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80 those TIE Districts, how they can be used, and the remaining excess amount <br />81 available. At the request of Chair Stenlund, Member Cihacek confirmed that his <br />82 intent was to determine if there was any funding available to address the financing <br />83 gap for upcoming infrastructure improvements in the Twin Lakes Redevelopment <br />84 Area. <br />85 <br />86 At the request of Member Cihacek, Mr. Schwartz advised that some soil <br />87 remediation had been completed in the Twin Lakes area as part of past <br />88 infrastructure projects, but there was some remaining to be completed as <br />89 developments came forward. <br />90 Recess <br />91 Chair Stenlund recessed the meeting at approximately 6:54 p.m. and reconvened at <br />92 approximately 6:56 p.m. <br />93 <br />94 5. Community Solar Discussion <br />95 Mr. Schwartz introduced Brian Ross from CR Planning, an expert in the solar <br />96 field and expected to be under contract within the next month to provide technical <br />97 assistance to cities on solar projects. <br />98 <br />99 Mr. Ross, who had also attended the PWETC meeting in April of 2014, provided <br />100 a brief biography of his work as an Urban Planner and Solar Energy Consultant, <br />101 before his presentation entitled "Solar Ready Roseville." Mr. Ross advised that <br />102 his firm was currently working on the Minnesota Solar Challenge, a program of <br />103 the Minnesota Department of Energy. Mr. Ross referenced a U of MN graduate <br />104 program research project that may be of interest to the PWETC, and available free <br />105 online consisting of a GIS mapping of the entire state of MN's solar potential, <br />106 with Chair Stenlund noting that sample image was included in commissioner <br />107 packet materials. <br />108 <br />109 Mr. Ross's presentation included four main points: <br />110 • "Why solar for local governments? <br />111 • What are solar resources? <br />112 • What are solar -ready communities? <br />113 • Public sector opportunities. <br />114 <br />115 Mr. Ross noted the steps needed for a community to become solar ready, <br />116 including the policy aspect (Comprehensive Plan — development); regulatory, <br />117 permitting processes, and financing. Along that line, Mr. Ross addressed the <br />118 many roles government agencies could assume as a solar developer. Those roles <br />119 included: as a regulator addressing policy, zoning, and permitting; as a financier <br />120 or assembler in an economic development authority type rule providing financing <br />121 tools, development preparation, or assembly of resources for private sector <br />122 investment; as a developer such as an HRA or public housing authority type role, <br />123 owning and managing development for use by residents; or as a consumer <br />124 developing solar for public sector use. <br />125 <br />Page 3 of 15 <br />