Senate Finance Committee recommends passage of House File 2442 after amendment; committee debates community solar sunset and budget changes

Senator Friends on Thursday asked the Senate Finance Committee to recommend passage of House File 2442, the energy omnibus, which the committee approved as amended by an A31 amendment on a 6-5 roll-call vote.

The bill, as amended, makes targeted appropriations to the Department of Commerce and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), alters the way a pre-weatherization program is funded, authorizes new one-time grants from the Renewable Development Account (RDA) totaling $20 million, and includes a provision that sunsets the community solar garden program in 2030.

The bill matters because it packages fiscal changes and some policy decisions that affect Minnesota energy programs and ratepayers. Sponsors said the measure seeks to fund Commerce and the PUC while reducing upward pressure on electric bills; opponents raised concerns about timing of the community solar sunset and the effect of shifting weatherization funding.

Senator Friends, the bill sponsor, told the committee the A31 amendment was being updated to reference House File 2442 and asked members to adopt the amendment. "This bill comes to you as a compromise," Senator Friends said, adding that the measure emerged from the Senate Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee with bipartisan support and that he would carry the amended bill on the floor.

Dan Mueller, nonpartisan staff who…