| Committee/Agency Jurisdiction:
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Energy Policy and Finance
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| Note:
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The Minn. Dept. of Commerce must conduct this study itself or contract with an outside organization.
"Thermal energy network" means a project that provides heating and cooling to multiple buildings connected via underground piping containing fluids that, in concert with heat pumps, exchange thermal energy from the earth, underground or surface waters, wastewater, or other heat sources.
The study must identify areas more and less suitable for deployment of thermal energy networks statewide; and identify potential barriers to the deployment of thermal energy networks and potential ways to address the barriers. In determining site suitability, the study must consider: (1) geologic or hydrologic access to thermal storage; (2) the existing built environment, including but not limited to age, density, building uses, existing heating and cooling systems, and existing electrical services; (3) the condition of existing natural gas infrastructure; (4) road and street conditions, including planned replacement or maintenance; (5) local land use regulations; (6) area permitting requirements; and (7) whether the area is an environmental justice area.
"Environmental justice area" means one or more census tracts in Minnesota in which, based on the most recent decennial census data published by the United States Census Bureau, (i) 40 percent or more of the population is nonwhite; (ii) 35 percent or more of the households have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; or (iii) 40 percent or more of the population over the age of five has limited English proficiency; or located within Indian Country.
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