Solar America Cities Anne Hunt, City of Saint Paul
Saint Paul & Minneapolis Solar America Cities In 2008 secured $200,000 000 DOE Grant with technical assistance to: Change local & state policies & practices Develop a variety of financing mechanisms Increase public awareness of solar Integrate solar technology into City infrastructure t Educate and train solar installers
Original Solar America Cities Partnerships
Solar Cities Partners MN Division of Energy Resources Xcel Energy MN Renewable Energy Society Fresh Energy MN League of Cities SolarFlow Energy IBEW Neighborhood Energy Connection Center for Energy & Environment
Solar Cities Successes Worked with partners in 2009 to pass $30 Million in solar financial incentives. Held training i for and worked with local officials to develop streamlined permitting. Developed communications strategy and materials. Conducted financing trainings for local officials. 5
Minneapolis Convention Center Largest PV Installation in MN 600 kw of Power 750,000 kwh annual energy 2,613 PV panels, six inverters Can supply 20% of daytime electricity Provides 5% of total annual electricity Project customers of Xcel Energy through a grant from the funding provided by Renewable Development Fund
DOE Solar Market Transformation $1 M Grant (ARRA) All 25 Solar America Cities host district energy systems Technology widely used in Europe Systems use steam or hot water to connect hospital, academic campuses, and diverse users. $1.2 M District Energy investment 1 MW equivalent and largest solar installation in the Midwest
Developing Solar Financing Options Xcel Energy s Renewable Development Grant Fund Utility Incentives Solar Rewards and Mn Made State Financial Incentives Solar Leasing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Federal Stimulus Funds PACE Legislation Solar Bulk Purchasing
Energy Innovation Corridor 1/4 mile adjacent to Central Corridor light rail from downtown Saint Paul to downtown Minneapolis and all of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis campus.
$3 Million ARRA for Solar Cities 250-300 kw of solar on 6-8 Saint Paul facilities including: St. Anthony Park Rec Center - 7.75 kw Rondo Library - 39.7 kw Western District Police Station 39.7 kw Public Works Garage 39.7 K RiverCentre Parking Ramp 82.kW Science Museum 10.4 kw
$3 Million ARRA for Solar Cities Add l $200,000 funds for solar EV charging g stations in Saint Paul & Minneapolis Solar on 5-7 Minneapolis facilities & UM Office Plaza totaling 150 200kW Leveraged $600,000 Xcel rebates
Results: Statewide: 2007 < 1MW, 2011 >5MW Average installed costs down 20% from 2009 to 2010 to $7.98 watt with some projects in 2011 as low as $4.50 Minneapolis: 8x increase 2007-2010 30 projects, 216 kw in 2011 Saint Paul: 23 projects, 300 kw and 6 thermal projects
Department of Commerce Solar Challenge Grant $263,000 Sunshot planning grant from federal DOE in late 2011 Minneapolis and Saint Paul partners along with Xcel Energy and Fresh Energy Goal of local regulatory improvements and training along with modernizing 30-year old net metering and interconnection rules Improve solar access laws
Recommendations for Advancing Solar in MN Improve tie between solar energy and energy efficiency i Coordinate local regulation of solar energy Fully value solar energy within rate structures and resource plans Re-create the State-wide incentive Encouraging solar ready construction Balance property interests within Common Interest Communities Create policies and programs to encourage large-scale solar installations
Largest Known PV Installations in MN PV System Owner/Host City Capacity (KW) Year Minneapolis Convention Center Minneapolis 600 2010 St. John's University it Collegeville 400 2009 Mayo Clinic Rochester 145 2010 Merrick Corporation Vadnais Heights 100 2008 City of Minneapolis Royalston FacilityMinneapolis 100 2011 Hennepin County Medina 97 2009 Army Training Center Arden Hills 89 2011 City of Saint Paul RiverCentre Saint Paul 82 2011 Great River Energy (Utility HQ) Elk River 70 2008 Machineland USA (Pellco) Saint Michael 40 2007 Quality Bicycle Parts Bloomington 40 2007 Shamrock Investments Fridley 40 2010 Shamrock Investments II, LLC Minneapolis 40 2011 Transfiguration Church Oakdale 40 2010 Name withheld Minneapolis 40 2010 name withheld Roseville 40 2010 name withheld Minneapolis 40 2010 Yellowthroat, LLC New Hope 40 2011 City of Saint Paul Western District Saint Paul 40 2011 City of Saint Paul Public Works Saint Paul 40 2011
Questions? Thank you