Xcel announced this morning that it plans to open its Community Solar Garden program next Friday, December 12, 2014 at 9:00 AM CST. In its filing, the company attempts to clarify the “first-ready, first-served” application process it plans to follow. The company explains that Garden operators can view a time stamp marking when the application
Energizing Discussion at Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Offices
I had the honor this morning to feature on a panel of experts convened by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal to discuss the topic of ”The Future of Energy.”
Moderated by John Kearney of the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association, the panel included Kenneth Smith, President and CEO of Ever-Green Energy, Ken Bradley,
Minnesota Can Reliably Integrate 40% Renewables According to DOC Transmission Study
Yesterday, the Minnesota Department of Commerce issued its highly anticipated Minnesota Renewable Energy Integration and Transmission Study, which indicated that the “capacity for adding additional wind and solar up to 40% by 2030 can be reliably accommodated by the electric power system” (DOC press release here). The study stated that with relatively modest
Regulate vs. Replace: Hg Ct in MN Affirms State Commission’s Application of Mercury Emissions Reduction Statute
Last year, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved investor owned utility Minnesota Power’s mercury emissions reduction plan for the 585 MW Boswell Unit 4, its largest coal-fired power plant. Minnesota’s Mercury Emissions Reduction Act (MERA) requires utilities to prepare plans to reduce mercury emissions for the state’s six largest coal power plants. See Minn. Stat.
Chile Announces New Public Land Concessions for Non-Conventional Renewable Energy Projects
On October 1, 2014, Víctor Osorio, Chile’s Minister of Natural Resources, announced that 200 public land concessions were being made available, through a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Energy, to Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) projects. The goal of the program is to use the public lands concessions to facilitate the growth of NCRE’s, all
California PUC Comissioner Michael Peevy to Step Down
Last Thursday, longtime California Public Utilities Comissioner and President Michael Peevy announced he would not seek reappointment at the end of this year, when his second six-year term with the CPUC expires. In making his announcement, Peevy issued the following statement:
“I originally planned to make the following announcement at the CPUC’s regularly-scheduled
California’s New Streamlined #Solar Permitting Law Goes into Effect
Over the weekend, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 2188, which is designed to streamline the permitting process for small rooftop solar systems. The new law seeks to give California’s Million Solar Roofs target a boost by establishing a state wide “modernized and standardized permitting process.” The new law amends Section 714 of the
Minnesota Community Solar Garden Program Approved, Set to Open
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission today issued its long-awaited Order approving (with modifications) Xcel Energy’s Community Solar Garden (CSG) Program – Solar Rewards*Community. The Order starts the clock for the program to open no later than 90 days from issuance of the Order (mid-December) and officially plows the furrow for community solar projects in Minnesota. It is not, however, clear that Xcel Energy will have the luxury of using the full 90 days for opening its CSG program- the Minnesota CSG Statute requires Xcel Energy to begin crediting subscriber accounts for each CSG within 180 days of the CSG plan’s approval. Stay tuned for additional details.
Our prior blogs provide more details on the program. We review the details of the Order below.
Application: Once applicants file their applications and deposits, Xcel has 30 days to confirm the application is complete and then another 60 days to accept or reject the application. Applicants initially need to include:
- Contact information,
- Garden information including system location and specifications,
- Application fee ($1,200) and deposit ($100/kW)
- Engineering documents, including one-line diagrams, site plan, and Interconnection Application
Applicants will have a full 24 months from Xcel’s completeness determination to complete the project and comply with several additional requirements including: proof of site control, adequate insurance, projection of subscriptions, and signed interconnection and CSG agreements.
Continue Reading Minnesota Community Solar Garden Program Approved, Set to Open
SDG&E Issues Max 800 MW All-Source RFO, with caveat
We recently learned that San Diego Gas and Electric has issued a 2014 All Source Request for Offers (RFO).
The RFO requests offers for up to 800 MW from the following resources:
- Energy Efficiency (EE)
- Demand Response (DR)
- Renewables
- Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
- Energy Storage
- Conventional
- Distributed Generation (DG)
The RFO is authorized by
Breaking: EPA Extends Clean Power Plan Public Comment Period
Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, announced today that EPA’s comment period for its proposed Clean Power Plan will be extended 45 days from the mid-October deadline to December 1, 2014. EPA’s announcement comes a week after a group of bipartisan U.S. senators asked for additional time to weigh