6.1. ERMUSR 04-12-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vol. 14, No. 6 March 18, 2011 Most utilities have never considered their state-mandated Conservation Improvement Programs (CIP a jobs program. So it was with some surprise that the subject of jobs was much of the focus of a March 15 CIP 'stakeholder' meeting, held at the behest of the Senate Energy. Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. The Committee had previously discussed CIP and there seemed to be general agreement that it made sense to get people together and see if certain items could be agreed on. Perhaps reflecting the depth and complexity of the issues involved, little was decided at the meeting. It seemed that most people (including MMUA's Bill Black, Bob Jagusch and other municipal reps) left the room at least a little disappointed, and wondering where this issue will go next. Two more CIP-related bills were introduced yesterday, both in the House: HF 1189 and HF 1193 the second of which relates directly to cooperative and municipal CIP. MMUA is digesting the contents of these two bills now. The good news is that the Minnesota Office of Energy Security(OES) has signaled its willingness to work with utilities on a number of issues that the utilities feel will make CIP "sustainable' for the long-term. MMUA will keep you updated on this issue as developments occur. CIP is one issue on the table for discussion with legislators at the MMUA Winter Legislative Conference March 30-April 1. Bill Grant, formerly of the Izaak Walton League and now head of OES, will be our keynote speaker at 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 30. Grant is expected to outline the Governor's energy proposals, where the state is going, and the municipal role. The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan is having repercussions around the globe. In Minnesota, the Legislature has approved two very short but very big bills (HF 9 SF 4 repealing the state's ban on new nuclear plants. The bill is now in a conference committee to resolve differences between Senate and House versions. Even those who were 'bullish' on the chances of Gov. Mark Dayton signing a nuclear bill, however, are no longer radiating confidence. The real negotiation here is not between House and Senate conferees but with the Governor's office, which wants three things: Prohibition on creation of plutonium; Rate-payer protection for construction of future facilities; Triennial reports to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on financing long-term (up to 200 years)in-state waste storage. Also passed by both houses, but in identical language, is a bill (HF7 SF86 repealing the state's moratorium on constructOn of new coal plants, or importaUOn or power into the state trom new coal