Senate File 285 - Introduced
SENATE FILE
BY HOGG
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to energy efficiency in schools, and making
2 appropriations.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1611XS 82
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PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 279.65 NET METERING == ENERGY
1 2 COST AGGREGATION.
1 3 A school district may aggregate the electric energy costs
1 4 of one or more school buildings or school building complexes
1 5 located within the district, and may enter into an agreement
1 6 under chapter 28E to aggregate the purchasing of electricity
1 7 and conducting net metering of one or more school buildings or
1 8 school building complexes located within the district or
1 9 another school district within the state. For purposes of
1 10 this section, "net metering" means the monthly offset in
1 11 electric energy costs payable to an electric utility by the
1 12 excess of the amount of electricity produced over the monthly
1 13 amount consumed, as an alternative to the sale or transfer of
1 14 excess electricity produced beyond the needs of the school.
1 15 The utilities board shall adopt rules to administer this
1 16 section for individual generators up to two and one=half
1 17 megawatts, and in the aggregate up to the kilowatt hour
1 18 consumption of all participants.
1 19 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 286.1 BIODIESEL SCHOOL
1 20 TRANSPORTATION GRANT PROGRAM.
1 21 1. The Iowa energy center created under section 266.39C,
1 22 in coordination with the department of education, shall
1 23 establish and administer a biodiesel school transportation
1 24 grant program to assist school districts and nonpublic schools
1 25 in acquiring, converting to, or operating fuel=efficient
1 26 school buses utilizing biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel, as
1 27 those terms are defined in section 214A.1.
1 28 2. A biodiesel school transportation grant fund is created
1 29 in the office of the treasurer of state to be administered by
1 30 the Iowa energy center. The fund shall include moneys
1 31 appropriated or otherwise directed to the fund. Section 8.33
1 32 shall not apply to the moneys in the fund.
1 33 3. A school board, authorities in charge of a nonpublic
1 34 school, or a not=for=profit statewide school energy entity may
1 35 apply to the Iowa energy center for a grant under this section
2 1 by filing a completed application as directed by the Iowa
2 2 energy center that includes plans for utilization of the
2 3 funding received and an estimate of transportation cost
2 4 savings to be achieved. The Iowa energy center, in
2 5 coordination with the department of education, shall develop
2 6 grant approval criteria by rule.
2 7 4. A school district, nonpublic school, or entity
2 8 receiving a grant pursuant to this section shall assess the
2 9 impact of biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel utilization on
2 10 school transportation costs, and report results on an annual
2 11 basis to the department of education. The department of
2 12 education shall prepare a report based on this information and
2 13 shall submit the report to the senate and house of
2 14 representatives standing committees on education by January 1
2 15 annually.
2 16 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 286.2 BIODIESEL SCHOOL
2 17 TRANSPORTATION == APPROPRIATION.
2 18 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
2 19 state each fiscal year for the fiscal period beginning July 1,
2 20 2007, and ending June 30, 2010, to the Iowa energy center
2 21 established pursuant to section 266.39C, the sum of five
2 22 hundred thousand dollars, to be used for the biodiesel school
2 23 transportation grant program established in section 286.1.
2 24 Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this
2 25 section that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close
2 26 of each fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain
2 27 available for expenditure for the purposes designated.
2 28 2. This section is repealed June 30, 2010.
2 29 Sec. 4. Section 298.21, Code 2007, is amended by adding
2 30 the following new subsection:
2 31 NEW SUBSECTION. 4. To make improvements designed to
2 32 increase energy efficiency, including but not limited to the
2 33 installation of renewable, geothermal, and stored energy
2 34 systems.
2 35 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 473.21 GREEN SCHOOL BUILDINGS ==
3 1 APPROPRIATION.
3 2 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
3 3 state each fiscal year for the fiscal period beginning July 1,
3 4 2007, and ending June 30, 2010, to the energy loan fund
3 5 contained in section 473.20 the sum of one million dollars to
3 6 be used exclusively for loans to school districts, nonpublic
3 7 schools, or a not=for=profit statewide school energy entity to
3 8 implement energy conservation measures as defined in section
3 9 473.19 and green building design standards. For the purposes
3 10 of this section, "green building design standards" means
3 11 standards which conform to the United States green building
3 12 council leadership in energy and environmental design green
3 13 building rating standard, referred to as the silver standard.
