6.3. ERMUSR 03-09-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING TO: FROM: ERMU Commission Tom Sagstetter – Conservation and Key Accounts Manager MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: March 9, 2020 6.3 SUBJECT: Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association 2021 Legislative Conference ACTION REQUESTED: No action requested BACKGROUND: Annually the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) holds alegislativerally at the State Capitol to provide municipal utilities an opportunity to engage with members of the legislature and agency leaders about issues impacting their communities. Due to continued concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that the State Capitol complex remains locked down, MMUA's Legislative Conference was held via Zoom on February 10, 2021. DISCUSSION: General Manager Slominski, Conservation & Key Accounts Manager Sagstetter, and Commissioner Stewart attended the meeting. The conference included a presentation by Laura Bishop, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency commissioner, who represented the Climate Change Subcabinet (CCS). The CCS is composed of 15 state agencies, departments, and boards working to identify policies and strategies that will put Minnesota back on track to meet or exceed its greenhouse gas reduction goals and achieve 100% clean energy by 2050. The legislative panel consisted of Representative Jamie Long, House Climate & Energy Committee Chair, and Senator David Senjem, Senate Energy & Utilities Committee Chair. Both discussed their thoughts on current bills pertaining to the items listed below. Finally, Jessica Burdette, Manager of the Department of Commerce Energy Regulation & Planning provided some of her insights on disconnections during the pandemic. Modernizing Conservation Improvement Program (Energy Conservation and Optimization) In the 2021session, MMUA is attempting to push theEnergy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act through as it was before priorities changed due the pandemic unfolding in early 2020. The current Conservation Improvement Programlegislation has exhausted much of the efficiency benefits in many communities and needsto increase the flexibility of the planning process and expand the efficiency tools to reach the required energy savings. The ECO Act would allow for multi-year planning processes, incorporate new technologies, and allow for efficient electrification. ______________________________________________________________________________ Page 1 of 2 377