Signed by Governor Mark Dayton

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to pass a bill that amends the state's solar energy incentive program.

Highlights:

• Establishes a program to offer solar energy production incentives for solar energy systems of no more than 40 kilowatts of direct current per premise (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes that the owner of a solar energy system is eligible to receive a production incentive for any additional solar energy systems constructed at the same customer location (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the program shall be operated for eight consecutive years with an increasing budget allocated for it in the last four years (Sec. 1). 

• Requires that the commissioner of commerce approve the plan to operate the program (Sec. 1).

• Requires that a public utility with more than 200,000 retail electric customers must generate at least 1.5% of their energy through solar power (Sec. 2).

• Requires a public utility with between 50,000 and 200,000 retail electric customers to meet at least 10 percent of the 1.5 percent goal (Sec. 2).

• Authorizes that this is effective the day following final enactment.

Full Bill Text