Why Minnesota’s Community Solar Program is the Best

October 8th, 2018 by John Farrell

Originally published at ilsr.org.

Updated monthly around the 15th

Updates

Minnesota’s community solar program hit a record 435 megawatts of operational capacity in September 2018. The chart below shows the progress of projects through the program since August 2015, and the nearly two-year lag between the program launch in December 2014 and the successful ignition of multiple megawatts of capacity in January 2017.

We note a new finding, that the total queue of projects (including new applications, projects in study, projects in design/construction, and energized projects) has actually shrunk in size since January 2017, from 950 megawatts to around 800 megawatts. The shrinking is likely the result of marginal projects (that were not likely to work anyway) but also the continued uncertainty about compensation rates for new projects. The state’s Public Utilities Commission changed the compensation scheme for new projects in 2018 –– based on the value of solar –– but has yet to resolve whether they will provide an incentive for projects including residential subscribers. Given the higher costs of customer acquisition and management for such projects, the shrinking queue suggests action may be needed to keep a pipeline of solar subscription options open for residential customers in Minnesota.

Below is a simplified version of the chart above, showing just projects in the design/construction phase or in operation.

Also, Xcel Energy publishes data on the mix of subscribers, so we can report that more than 8,000 residential customers (92% of all subscribers) are saving money with a shared solar subscription. Although the vast majority of the program’s capacity serves commercial customers (87% of the 364 megawatts), nearly one-third of the total program capacity in March 2018 (about 100 megawatts) actually serves public entities like schools. In other words, community solar helps broaden those who benefit from solar by enabling individuals and public institutions to save money with solar! We’ll continue providing these subscriber spreads month-by-month if Xcel keeps reporting them.

Original post

I’ve been asked a lot of questions about Minnesota’s community solar program over the past couple years and it’s time to make one thing clear: Minnesota’s program is the best in the country.

Why? Because there 10 times more community solar projects in the queue — 400 megawatts — in Minnesota than have been built in the history of community solar in the United States (40 megawatts).

Minnesota’s program (see infographic) is a comprehensive approach that makes developing community solar projects economically viable and — most importantly — that does not cap the development of community solar projects. The latter is the key.

Colorado’s landmark community solar legislation, for example, caps the program at 6.5 megawatts per utility per year (although there’s hope it may increase in the future). Massachusetts has just revamped their solar renewable energy credit program to make community solar a better investment. No other state has had significant community solar development, despite 11 states that have some form of virtual net metering that allows for sharing electricity output from an off-site solar energy project.

How big is Minnesota’s projected success?

Xcel Energy’s queue for community solar already has 20 times more solar in it than the state had installed at the end of 2014. If it all gets built, it would be enough to rank second in the country in annual solar installations in 2014.

I recently wrote that a state’s solar market can’t really launch without third party ownership — leasing or power purchase agreements that allow home and business owners to install solar with zero upfront cost, hand off maintenance concerns, and save money from day one. Indiana was the only potential exception, due to a (now defunct) feed-in tariff program operated by Indianapolis Power and Light. Minnesota may be the second.

I’m no stranger to community solar programs. I worked closely with advocates in Minnesota on the legislation, as part of a suite of pro-solar policies that passed in 2013. I’ve written extensively on community solar policies, from a 2010 report on the obstacles and opportunities to podcasts with leaders in the community solar movement. I’ve testified on community solar proposals in California and Maryland, and lent my advice in other states.

If the projects develop as expected in Minnesota, there will be no contest. To say it like a local, “Minnesota’s community solar program is not too bad.”

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter or get the Energy Democracy weekly update.











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