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Committee advances discussion on large-building performance standards; members press on metrics and costs
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Summary
Representative Jones’ House File 3179 would direct Commerce to set energy-use (EUI) targets for large buildings and aim for deep greenhouse gas reductions; witnesses praised BPS as an effective policy but members pressed on how EUI maps to GHG targets, cost implications and program supports. The bill was laid over.
Representative Jones presented House File 3179 to the Energy Finance and Policy Committee on April 14, proposing building performance standards for large buildings that would require Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets in five‑year increments and aim toward a 90% portfolio greenhouse‑gas reduction by 2045 (from 2005 levels).
Jones told the committee the proposal covers roughly 6,000–7,000 large buildings and couples long-term targets with grant support and off-ramps for distressed properties. Will Nissen, director of policy at the Center for Energy and Environment, testified that Minnesota’s existing benchmarking data and utility programs provide a foundation for a BPS, but cautioned that targets must be “reasonable and achievable” and paired with technical and financial resources. Marshall Duobalkind of the Institute for Market Transformation said BPS policies in other jurisdictions are producing measurable savings and compliance incentives.
Members focused questions on choice of metric and distributional effects. Representative Sexton asked how an energy-based metric (EUI) connects to the bill’s greenhouse‑gas reduction target; Jones said the department would model emissions factors and use benchmarking to translate energy targets into GHG outcomes. Representative Murphy pressed for cost estimates and who bears upgrade costs; proponents replied there is no single “average building” and many efficiency opportunities occur as equipment reaches end of life. Representative Jones said grants and utility programs would help with retrofits.
Committee members asked for follow-up on cost estimates, metric conversions between energy and GHG, and protections for financially distressed building owners. The bill was laid over to allow further modeling and stakeholder engagement.
