MN HF2877

Commissioner of commerce shall contract with an independent consultant through a request for proposal process to study the benefits, costs, and risks of authorizing Minnesota municipalities to implement community choice aggregation programs.

Study must examine existing community choice aggregation programs in the six states with enabling legislation and analyze municipal authorities, adoption methods, customer rates, renewable energy growth, energy supply mix, conservation investments, customer opt-out methods, impacts on utilities, and differences between Minnesota's regulated market and deregulated states.

Study must identify barriers to implementing community choice aggregation programs in Minnesota and recommend organizational structures, authorities, and policies for effective program implementation.

Report must be submitted to the chair and ranking minority members of the senate and house committees with primary jurisdiction over energy policy by January 15, 2015.

An unspecified amount from the general fund is appropriated for fiscal year 2015 to conduct the study.