The office is authorized to:
- administer programs to support impacted communities and impacted workers;
- coordinate local, state, and federal resources to support impacted communities and impacted workers;
- coordinate the development of statewide policies addressing impacted communities and impacted workers;
- deliver programs and resources to impacted communities and impacted workers;
- support impacted workers by establishing benefits and educating impacted workers on applying for benefits;
- act as a liaison among impacted communities, impacted workers, and state agencies;
- assist state agencies to (i) address local tax, land use, economic development, and fiscal issues related to an impacted facility's retirement, and (ii) develop strategies to support impacted communities and impacted workers;
- review existing programs supporting impacted workers and identify gaps that need to be addressed;
- support activities of the energy transition advisory committee members;
- monitor transition efforts in other states and localities;
- identify impacted facility closures and estimate job losses and the effect on impacted communities and impacted workers;
- maintain communication with all affected parties regarding closure dates; and
- monitor and participate in administrative proceedings that affect the office's activities, including matters before the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Revenue, and other entities.
Beginning January 15, 2023, and each year thereafter, the Energy Transition Office must submit a written report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy, economic development, and tax policy and finance on the office's activities during the previous year.
The report must contain:
- a list of impacted facility closures, projected associated job losses, and the effect on impacted communities and impacted workers;
- recommendations to support impacted communities and impacted workers;
- information on the administration of assistance programs administered by the office; and
- updates on implementation of the Minnesota energy transition plan.