AB56,71 Section 71. 16.848 (4) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,133,4 16.848 (4) (b) (intro.) For the purpose of paying principal and interest costs on other outstanding public debt under par. (a) (ag), the secretary may cause outstanding bonds to be called for redemption on or following their optional redemption date, establish one or more escrow accounts to redeem bonds at their optional redemption date, or purchase bonds in the open market. For the purpose of using an amount deposited under par. (ag) as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em), the department shall determine which projects to fund and shall authorize expenditures for those projects. To the extent practical, the secretary shall consider all of the following in determining which public debt to redeem, whether to use any net proceeds as a substitute source of funding under s. 20.924 (1) (em), and which projects to fund:

AB56,72 Section 72. 16.848 (4) (b) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,133,8 16.848 (4) (b) 4. The fiscal benefit of redeeming outstanding debt with higher interest costs and the costs of establishing an escrow needed to redeem the outstanding debt.

AB56,73 Section 73. 16.848 (4) (b) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,133,12 16.848 (4) (b) 5. The costs of maintaining federal tax law compliance in the selection of general obligation debt to be redeemed or the project to be financed under s. 20.924 (1) (em).

AB56,74 Section 74. 16.848 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB56,134,14 16.848 (4) (c) If there are any outstanding revenue obligations, issued pursuant to subch. II of ch. 18, used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property that is sold or leased under sub. (1), the department shall adhere to any restrictions in the authorizing resolution of the revenue obligations governing the use of the proceeds. To the extent the authorizing resolution does not restrict such use, the department shall deposit a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from the sale or lease of the property in the respective redemption fund provided under s. 18.561 (5) or 18.562 (3) to repay the principal and pay the interest on the revenue obligations, and any premium due upon refunding redeeming any of the revenue obligations, or shall deposit an amount in the appropriate fund under s. 18.57 or apply the amount for a purpose for which similar revenue obligations may be issued under s. 18.53 (3) or (4). If there are any outstanding revenue obligations, issued pursuant to subch. II of ch. 18, used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property that is sold or leased under sub. (1), the department shall then provide a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from the sale or lease of the property for the costs of maintaining federal tax law compliance applicable to the revenue obligations. For the purpose of paying principal and interest costs on other outstanding revenue obligations, the secretary may cause outstanding revenue obligations to be called for redemption on or following their optional redemption date, establish one or more escrow accounts to redeem obligations at their optional redemption date, or purchase bonds on the open market. Except as required under ss. 13.48 (14) (e), 20.395 (9) (qd), and 51.06 (6), if the net proceeds exceed the amount required to be deposited, paid, or used for another purpose under this paragraph, the department shall use the net proceeds or remaining net proceeds to pay principal and interest costs on other similar revenue obligations or for a purpose for which similar revenue obligations may be issued under s. 18.53 (3) or (4).

AB56,75 Section 75. 16.848 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,134,19 16.848 (4) (d) If under par. (c) the department deposits net proceeds into an appropriate fund provided in s. 18.57 or applies net proceeds for a purpose for which revenue obligations may be issued, the amount of revenue obligations authorized under s. 18.54 (2) shall be reduced by the amount deposited or applied.

AB56,76 Section 76. 16.855 (1p) of the statutes is repealed.

AB56,77 Section 77. 16.954 of the statutes is created to read:

AB56,134,23 16.954 Office of sustainability and clean energy. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB56,134,24 (a) “Office” means the office of sustainability and clean energy.

AB56,134,25 (b) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s. 196.01 (5).

AB56,135,2 (2) Initiatives. The office shall work on initiatives that have the following goals:

AB56,135,4 (a) Promoting the development and use of clean and renewable energy across this state.

AB56,135,7 (b) Advancing innovative sustainability solutions in ways that improve this state's economy and environment, including energy initiatives that reduce carbon emissions, accelerate economic growth, and lower customer energy costs.

AB56,135,10 (c) Diversifying the resources used to reliably meet the energy needs of consumers in this state and generate family-supporting jobs through the expansion of this state's clean energy economy.

AB56,135,11 (3) Other duties. The office shall do all of the following:

AB56,135,14 (b) Provide advice and support to state agencies in developing or retrofitting sustainable infrastructure to reduce energy use and lessen negative impacts on this state's air and water quality.

AB56,135,17 (c) Study and report on the status of existing clean and renewable energy efforts by the state, including economic development initiatives, and develop future energy policy opportunities for consideration by the governor and state agencies.

AB56,135,20 (d) Serve as a single point of contact to assist businesses, local units of government, and nongovernmental organizations that are pursuing clean energy opportunities.

AB56,135,22 (e) Identify and share information about clean energy funding opportunities for private, and state and local governmental entities.

AB56,135,24 (f) Perform duties necessary to maintain federal energy funding and any designations required for such funding.

AB56,136,3 (i) Take other steps necessary to facilitate the implementation of the initiatives and goals specified in sub. (2) and to identify and address barriers to the implementation of those initiatives.

AB56,136,6 (4) Clean energy grants. The office shall establish a program for making grants from the appropriation under s. 20.505 (4) (q) to fund research in support of clean energy production.

AB56,136,11 (5) Technical assistance. (a) The office may provide technical assistance to units of government other than the state to assist in the planning and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable resources and may charge for those services. The office may request technical and staff assistance from other state agencies in providing technical assistance to those units of government.

AB56,136,15 (b) The office may require a public utility to provide energy billing and use data regarding public schools, if the office determines that the data is necessary to provide technical assistance under par. (a) in public schools, including those with the highest energy costs.