2014-05-27_PWETC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Ms. McKeown reviewed some of the specifics of community shared solar for centrally-located solar PV panels installed in a community in sunny locations to produce renewable electricity; with each subscriber's utility bill then credited with the electricity created by their share of the solar garden. Ms. McKeown noted that individual entities could subscribe to enough solar to cover up to 120% of their annual electricity usage. Ms. McKeown advised that it worked similar to a community sustained agriculture (CSA) program. Ms. McKeown advised that each project involved many players: subscribers (individual entities receiving solar power); developers (primary group organizing the solar garden); host site (location where the solar garden is installed); finance (sources of financing for the project); utility (electricity provider—Xcel Energy in this case—where the garden is installed); site assessor(expert that studies the garden location); installer (expert that installs the solar garden); and outreach partners (groups that find subscribers). Chair Stenlund referenced the recent accomplishments by students at the U of MN in looking at solar openings in the area, including mapping those solar opportunities in the metropolitan area. Ms. McKeown noted that the research project had received only a temporary license for data collection, and would be continued if/when additional funds were received. Ms. McKeown advised that her CERT's team was actively working with the students with support and resources; commending the students for their enthusiasm. At the prompting of Chair Stenlund, Ms. McKeown agreed that the intent is not about cutting down trees to find opportunities for community solar arrays, but finding existing areas where light is available for such placements. Ms. McKeown noted that there were many available open spots, based on land uses, including Brownfield areas. Ms. McKeown discussed what role the City may want to play and partners it could work with(e.g. school districts, Ramsey County, other agencies) to accomplish a community solar system. Ms. McKeown reviewed the amount of electricity used per year determined how much solar was allowed, with subscriptions based on up to 120% of that annual usage. Ms. McKeown advised that one delay in the metropolitan area was waiting for approval of the Xcel program as mandated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC); with Greater MN projects already in place. Ms. McKeown referenced some of the current projects: Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, Lake Region Electric Cooperative, Connexus Energy, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, among a few. Ms. McKeown reviewed the anticipated Xcel Energy timeline, with the original proposal submitted to the Department of Commerce and PUC, which was rejected in April; with Xcel filing a revised plan in May of this year. Once the plan is approved by the PUC, Ms. McKeown advised that Xcel has ninety days to begin Page 6 of 20