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IUEK'T-8. Energy Conservation and Production (C) <br />The League supports legisiou providing incentives for energy <br />,.>na„rt{,,., 1n iatherh the ouhlie and nrivate sectors. <br />Overall energy conservation strategies involving the public, private, <br />commercial, and industrial sectors are being developed by cities based on the <br />rationale that conservation efforts achieve the greatest energy savings at the <br />lowest cost. <br />The League believes that a city's individual energy conservation strategy <br />can be accomplished if the Legislature permits or establishes come of the <br />following measures: <br />1. Retrofit of Local Government Buildings. Local governments and school <br />districts operate nearly 8,000 buildings in Minnesota. Possible energy savings <br />in this sector range from 16 to 67 percent of current energy consumption by <br />implementing operation maintenance changes and capital improvements programs. <br />The League recommends support of the use of special levies to local <br />governments for implementation of energy conservation measures, including <br />building energy audits. This special levy could be designed to complement 1983 <br />legislation authorizing 10-year installment payment contracts for capital <br />equipment or services intended to improve the energy efficiency of municipally <br />owned buildings. It would also supplement the existing special-purpose capital <br />expenditure levy law available now on]- to school districts. <br />2. District Heating. To promote statewide applications of district <br />:seating technology and to allow communities to make most efficient use of the <br />State District Heating Bond Program, the. League recommends the following; �..' <br />a) The Legislature should provide additional funds or the ability to <br />special levy for conducting district heating fea:ibilfty studies at the <br />community level; <br />b) The Legislature should strongly encourage consideration of district <br />heating potential in the power plant siting process. <br />c) The Legislature should continue to allow use of the State District <br />Heating Bond Program for renovation of existing district heating systems. <br />d) Repayment of state bond issues would follow repayment of local <br />obligations. <br />3. Low and Moderate Income Energy Assistance. Rising energy costs will <br />continue to place a burden on the economic vitality of communities in Minnesota. <br />The League recommends: <br />a) continuation of the fuel assistance program for low-income households, <br />with expanded services to train recipients 1n energy conuervation practices and <br />with a requirement of recipient participation in weatherization programs if the <br />recipient is the owner; <br />b) support for weatherization programs operated through cities, counties, <br />and CAP agencies, and; <br />-40- <br />