3 14 The provisions of section 473.20 shall apply to loans made
3 15 pursuant to this section. Preference in making loans pursuant
3 16 to this section shall be given to school districts and
3 17 nonpublic schools containing schools which have been
3 18 determined to be experiencing a relatively high rate of energy
3 19 consumption based on the school district energy consumption
3 20 data collection efforts undertaken by the department of
3 21 education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007. Amounts
3 22 appropriated pursuant to this section shall be in addition to,
3 23 and shall not replace, funds otherwise appropriated to the
3 24 energy loan fund. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys
3 25 appropriated in this section that remain unencumbered or
3 26 unobligated at the close of each fiscal year shall not revert
3 27 but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes
3 28 designated.
3 29 2. A school district, nonpublic school, or entity
3 30 receiving a loan pursuant to this section shall monitor energy
3 31 utilization, assess the impact of energy conservation measures
3 32 which are implemented, and report results on an annual basis
3 33 to the department of education. The department shall by rule
3 34 establish a procedure for submission of energy bills for
3 35 consolidated billing analysis in coordination with a
4 1 not=for=profit statewide school energy entity. The department
4 2 of education shall prepare a report based on this information
4 3 and shall submit the report to the senate and house of
4 4 representatives standing committees on education by January 1
4 5 annually.
4 6 3. This section is repealed June 30, 2010.
4 7 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 476.48 RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR SCHOOLS
4 8 GRANT PROGRAM.
4 9 1. The Iowa energy center created under section 266.39C
4 10 shall establish and administer a renewable energy for schools
4 11 grant program to assist schools in this state in installing
4 12 renewable energy systems to provide electricity, energy
4 13 savings, energy production, building heat, and educational
4 14 opportunities to students in this state.
4 15 2. A renewable energy for schools grant fund is created in
4 16 the office of the treasurer of state to be administered by the
4 17 Iowa energy center. The fund shall include moneys
4 18 appropriated or otherwise directed to the fund. Section 8.33
4 19 shall not apply to the moneys in the fund.
4 20 3. A school board, authorities in charge of a nonpublic
4 21 school, or a not=for-profit statewide school energy entity may
4 22 apply to the Iowa energy center for a grant under this section
4 23 if all of the following apply:
4 24 a. The school board, authorities, or entity file a
4 25 completed application with the Iowa energy center as directed
4 26 by the Iowa energy center that includes all of the following:
4 27 (1) Written approval and agreement by the school board,
4 28 authorities, or entity to accept funds granted under this
4 29 section and to utilize funds granted only as provided in this
4 30 section.
4 31 (2) A description of the renewable energy system to be
4 32 installed and an estimate of the costs of the renewable energy
4 33 equipment, delivery, installation, and technical assistance.
4 34 (3) A plan to finance future maintenance to the renewable
4 35 energy system purchased pursuant to this section.
5 1 (4) Information concerning existing costs of electricity
5 2 for the school.
5 3 (5) An estimate of the cost or energy savings the
5 4 installation of the proposed renewable energy system may have
5 5 for the school.
5 6 (6) Any other information deemed necessary.
5 7 b. The school board or authorities designate a liaison or
5 8 responsible party who is an employee of the school or a
5 9 not=for=profit statewide school energy entity to coordinate
5 10 the application process with the Iowa energy center.
5 11 c. The school board or authorities agree to integrate
5 12 renewable energy education into the curriculum of the school,
5 13 with a particular emphasis on mathematics and science
5 14 instruction.
5 15 4. The Iowa energy center may approve up to ten
5 16 applications per fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, but shall
5 17 not approve more than one million dollars in grants in any
5 18 fiscal year. The Iowa energy center shall give priority to
5 19 schools based on timeliness of application, the adequacy of
5 20 the plan regarding future maintenance, the general financial
5 21 need of the school based on existing costs of electricity of
5 22 the school and the cost savings that could result from
5 23 installation, and whether the school board, authorities, or
5 24 entity has demonstrated its ability to sell excess electricity
5 25 generated by the proposed renewable energy system.
5 26 5. A grant issued to a school pursuant to this section
5 27 shall only be used for the purchase of solar energy conversion
5 28 system equipment, wind energy conversion system equipment,
5 29 geothermal energy system equipment, and expenses incurred for
5 30 delivery and installation of such equipment including
5 31 technical assistance.
