Bill Text: MN HF2786 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Biomethane Task Force created, and report required.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-06 - Introduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Policy [HF2786 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-HF2786-Introduced.html
1.2relating to transportation; motor vehicles; creating a Biomethane Task Force;
1.3requiring a report.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. BIOMETHANE TASK FORCE.
1.6 Subdivision 1. Definition. For the purposes of this section, "biomethane" has the
1.7meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.241, subdivision 5b, paragraph (b).
1.8 Subd. 2. Establishment; membership. The Biomethane Task Force is established.
1.9The task force shall consist of 18 members as follows:
1.10(1) one representative from the investor-owned utility with the greatest number of
1.11customers in Minnesota;
1.12(2) one representative each from the Department of Commerce, the Department of
1.13Transportation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Pollution Control Agency;
1.14(3) the director of the Travel Management Division of the Department of
1.15Administration, or the director's designee;
1.16(4) one representative from the University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts
1.17and Biosystems Engineering;
1.18(5) two representatives from companies whose business is biomethane project
1.19development. The companies should be either Minnesota-based or represented by a
1.20Minnesota representative if a national or international company;
1.21(6) one representative from a nongovernmental organization with biomethane
1.22expertise;
1.23(7) one representative from a nongovernmental organization with transportation
1.24policy expertise;
2.1(8) one representative of a natural gas pipeline operator;
2.2(9) one representative of a manufacturer of motor vehicles capable of operating
2.3on biomethane fuel;
2.4(10) one representative of a municipal solid waste hauler with experience using
2.5vehicles operating on biomethane as a transportation fuel;
2.6(11) one representative of a Minnesota city;
2.7(12) one representative of a Minnesota county;
2.8(13) one representative of an operator of a large-scale composting facility; and
2.9(14) one representative of an energy services company with experience in leveraging
2.10environmental credits for the use of biomethane as a transportation fuel.
2.11 Subd. 3. Appointment. The chairs of the senate and house of representatives
2.12committees with primary jurisdiction over transportation policy shall jointly appoint
2.13the task force members.
2.14 Subd. 4. Cochairs. The task force shall have two cochairs, one appointed by each
2.15of the appointing authorities established in subdivision 2.
2.16 Subd. 5. Charge. (a) The Biomethane Task Force shall identify barriers to the
2.17adoption of biomethane vehicles by state agencies, small and large private fleets, and
2.18Minnesota drivers at-large and develop strategies to be implemented over three-, five-, and
2.19ten-year time frames to overcome those barriers.
2.20(b) The task force shall consider and evaluate the data and information presented to
2.21it under subdivision 5 in presenting its findings and recommendations.
2.22(c) The task force shall consider the feasibility of a pilot project in which household
2.23organic waste is collected and processed into biomethane for use as motor vehicle fuel. If
2.24the task force finds a pilot project would be technically feasible, it shall identify barriers
2.25to the project, develop recommendations to overcome the barriers, and offer general
2.26recommendations on how the project could be implemented, including but not limited to
2.27whether a public-private partnership model would be appropriate and if so, which entities
2.28or types of entities should be included in the partnership.
2.29 Subd. 6. Data and analysis. The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency
2.30shall analyze statewide potential for biomethane generation and suggest appropriate
2.31penetration rate targets for biomethane as transportation fuel for passenger vehicles, small
2.32and large private fleets, and state and municipal government fleets. The commissioner
2.33shall analyze and report to task force members the environmental impacts and benefits of
2.34using biomethane as a transportation fuel option in different types of vehicles, including
2.35but not limited to air emissions from vehicles and potential water quality and other
2.36benefits of biomethane production.
3.1 Subd. 7. Expenses. Members of the task force are entitled to reimbursement
3.2for expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6. Member
3.3reimbursements shall be paid by the commissioner of commerce.
3.4 Subd. 8. Staff. The state agencies represented on the commission shall provide
3.5staff support.
3.6 Subd. 9. Report. The task force shall present its findings and recommendations in a
3.7report to the chairs of the senate and house of representatives committees with primary
3.8jurisdiction over transportation and energy policy by December 1, 2016.
