Section 216C.435 Definitions

MINNESOTA STATUTES AND CODES

216C.435 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

For the purposes of this section and section 216C.436, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2.Authority.

"Authority" means a housing and redevelopment authority or economic development authority created pursuant to section 469.003, 469.004, or 469.091, a port authority pursuant to section 469.049, 469.1082, or special law, or another entity authorized by law to exercise the powers of an authority created pursuant to one of those sections.

Subd. 3.City.

"City" means a home rule charter or statutory city.

Subd. 4.Energy audit.

"Energy audit" means a formal evaluation of the energy consumption of a building by a certified energy auditor, whose certification is approved by the commissioner, for the purpose of identifying appropriate energy improvements that could be made to the building and including an estimate of the length of time a specific energy improvement will take to repay its purchase and installation costs, based on the amount of energy saved and estimated future energy prices.

Subd. 5.Energy improvement.

"Energy improvement" means:

(1) any renovation or retrofitting of a building to improve energy efficiency that is permanently affixed to the property and that results in a net reduction in energy consumption without altering the principal source of energy;

(2) permanent installation of new or upgraded electrical circuits and related equipment to enable electrical vehicle charging; or

(3) a renewable energy system attached to, installed within, or proximate to a building that generates electrical or thermal energy from a renewable energy source.

Subd. 6.Implementing entity.

"Implementing entity" means the local government or an authority designated by the local government by resolution to implement and administer programs described in section 216C.436.

Subd. 7.Local government.

"Local government" means a city, county, or town.

Subd. 8.Qualifying real property.

"Qualifying real property" means a single-family or multifamily residential dwelling, or a commercial or industrial building, that the implementing entity has determined, after review of an energy audit or renewable energy system feasibility study, can be benefited by installation of energy improvements.

Subd. 9.Renewable energy.

"Renewable energy" means energy produced by means of solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, or geothermal resources.

Subd. 10.Renewable energy system feasibility study.

"Renewable energy system feasibility study" means a written study, conducted by a contractor trained to perform that analysis, for the purpose of determining the feasibility of installing a renewable energy system in a building, including an estimate of the length of time a specific renewable energy system will take to repay its purchase and installation costs, based on the amount of energy saved and estimated future energy prices. For a geothermal energy improvement, the feasibility study must calculate net savings in terms of nongeothermal energy and costs.