5 32 6. A school receiving a grant pursuant to this section may
5 33 sell or otherwise transfer excess electricity that is
5 34 generated by the renewable energy system that is beyond the
5 35 needs of the school.
6 1 7. A school receiving a grant pursuant to this section, or
6 2 a not=for=profit statewide school energy entity, shall monitor
6 3 energy utilization, assess the impact of the installation of a
6 4 renewable energy system, and report results on an annual basis
6 5 to the department of education. The department of education
6 6 shall prepare a report based on this information and shall
6 7 submit the report to the senate and house of representatives
6 8 standing committees on education by January 1 annually.
6 9 8. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise
6 10 requires:
6 11 a. "Geothermal energy system" means a system that collects
6 12 and converts the geothermal properties of the ground into
6 13 building heat, water heating, or energy to generate
6 14 electricity.
6 15 b. "Not=for=profit statewide school energy entity" means
6 16 an entity that receives and analyzes energy usage data from
6 17 school districts and authorities in charge of a nonpublic
6 18 school to assist school districts and schools with the
6 19 assessment of the data for utilization in energy efficiency
6 20 efforts.
6 21 c. "Renewable energy system" means a solar energy system,
6 22 wind energy conversion system, or geothermal energy system.
6 23 d. "School" means a public or nonpublic school or that
6 24 portion of a public or nonpublic school that provides teaching
6 25 for any grade from kindergarten through grade twelve.
6 26 e. "Solar energy conversion system" means a system that
6 27 collects and converts incident solar radiation into energy to
6 28 generate electricity.
6 29 f. "Wind energy conversion system" means a system that
6 30 collects and converts wind into energy to generate
6 31 electricity.
6 32 Sec. 7. NEW SECTION. 476.48A RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR
6 33 SCHOOLS == APPROPRIATION.
6 34 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of the
6 35 state each fiscal year for the fiscal period beginning July 1,
7 1 2007, and ending June 30, 2012, to the Iowa energy center
7 2 established pursuant to section 266.39C, the sum of one
7 3 million dollars to be used for the renewable energy for
7 4 schools grant program established in section 476.48. Amounts
7 5 appropriated pursuant to this section shall be in addition to,
7 6 and shall not replace, funds otherwise appropriated to the
7 7 Iowa energy center. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys
7 8 appropriated in this section that remain unencumbered or
7 9 unobligated at the close of each fiscal year shall not revert
7 10 but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes
7 11 designated.
7 12 2. This section is repealed June 30, 2012.
7 13 Sec. 8. SCHOOL DISTRICT ENERGY CONSUMPTION == DATA
7 14 COLLECTION. There is appropriated from the general fund of
7 15 the state to the department of education for the fiscal year
7 16 beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, the
7 17 following amount, or so much thereof as is necessary, to be
7 18 used for the purposes designated:
7 19 For the collection of data relating to school energy
7 20 consumption:
7 21 .................................................. $ 300,000
7 22 The department shall coordinate with a not=for=profit
7 23 statewide school energy entity as defined in section 476.48 to
7 24 develop a web=based procedure for maintaining and analyzing
7 25 information on energy consumption by school district and
7 26 nonpublic school, including consumption by individual school
7 27 buildings or school building complexes, using data from
7 28 utility bills, with the intent of minimizing school district
7 29 submission efforts. The procedure shall include reporting
7 30 requirements applicable to school districts and nonpublic
7 31 schools regarding annual energy consumption. The report shall
7 32 be submitted to the senate and house of representatives
7 33 standing committees on education by January 1, 2009.
7 34 EXPLANATION
7 35 This bill provides several sources of grant and loan
8 1 funding for utilization by school districts, nonpublic
8 2 schools, and a not=for=profit statewide energy entity as
8 3 defined in the bill to maximize and monitor energy efficiency.
8 4 The bill establishes a mechanism whereby a school district
8 5 may aggregate electric energy costs of one or more buildings
8 6 or complexes within the district or with another school
8 7 district, in conducting net metering. Net metering is defined
8 8 in the bill as the monthly offset in electric energy costs
8 9 payable to an electric utility by the excess of the amount of
8 10 electricity produced over the monthly amount consumed. The
8 11 bill directs the utilities board to adopt rules to administer
8 12 the aggregation and net metering process.
