05/13/2015 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Xcel Energy's Minn. Stat. § 216B.1641. A community solar garden sells electricity generated Community Solar from solar energy to subscribers who purchase a given portion of its output. It Garden Program allows access to solar energy by renters and property owners lacking sufficient capital to install their own solar systems or whose property may be shaded or otherwise unsuitable for a solar installation. Xcel Energy must submit a plan to operate a community solar garden program to the PUC by September 30, 2013. Programs are to begin operating no later than 180 days following the commission's approval of the plan. Other utilities may also submit plans. A community solar garden may be owned by a utility or any other entity. All energy generated by the facility, whose capacity is limited to one megawatt, is sold to the utility at the value of solar rate for distribution to subscribers. Subscriptions must represent at least 200 watts of capacity and may not exceed 120 percent of a subscriber's annual electricity consumption. "Made in Photovoltaic (Minn. Stat. §§ 216C.41I to 216C.415). Beginning in 2014, $15 Minnesota"Solar million annually for a period of ten years is allocated to owners who install solar Incentives photovoltaic devices with a capacity no greater than 40 kilowatts that have been certified by the Department of Commerce as manufactured in Minnesota. The incentive is financed from two sources: (1) each public utility annually contributes 5 percent of the minimum it is statutorily required to spend on energy conservation programs; and (2) the balance comes from Xcel Energy's Renewable Development Fund (Minn. Stat. § 116C.779, subd. 1). The amount of the per -kilowatt -hour -generated incentive for each type of Minnesota -made photovoltaic device is determined by the Department of Commerce based on several factors, including the performance of the device, and may be revised annually. Payments run for ten years and are to be split evenly between residential and commercial properties. Thermal (Minn. Stat. § 216C.416). Beginning in 2014, approximately $250,000 annually for a period of ten years is allocated by the Department of Commerce for rebates to owners of residential and commercial buildings who install solar thermal systems manufactured in Minnesota to heat or cool air or water. Maximum rebates are the lesser of 25 percent of the installed cost of the system or $2,500, $5,000, or $25,000, for single family, multifamily, and commercial properties, respectively. Rebates are to be allocated evenly between projects heating or cooling air and water. The rebates are funded from the incentive account established above for "Made in Minnesota" photovoltaic projects. For more information: Contact legislative analyst Bob Eleff at 651-296-8961. The Research Department of the Minnesota House of Representatives is a nonpartisan office providing legislative, legal, and information services to the entire House. House Research Department I 600 State Office Building I St. Paul, MN 55155I 651-296-6753 I www.house.mn/hrd/