3.9 Subd. 10. Expiration. The task force expires June 30, 2017.
3.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
1.3requiring a report.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. BIOMETHANE TASK FORCE.
1.6 Subdivision 1. Definition. For the purposes of this section, "biomethane" has the
1.7meaning given in Minnesota Statutes, section 216B.241, subdivision 5b, paragraph (b).
1.8 Subd. 2. Establishment; membership. The Biomethane Task Force is established.
1.9The task force shall consist of 18 members as follows:
1.10(1) one representative from the investor-owned utility with the greatest number of
1.11customers in Minnesota;
1.12(2) one representative each from the Department of Commerce, the Department of
1.13Transportation, the Department of Agriculture, and the Pollution Control Agency;
1.14(3) the director of the Travel Management Division of the Department of
1.15Administration, or the director's designee;
1.16(4) one representative from the University of Minnesota Department of Bioproducts
1.17and Biosystems Engineering;
1.18(5) two representatives from companies whose business is biomethane project
1.19development. The companies should be either Minnesota-based or represented by a
1.20Minnesota representative if a national or international company;
1.21(6) one representative from a nongovernmental organization with biomethane
1.22expertise;
1.23(7) one representative from a nongovernmental organization with transportation
1.24policy expertise;
2.1(8) one representative of a natural gas pipeline operator;
2.2(9) one representative of a manufacturer of motor vehicles capable of operating
2.3on biomethane fuel;
2.4(10) one representative of a municipal solid waste hauler with experience using
2.5vehicles operating on biomethane as a transportation fuel;
2.6(11) one representative of a Minnesota city;
2.7(12) one representative of a Minnesota county;
2.8(13) one representative of an operator of a large-scale composting facility; and
2.9(14) one representative of an energy services company with experience in leveraging
2.10environmental credits for the use of biomethane as a transportation fuel.
2.11 Subd. 3. Appointment. The chairs of the senate and house of representatives
2.12committees with primary jurisdiction over transportation policy shall jointly appoint
2.13the task force members.
2.14 Subd. 4. Cochairs. The task force shall have two cochairs, one appointed by each
2.15of the appointing authorities established in subdivision 2.
2.16 Subd. 5. Charge. (a) The Biomethane Task Force shall identify barriers to the
2.17adoption of biomethane vehicles by state agencies, small and large private fleets, and
2.18Minnesota drivers at-large and develop strategies to be implemented over three-, five-, and
2.19ten-year time frames to overcome those barriers.
2.20(b) The task force shall consider and evaluate the data and information presented to
2.21it under subdivision 5 in presenting its findings and recommendations.
2.22(c) The task force shall consider the feasibility of a pilot project in which household
2.23organic waste is collected and processed into biomethane for use as motor vehicle fuel. If
2.24the task force finds a pilot project would be technically feasible, it shall identify barriers
2.25to the project, develop recommendations to overcome the barriers, and offer general
2.26recommendations on how the project could be implemented, including but not limited to
2.27whether a public-private partnership model would be appropriate and if so, which entities
2.28or types of entities should be included in the partnership.
2.29 Subd. 6. Data and analysis. The commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency
2.30shall analyze statewide potential for biomethane generation and suggest appropriate
2.31penetration rate targets for biomethane as transportation fuel for passenger vehicles, small
2.32and large private fleets, and state and municipal government fleets. The commissioner
2.33shall analyze and report to task force members the environmental impacts and benefits of
2.34using biomethane as a transportation fuel option in different types of vehicles, including
2.35but not limited to air emissions from vehicles and potential water quality and other
2.36benefits of biomethane production.
3.1 Subd. 7. Expenses. Members of the task force are entitled to reimbursement
3.2for expenses under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6. Member
3.3reimbursements shall be paid by the commissioner of commerce.
3.4 Subd. 8. Staff. The state agencies represented on the commission shall provide
3.5staff support.
3.6 Subd. 9. Report. The task force shall present its findings and recommendations in a
3.7report to the chairs of the senate and house of representatives committees with primary
3.8jurisdiction over transportation and energy policy by December 1, 2016.
3.9 Subd. 10. Expiration. The task force expires June 30, 2017.
3.10EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective the day following final enactment.
