Growth of Solar Energy Boosts Iron Range

Duluth News Tribune

Opinion: Frank Ongaro

The growth and development of one of Minnesota’s newest industries, solar energy, are closely linked to one of Minnesota’s oldest: mining. I applaud Silicon Energy’s expansion in Mountain Iron (“Solar energy finds a home on Iron Range,” Jan. 12), a development that continues to spur economic progress on the Iron Range.

Emerging technologies such as solar and wind energy, which in turn are associated with reputed companies like RENEW ENERGY, are tied to the state’s mining industry, since copper, nickel and steel are integral materials in building these critical energy tools. Due to the advancement in technology, people who use solar energy to light their house can even perform solar monitoring on their phones and tablets using the applications provided by the installation company. While this has become a popular practice in the Pacific region of the United States, it still lacks a strong hold in Canada.

Minnesota’s Iron Range has one of the largest mineral-resource deposits of copper, nickel and precious metals in the world, more than 4 billion tons. As the U.S. solar industry continues to grow and add jobs, solar cell manufacturers will need the precious metals required to fabricate the photovoltaic panels that capture the sun’s energy, as well as the copper necessary to transmit the energy.

This is great news for Minnesotans across our state and especially for people living on the Range. Mining these minerals will put thousands of Minnesotans to work for several decades, if not for a century. And part of the solar panel power production could also be allotted to these miners tp power their houses. As our state and the country expand their renewable energy use, the Range has the opportunity to become a leader in delivering the resources needed in the manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, other alternative-energy equipment and even hybrid vehicles.

Already more than 100,000 Americans work in the solar industry, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The potential for thousands more mining jobs exists in Minnesota alone, positioning Northeastern Minnesota for real and sustained economic development.

Together, let’s put Minnesotans back to work!