Expanding Renewable Energy in...
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Expanding Renewable Energy in Minnesota J. Drake Hamilton Science Policy Director Fresh Energy November 15, 2018
Transcript of Expanding Renewable Energy in...
Expanding Renewable Energy
in Minnesota
J. Drake Hamilton Science Policy Director
Fresh Energy
November 15, 2018
About Fresh Energy
• Founded 26 years ago
• Speeding the transition to a clean
energy economy
• Focus on market-driven policies
• In-depth research and analysis
• Energy policy experts
Make everything
more energy efficient
Make the electricity
system cleaner
Electrify more of the
economy
Shape and drive the
energy conversation
www.fresh-energy.org
Fresh Energy Programs
• Renewable Electricity
• Global Warming Solutions
• Energy Efficiency
• Energy Access and Equity
• Better Buildings
• Electric Cars and Buses
Policy that can shape the market
Key points in Minnesota’s energy policy history:
▪ 2007 Next Generation Energy Act➢ 25% renewable energy standard by 2025➢ Reduce economy-wide greenhouse gases by
at least:30% below 2005 levels by 2025 80% below 2005 levels by 2050
▪ 2013 Solar Energy Jobs Act➢ 1.5% solar energy standard (for Investor-
Owned Utilities)➢ Xcel Energy Community Solar Gardens
Energy Performance
• Conservation programs save customers nearly $300m/year
• They’re successful because they focus on cutting waste
Energy savings vs. renewable generation in Minnesota since 1993
Average AnnualResidential Electric Bill, 2017
The Economic Power of Clean Energy J. Drake Hamilton | Science Policy Director | Fresh Energy
Heartland leadershipcutting carbon, growing jobs
• 59,000 clean energy jobs that exceed state average wage by 42%
• 40% of these in
Greater Minnesota
• Cutting carbon via smart, bipartisan policies and business leadership
Plummeting Costs for Renewable Electricity
Diversifying Minnesota’s electricity supply
Renewable Electricity
Opportunities• Take advantage of federal tax
credits
• Reduce red tape and streamline the expansion of our transmission system
Global Warming Solutions“The wind Xcel Energy is bringing online is lower in cost than our lowest cost coal plant”
Chris ClarkPresident, Xcel Energy
The Saudi Arabia of Wind
Lake Benton(100 MW)
Chippewa County(50 MW) Nobles 2
(250 MW)
Clean Energy 1 (100 MW)
Merricourt(150 MW)
Foxtail (150 MW)
Dakota Range(300 MW)
Crowned Ridge(600 MW)
Blazing Star I and II (400 MW)
Freeborn(200 MW)
Marshall Solar(62 MW)
Aurora Solar (150 MW)
North Star Solar (100 MW)
Camp Ripley Solar(10 MW)
Community Solar Gardens(300 MW)
Harmony Solar(200 MW)
Renewable Electricity
Renewable energy additions &
announcements in last two yearsEmmons-
Logan(300 MW)
Renewable Electricity
Our Grid:15 states and one province
• Midwest grid operator
• Monitors the transmission grid system
• Operates one of the world’s largest energy markets
www.fresh-energy.org
Grid considerations
Wind and solar make up ¾ of the Midwest’s new added capacity added in last 5 years
LBNL: wind and solar could provide 40-50% of our needs by 2030
Continued growth of the wind energy industry depends on extension of the U.S electric transmission grid
Transmission
▪ The U.S. electric grid is the largest interconnected machine on earth; named the ‘supreme engineering achievement of the 20th Century’ (National Academy of Engineers)
Grid considerations
Update transmission lines, substations, transformers with digital technology to us computers, automation and software to make the grid more efficient
Batteries: store energy, and provide voltage support, frequency regulation, balance short-term power, and more to make grid:
more stablemore flexiblemore economical
Record low prices
Colorado bids for wind + storage, solar + storage BEAT cost of natural gas plants as of 2023
Transmission
Growth of renewable energy far from electric load Need for more long-distance direct-current line
▪ For lines > 300-500 miles long, DC outcompetes AC. Plans for at least 9 new long distance HVDC lines
▪ Utilities need to find a way to deliver remote electrons to industrial and urban centers
▪ One example: Clean Line Energy Partners (Houston)
Solar PV Resource
Solar Energy Jobs Act of 2013
✓ Solar costs dropped 30 percent in one year
✓ Minnesota added enough solar to power 53,000 homes
Just in 2017…
Renewable Electricity
• The solar industry is rapidly growing• Customer driven (farmers, congregations, businesses, schools)• Improves soil and water quality, supports pollinator habitat• Production tax revenue, good paying jobs, lease payments
Rooftop Community Utility
• Located near North Branch in Chisago County
• 100 MW (enough to power 20,000 homes)
• 440,000 solar panels covering 1,000 acres
• Largest solar farm in the Midwest
North Star Solar Project
“Forecast for Ground-Mounted SolarNational Renewable Energy Laboratory..
2030: 3 million acres
2050: 6 million acres”
Center for Pollinators in Energy
Mitigate “NIMBY” issues that kill solar projects and negatively influence markets. Activate habitat supporters like beekeepers, pheasant hunters,
bird and butterfly watchers, specialty crop producers, brewers, and restaurateurs.
Create new markets for solar, when solar/pollinator designs are used. Solar development is blocked in several markets unless projects demonstrate
how they co-exist with agriculture (e.g. beekeeping is farming)
Engage more of the public in supporting solar energy.
• Powers 1,000 homes
• 15,000 solar panels over 35 acres
• Pollinator-friendly plantings between the rows of panels
Farmington Community Solar Garden
Diversifying Minnesota’s electricity supply
Global Warming Solutions
Key points in Minnesota’s climate policy history:
▪ 2007 Next Generation Energy Act
➢ 25 percent Renewable Energy Standard by 2025
➢ Statewide goal to cut greenhouse gases by at least:
30 percent below 2005 levels by 2025
80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050 across the entire economy
Global Warming Solutions
• Steady trend of economic growth, flat electricity usage, and declining emissions rates
2016 U.S. CO2 Emissions by Sector
Source: EPA Draft inventory of US GHG Emissions, 2/6/18
Xcel’s Business Decision:
60% CO2 reduction by 2030
Xcel’s Business Decision:
60% CO2 reduction by 2030
Announced fall 2017:
Will be achieved 8 years early!
Xcel’s Business Decision:
60% CO2 reduction by 2030
Will be achieved 8 years early!
By 2030, 60% renewables
By 2030, 85% carbon-free
Xcel Energy: By 2030 – 60% renewable
By 2030 – 85% carbon-free
Great River Energy:By 2030 – 50% renewable
Minnesota Power:By 2025 – 44% renewable
Otter Tail Power:By 2021 – 30% renewable
Equity
• Ensure all Minnesotans have access to clean energy
• As certain utilities move forward, we can’t let other families, businesses, and communities fall behind
Diversifying Minnesota’s electricity supply
Electric Cars and Buses
▪Utilities want to grow their business
▪We want to reduce emissions
▪Everyone wants to save money
Electric Cars and Buses
Fewer moving parts, regenerative breaking, etc
Electric Cars and Buses
Opportunities• Electrify transit and school buses
• Electrify state and government fleets
• Incentivize new and used electric
vehicles
Electric Buses
Opportunities▪ Metro Transit cancelled RFP for 130-
200 diesel buses – developing fleet
electrification plan
▪ Electric buses on North Mpls BRT
line next year
J. Drake [email protected]
Thank you!
www.fresh-energy.org
