SB 458 - The act creates the Green Jobs-Green Missouri Act. The Department of Natural Resources shall administer the Green Jobs-Green Missouri Program that provides: loans to homeowners and small business owners for energy improvement projects; and training for green energy workforce development.
The Department shall promulgate rules for the energy improvement loans, which shall include cost-effectiveness and eligibility standards. Loan amounts may not exceed $13,000 for residential properties or $26,000 for non-residential properties unless the anticipated project payback period is less than 15 years, in which case the loan maximums increase to $25,000 and $50,000 respectively.
The Department is required to create a loan repayment mechanism whereby the loan recipient makes the loan repayments through a separate charge attached to the recipient's electric or gas bill. The utility collects the charge and remits it to the Department of Natural Resources on behalf of the customer. The amount of the monthly charge must not exceed 1/12th of the anticipated amount of annual energy savings cost from the project.
The act directs the Public Service Commission (PSC) to develop rules to implement the on-bill loan repayment mechanism. The utilities must file tariffs for the mechanism. The act initially limits the amount of customer participation and the Department of Natural Resources must petition the PSC to increase the limit, which the PSC must do unless it determines that significant harm from the program has occurred to the utility. The PSC may suspend a utility's participation in the on-bill recovery mechanism if the PSC determines after a hearing that there has been a significant increase in arrears or disconnections as a result of the mechanism. The act contains certain provisions that require customers who participate in the on-bill loan repayment mechanism to be treated the same as other utility customers and requires certain notifications to be provided to participating customers. Complaints about the on-bill loan repayment mechanism must be handled by the Department of Natural Resources and must not be treated as a complaint about the utility by the PSC.
The Department of Natural Resources may contract with certain employment and job-skill training providers to provide training and workforce development support for the Green Jobs-Green Missouri program. The Department must develop training standards. The Department must facilitate coordination between related workforce organizations to facilitate job placement for individuals who receive training under the program.
The act creates the Green Jobs-Green Missouri Advisory Council, which provides guidance to the Department of Natural Resources on the implementation of the act. The composition of the council is listed in the act. The council must meet at least 3 times a year.
The act creates the Green Jobs-Green Missouri Revolving Loan Fund, into which the principal and interest on loan repayments must be deposited.
The Department must report annually to the Governor and certain members of the General Assembly on the activities and status of the Green Jobs-Green Missouri Program. The act prescribes certain information to be included in the report.
The act requires notification to prospective buyers of real property on which a Green Jobs-Green Missouri loan repayment mechanism is in effect.
ERIKA JAQUES