8 13 The bill creates a biodiesel school transportation grant
8 14 program to be administered by the Iowa energy center
8 15 established in Code section 266.39C, in coordination with the
8 16 department of education. The objective of the program shall
8 17 be to assist school districts, nonpublic schools, or a
8 18 not=for=profit statewide energy entity in acquiring,
8 19 converting to, or operating fuel=efficient school buses
8 20 utilizing biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel. The bill
8 21 provides that a school district, nonpublic school, or entity
8 22 shall submit plans for utilization of the funding received and
8 23 an estimate of transportation cost savings to be achieved when
8 24 submitting an application, and if awarded a grant shall report
8 25 the impact of biodiesel or biodiesel blended fuel utilization
8 26 on school transportation costs annually to the department of
8 27 education. The department of education shall prepare a report
8 28 based on this information and shall submit the report to the
8 29 senate and house of representatives standing committees on
8 30 education by January 1 annually. The bill establishes a
8 31 biodiesel school transportation grant fund, and appropriates
8 32 annually from the general fund of the state to the Iowa energy
8 33 center $500,000 for the grant program.
8 34 The bill expands school bonding authority to include
8 35 improvements designed to increase energy efficiency, including
9 1 but not limited to the installation of renewable, geothermal,
9 2 and stored energy systems.
9 3 The bill appropriates $1 million annually for three fiscal
9 4 years beginning July 1, 2007, to the energy loan fund
9 5 contained in Code section 473.20, to be used exclusively for
9 6 loans to school districts, nonpublic schools, or a
9 7 not=for=profit statewide energy entity to implement energy
9 8 conservation measures and green building design standards.
9 9 The bill defines "green building design standards" to refer to
9 10 standards which conform to the United States green building
9 11 council leadership in energy and environmental design green
9 12 building rating standard, referred to as the silver standard.
9 13 The bill specifies that preference in making the loans shall
9 14 be given to school districts and nonpublic schools containing
9 15 schools which have been determined to be experiencing a
9 16 relatively high rate of energy consumption based on the school
9 17 district energy consumption data. A reporting process similar
9 18 to that previously explained with reference to the biodiesel
9 19 school transportation grant and renewable energy for schools
9 20 grant is provided.
9 21 The bill provides for a renewable energy for schools grant
9 22 program to assist public and nonpublic schools, or a
9 23 not=for=profit statewide school energy entity, in the
9 24 installation of renewable energy systems to generate
9 25 electricity, energy savings, energy production, building heat,
9 26 and provide education. The Iowa energy center shall
9 27 administer the program and approve grants up to $1 million per
9 28 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007. The bill makes an
9 29 appropriation of $1 million each fiscal year for five years to
9 30 the Iowa energy center for deposit into a renewable energy for
9 31 schools grant fund to administer the program.
9 32 Application criteria are specified, and include among other
9 33 criteria a description of the renewable energy system to be
9 34 installed and an estimate of the costs of the renewable energy
9 35 equipment, delivery, installation, and technical assistance, a
10 1 plan to finance future maintenance to the renewable energy
10 2 system purchased, information concerning existing costs of
10 3 electricity for the school, and an estimated cost or energy
10 4 savings. The bill states that agreement shall also be made by
10 5 an applicant to integrate renewable energy education into the
10 6 curriculum of the school, with a particular emphasis on
10 7 mathematics and science instruction. The bill specifies a
10 8 prioritization process for grant approvals, and restricts
10 9 utilization of grant funds to the purchase of solar energy
10 10 conversion system equipment, wind energy conversion system
10 11 equipment, geothermal energy conversion system equipment, and
10 12 contains a reporting process similar to that applicable to the
10 13 biodiesel school transportation grant program.
10 14 The bill additionally appropriates $300,000 for the fiscal
10 15 year beginning July 1, 2007, to the department of education
10 16 for use in collecting data relating to school district energy
10 17 consumption. The bill directs the department to coordinate
10 18 with a not=for=profit statewide school energy entity to
10 19 develop a web=based procedure for maintaining and analyzing
10 20 information on energy consumption by school districts and
10 21 nonpublic schools, including consumption by individual school
10 22 buildings or school building complexes, utilizing data from
10 23 utility bills, with the intent of minimizing school district
10 24 submission efforts and specifying reporting requirements
10 25 applicable to school districts and nonpublic schools.
10 26 LSB 1611XS 82
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