SF1937: House Energy Omnibus appropriations bill

The House Omnibus Jobs, Commerce, Energy, Labor and Industry, and Employment and Economic Development appropriations bill provides money for jobs and economic development makes changes to commerce, telecommunications, and energy policy. Hereinafter the bill will be referred to as the “Energy Omnibus Bill.”

The bill proposed to:

• exempt small electric cooperatives and small municipal electricity providers from meeting the energy saving goals of the Conservation Improvement Program
• eliminate the Renewable Development Fund created because of concerns about the Prairie Island nuclear dry storage casks and then uses that revenue to create a new undescribed legislative energy fund
• repeal the Made in Minnesota solar program
• politicize the appointment of commissioners to the Public Utilities Commission
• exempt petroleum pipelines from environmental review at the Public Utilities Commission
• prevent local communities from banning or taxing single use plastic bags
• jeopardize the $47 Million in VW settlement funds by mandating legislative control
• require legislative approval for any rules affecting the cost of construction greater than $1,000, including public health and safety rules.

With 76 “Yes” votes and 55 “No” votes the bill passed the House, as amended and was prepared for Conference Committee. After Conference Committee, the House repassed the Energy Omnibus bill, as amended by the Conference Committee. On May 15, 2017, Governor Dayton vetoed SF1937.

If you would like to let your Representative know what you think of this vote, you can send them a quick note by clicking HERE.