
and economic development tools for impacted communities and impacted workers.
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The office has the power and duty to:
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(1) administer legislatively created programs to support impacted communities, including
the community energy transition grant program under section 116J.55;
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(2) align and coordinate resources at local, state, and federal levels to support communities
that are subject to significant economic transition;
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(3) coordinate the development of statewide policy on impacted communities;
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(4) provide programming and resources to impacted communities;
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(5) support impacted workers through establishing benefits and educating workers on
applying for benefits;
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(6) act as a liaison between impacted communities, impacted workers, and relevant state
agencies;
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(7) assist relevant state agencies to address local tax, land use, economic development,
and fiscal issues related to the power plant retirement and develop solutions to support
communities and workers;
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(8) conduct a review of existing worker programs in impacted communities and identify
whether the programs adequately address the needs of workers;
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(9) support the work of advisory committee members;
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(10) monitor the utility transition efforts in other states and localities;
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(11) identify or estimate (i) the timing and location of facility closures and job layoffs,
and (ii) the impact on workers, businesses, and impacted communities;
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(12) maintain communication regarding closure dates with all relevant parties;
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(13) provide an annual report of the office's activities, in consultation with the advisory
committee; and
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(14) monitor and participate, as needed, in administrative proceedings that are relevant
to the purposes of the office, including matters before entities that include but are not limited
to the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of
Revenue.
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(a) Beginning January 15, 2023, and each year thereafter, the Energy
Transition Legacy Office must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy, economic development, and tax policy
and finance on the office's activities during the previous year.
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(b) The report must contain:
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(1) an analysis on (i) the timing and location of facility closures and job layoffs, and (ii)
data on the individual impacts on workers, businesses, and impacted communities;
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(2) suggested policy and programming to support impacted communities and impacted
workers;
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(3) information on the administration of the utility transition aid program and any other
grant programs administered by the office; and
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(4) any update on the implementation of the Minnesota energy transition legacy plan.
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The office may accept gifts and grants, which are
accepted on behalf of the state and constitute donations to the state. Funds received under
this subdivision are appropriated to the commissioner of employment and economic
development to support the purposes of the office.
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The Energy Transition Legacy Advisory Committee
is established to bring together stakeholders to develop and recommend a statewide energy
transition legacy plan. The advisory committee must provide a broad perspective to advise
on transition issues, established transition programs, economic initiatives, and transition
policy.
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(a) The advisory committee consists of 15 voting members and
six ex officio nonvoting members.
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(b) The voting members of the advisory committee must be appointed by the
commissioner of employment and economic development or as otherwise specified as
follows:
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(1) one member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
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(2) one member of the house, appointed by the speaker of the house;