Solar Energy as a Community Resource. Fritz Ebinger Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) MN Association of Townships November 16, 2018

Transcription

1 Solar Energy as a Community Resource Fritz Ebinger Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) MN Association of Townships November 16, 2018

2 Today s Talk About CERTs Solar in MN Township Survey Solar on Ag Lands Questions?

3 About CERTs

4 CERTs: Minnesotans Building a Clean Energy Future Mission: We connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects

5 What is CERTs All About? Community-based clean energy: Empowering community-determined conservation, efficiency and renewables A vision of solutions permeating our state: Impact = widespread, replicable, additive actions Values and principles that emphasize: Meeting all comers where they are Converting learning into doing

6 Who Does CERTs Work With? Key Audiences: Local Government Small Business Utilities Agriculture Low Income

7 What Does CERTs Do? Write blog posts & case studies Create educational guides Manage diverse web-based tools Host events, tours, and conferences Help with community organizing Connect people to technical resources Provide seed grant funding and more Deliver research-based campaigns Spur other statewide programs

8 CERTs is a Statewide Partnership

9 How Does CERTs Work? CERTs Staff: Regional coordinators and statewide support Steering Committees: One per region; governing body for regional team Regional Teams: Anyone can join; broad range of skills, interest, and backgrounds

10 Learning & Connecting

11 Blog & Newsletter mncerts.org/blog

12 Regional Events & Tours mncerts.org/calendar

13 Past: Gobbling Up Turkey Barn Savings mncerts.org/turkeys

14 SOLAR IN MN Keep it in perspective!

15 NOT THE DESERT BUT IT WORKS

16 Cumulative Capacity 2014: 6 MW 2015: 14 MW 2016: 209 MW 2017: 715 MW Sept. 2018: 0.9 GW CA: 22.8 GW NJ: 2.5 GW AZ: 3.6 GW FL: 1.9 GW

17 How does solar measure up? HYDRO 2% NAT. GAS 12% WIND 23% NUCLEAR 22% COAL 39% 1.5+% Sources: Energy Information Administration, Minnesota Net Electricity Generation by Source Jul. 2018; As price drops, renewable energy surges to second place in Minnesota, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Mar. 2, 2018

18 Minnesota s New Oil Direct sunlight on unshaded areas is a valuable community resource Akin to common pooling of oil deposits in states like TX, ND, WY to realize wealth intelligently

19 The Solar Market: Who buys this stuff?

20 SOLAR GOT CHEAP 1977 cost/watt = $ cost/watt = $0.30 Source: NREL Q4 2017/Q Solar Industry Update

21 Solar Development is LOCAL Development Rent out the sun Diversify income stream; hedge against ag market Neighbors may be disenchanted with the change Copyright: Buena Vista Pictures/The Walt Disney Company

22 COMMUNITIES HAVE CHOICES

23 OLD RULE OF CAPTURE! Image: NCSL Photo: Time-LIFE

24 COMMUNITY POOLING THIS IS BETTER

25 THIS IS CHEAPER Courtesy: KATV (Little Rock, AK) 475 acres near Almyra, AR Good for one owner!

26 THIS IS QUALITY

27 HOW MUCH FARM LAND? 0.02%...BUT NASS State Agriculture Overview Minnesota (2017)

28 Solar Running of the Bulls

29 SUBSTATION CLUSTER

30 TOWNSHIP SOLAR SURVEY

31 Township Solar Survey 22 townships responded, good cross-section: Rural Metro-area Urban townships outside Metro Most reported low to moderate familiarity with solar Most wanted trusted information

32 WHO YOU TRUST FOR INFO Street credit goes along way!

33 BENEFITS YOU ANTICIPATE

34 RISKS YOU ANTICIPATE

35 AREAS WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE HELP

36 TOWNSHIP SOLAR CONSIDERATIONS

37 AG LAND & SOLAR MN Statute (2018) Minnesota ag land protection and conservation policy since 1982! Protects against conversion to other uses Conserves soil and water resources Encourages planned growth Fosters ownership and operation by resident farmers

38 POWER PLANTS: FARMLAND EXCLUSION Rule No large power plant maybe permitted where the plant site covers more than 0.5 acres of prime farmland per MW of generating capacity unless there is no feasible and prudent alternative.

39 Agriculture Impact Mitigation Plan Marshall Solar LLC 62.3 MW 355 acres SW corner of Stanley Township, Lyon County 25 pg. AIMP with compliance filings Row crops Native pollinator species underneath MN PUC Docket

40 Mitigating Compaction Image: Matrax

41 STATE PERMITTING AUTHORITY Minn. Power Plant Siting Act: Minn. Stat. 216E MW or more Requires PUC Site Permit before construction Includes projects in the aggregate Same 12 months Characteristics of one project Environmental Review required (EIS or EAW), prepped by Commerce

42 EXAMPLE AGGREGATE PROJECT Image courtesy of CURE,

43 LOCAL PERMITTING AUTHORITY Minn. Admin. Rule MW requires EAW by the Environ. Quality Board 5-25 MW subject to EAW at request of citizens, LGU or applicant Less than 5 MW, exempt from any state environmental review NOTE: EAW required for land conversion greater than 80 acres

44 HOW SHOULD IT LOOK?

45 RESOURCES

46 Governmental Subscriber Collaborative 31 participants 22 jurisdictions subscribed 35 MW of subscriptions mncerts.org/solargardens/collaborative

47 Third-Party Solar Model RFP Includes: Experience, qualifications, project scope, schedule, technical specifications, site utility use, energy generation estimates, and more. mncerts.org/3rdpartyrfp

48 Questions?

49 Want to Follow Up? Fritz Ebinger, J.D. Program Manager Rural Energy Development University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships