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Model Ordinance <br />Scope - This article applies to all solar energy installations in Model Community. <br />II. Purpose -Model Community has adopted this regulation for the following purposes: <br />A. Comprehensive Plan Goals - To meet the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and preserve the health, <br />safety and welfare of the community by promoting the safe, <br />effective and efficient use of solar energy systems. The solar <br />energy standards specifically implement the following goals <br />from the Comprehensive Plan: <br />1. Goal — Encourage the use of local renewable energy <br />resources, including appropriate applications for wind, <br />solar, and biomass energy. <br />Goal — Promote sustainable building design and <br />management practices to serve current and future <br />generations. <br />3. Goal — Assist local businesses to lower financial and <br />regulatory risks and improve their economic, community, <br />and environmental sustainability. <br />4. Goal — Implement the solar resource protection element <br />required under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act. <br />B. Climate Change Goals - Model Community has committed to <br />reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. Solar <br />energy is an abundant, renewable, and nonpolluting energy resource and its conversion to electricity or <br />heat reduces dependence on nonrenewable energy resources and decreases the air and water pollution <br />that results from the use of conventional energy sources. <br />C. Infrastructure - Distributed solar photovoltaic systems will <br />enhance the reliability and power quality of the power grid <br />and make more efficient use of Model Community's electric <br />distribution infrastructure. <br />D. Local Resource - Solar energy is an underused local energy <br />resource and encouraging the use of solar energy will diversify <br />the community's energy supply portfolio and reduce exposure <br />to fiscal risks associated with fossil fuels. <br />Improve Competitive Markets - Solar energy systems offer <br />additional energy choice to consumers and will improve competition in the electricity and natural gas <br />supply market. <br />Minnesota Model Solar Ordinance 4 <br />