MN HF780

Adds waste heat recovered and used as thermal energy to the definition of "energy conservation improvement" in Minnesota Statutes, allowing it to count toward energy savings goals.

Defines "waste heat recovered and used as thermal energy" as heat energy recovered from equipment, buildings, or industrial processes (including electric generation) that is distributed as hot water, chilled water, or steam to heat or cool buildings or processes, resulting in net reduction in natural gas or electric energy consumption.

Permits utilities to count demand-side natural gas or electric energy displaced by waste heat thermal energy systems toward their natural gas or electric energy savings goals.

Allows utilities and associations to include biomass-generated thermal energy programs in conservation plans to displace natural gas, fuel oil, or propane used to heat buildings in cities or on college or university campuses, subject to commissioner approval.

Permits electric utilities in areas without natural gas service to count biomass thermal energy savings toward electric energy goals using a conversion rate of one kilowatt-hour of savings for each 3,415 British thermal units of reduced propane or fuel oil consumption, if the commissioner determines it serves the public interest.