6.1.A. ERMUSR 05-10-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7‘e everete zeeeetr Pliat Vol. 15, No. 7 April 22, 2016 House Budget Bills Take Shape On Tuesday, the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Committee passed its omnibus bill, which contains appropriations and policy provisions related to energy and economic development. The bill includes $15 million for the Border to Border Broadband Grant Program. In terms of grant funding, the bill now defines"underserved" as having access to broadband at speeds of 10 MBS down and 3 MBS up,but less than 25 MBS down and 3 MBS up. "Unserved"areas are defined as lacking access to broadband at speeds of 10/3. It also provides incumbent providers with the right of first refusal on grant applications; a provision that has met vocal opposition. There are only a few energy policy measures included in the bill. They would: • Discontinue Xcel Energy's nuclear cask payments to the Renewable Development Fund when $10 million per cask is reached • Set regulations for marketing materials related to Xcel's Community Solar program • Prohibit the state from spending money on a state implementation plan for the federal Clean Power Plan until the Supreme Court stay is lifted • Change the membership of the Public Utilities Commission to include one commissioner from each congressional district and one at-large member • Exempt combined heat and power facilities over 50 MW in investor-owned utility service territories only from having to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. • Allow municipal and cooperative utilities to modify their CIP energy savings goals and count infrastructure savings without achieving 1% customer-side savings On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee combined this bill with the agriculture and environment omnibus bills into HF 3931. The House is assembling three large omnibus bills, unlike the single supplemental budget bill being developed in the Senate. Additionally, the Senate's bill is purely appropriations, whereas the House bills contain policy changes. Due to the vast discrepancies in the House and Senate bills and processes, it is unlikely that any of the policy provisions contained therein will become law this session. MMUA staff will continue to monitor the progress of the omnibus bills. Senate Tax Committee Discusses Utility Property Tax Reform (Again) On Thursday, the Senate Tax Committee heard an updated proposal from Chairman Rod Skoe (DFL-Clearbrook) to modify the property taxation of electric utilities. Last year, Sen. 220