Purpose

The bill would improve public safety by collecting data on fires that involve renewable energy systems and by creating a new statutory framework in Minnesota law to require reporting and annual review of these incidents.

Main Provisions

• Definition of alternative energy system:

  • Includes systems that collect energy from wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, or other renewable sources to heat, cool, or generate electricity or other power.

• Local reporting requirement:

  • The local fire department chief (in a city or town) or, if there is no fire department, the mayor or town clerk, must report to the state fire marshal any fire that involves an alternative energy system.
  • Reports must include: what is known about the cause/origin/circumstances of the fire, the amount of financial damage, and whether anyone was injured or killed.
  • Reports should be submitted as soon as practicable.

• State-level coordination and annual reporting:

  • The state fire marshal must, by February 1 each year, provide a summary of the reports received in the previous calendar year.
  • The summary must be shared with the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees that oversee fire safety.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new reporting requirement specifically for fires involving alternative energy/renewable energy systems.
• Creates a formal data-collection process under Minnesota Statutes, adding a new section (299F.038) in chapter 299F.
• Institutes an annual public safety reporting mechanism to inform legislators about these incidents.

Implementation Notes

• Targeted entities: local fire departments and the state fire marshal.
• Timeline: local reports “as soon as practicable”; annual state summary due by February 1.

Potential Impacts

• Increases transparency and data availability about fires involving renewable energy infrastructure.
• Provides lawmakers with regular, standardized information to consider in fire safety and energy policy discussions.

Relevant terms

• alternative energy system
• renewable energy
• wind
• solar
• hydro
• geothermal
• public safety
• state fire marshal
• local fire department chief
• mayor
• town clerk
• reporting
• cause
• origin
• circumstances
• financial damage
• injuries
• fatalities
• Minnesota Statutes chapter 299F
• 299F.038
• annual report
• fire safety oversight