New legislation would create rebates for property owners who install GHPs
The Minnesota Geothermal Heat Pump Association (MGHPA) is working to include geothermal heat pump (GHP) technology as an “eligible renewable” in HF 843, a bill now under consideration by the state Senate. An omnibus employment, economic development, and energy bill, HF 843 was introduced by Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-District 58B. The legislation passed the Minnesota House of Representatives on April 24 by a vote of 73-56.
The state’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) requires that at least 20 percent of electricity sales in Minnesota originate from renewable sources by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025. In 2013, the state adopted a 1.5 percent solar energy standard for public utilities to promote solar energy development. The solar standard requires that Minnesota public utilities generate or procure at least 1.5 percent of retail electricity sales from solar sources by 2020. Public utilities must comply with the solar standard, in addition to Minnesota’s RES.