Bill would push utilities to conserve

03/30/2007

Minnesota gas and electric utilities would have to undertake efforts to decrease their sales by 1.5 percent a year under energy-conservation legislation that overwhelmingly passed the state Senate on Friday.


Star Tribune
Last update: March 30, 2007


Minnesota gas and electric utilities would have to undertake efforts to decrease their sales by 1.5 percent a year under energy-conservation legislation that overwhelmingly passed the state Senate on Friday.

By 2025, the measure would bring a 24 percent reduction in the state's carbon dioxide emissions linked to global warming, said Senate sponsor Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis. Combined with renewable energy standards for electric utilities already signed into law this year, the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions would reach 42 percent by 2025, he added.

"Once again, Minnesota is leading the nation in forward-looking energy legislation," Dibble said in a news release. "Energy conservation programs more than pay for themselves and save everyone money by reducing energy costs."

The bill, Senate File 997, would require utilities to file new energy conservation plans by June 2008 and address the goals beginning in 2009. It also would allow assessments of up to $3 million a year from the utilities for state-commissioned research into the best ways to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.

And it authorizes the state Public Utilities Commission to study and establish standards for the "decoupling" of utilities' sales volume and profits, eliminating financial disincentives for conserving energy.

The bill passed 64 to 1, with only Sen. Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, voting no. A companion bill is awaiting action on the House floor.