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THE LAND, JUNE 29, 2012
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Solar industry beginning to flex its energy muscles Federal tax credit incentives lessen By DICK HAGEN the investment of getting into solar and The Land Staff Writer wind, too. Available through 2016 is a Although not nearly as visible as the How much land area would we require in Minnesota 30-percent tax credit for residential and hundreds of giant wind turbines now to meet the state’s electricity needs with solar electriccommercial systems. Also for commerdotting the southern Minnesota landity? An area the size of Mille Lacs, or Ramsey County. cial systems, a modified accelerated scape, solar energy appears to be flexdepreciation lets you whack 40 percent ing its muscles much like the early — Stacey Miller off the first year. stages of the development of Minnesota’s wind industry a few years Xcel Energy has been providing a back. $2.25 per watt solar reward which photovoltaic installation. Miller said next on the list required an energy audit to participate and a 20In 2002 there were only 50 solar electric installaof major commercial installations are at the IKEA year REC agreement. Beginning in 2013, Xcel is tions totaling 150 kW in Minnesota; 85 percent of store and Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. dropping that reward to $1.50 per watt. Xcel also these were residential. As you might expect with more competition in the offers additional incentives for Minnesota-made Today, Minnesota has more than 800 solar electric marketplace, the installed cost of solar is decreasing modules such as Silicon Energy and tenKsolar. installations with a combined total of over 8,000 kW in Minnesota. According to Miller, average prices in For other energy incentives Miller indicated the of electrical power. Today 70 percent of these instal2010 declined 20 percent from 2009 ($10 to $7.98 per most comprehensive and up-to-date resource on lations are residential but they account for only 20 watt). Photovoltaic pricing was as low as $4.48 per energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives is percent of the state’s current total solar generated watt in 2011 with reports of less than $3 per watt the website www.dsireusa.org. capacity. The flip-side: 30 percent are now commerthis year. cial projects but they account for 80 percent of MinBecause of a surge of solar energy interest, solar There are two ways to harness energy from the nesota’s total capacity. manufacturing is blossoming in Minnesota. Miller’s sun. list included: “Commercial installations are the big mover in • Convert sunlight into electricity. Photoelectric Minnesota’s solar world and likely will be for some • Rural Renewable Energy Alliance, Pine River time,” said Stacey Miller, with the Minnesota materials convert sunlight into DC electricity, the • Solar Skies, Alexandria photovoltaic effect. Department of Commerce. • tenKsolar, Bloomington • Convert sunlight into heat. Thermal conductors Speaking at a June 12 Solar Energy Workshop at can heat a fluid or air to provide heat to a building or the West Central Research and Outreach Center at • Silicon Energy, Mountain Iron Morris, Minn., she told the 65 attendees that Min- water system. It can also provide cooling via an • SolarPod, Eagan nesota does indeed have a favorable solar resource, absorption chiller. • And others (3M, Silent Power, Back Up Power even in the dead of winter. And Minnesota has a Solar thermal is the least expensive solar option. It Systems, Despatch, Northfield Automation, etc.). tremendously big solar resource. is most cost-effective dollar for dollar, watt for watt. Generally it is also the most shade-tolerant solar Perhaps the 40 kW per hour Net Metering Law She asked, “How much land area would we require in Minnesota to meet the state’s electricity technology. But the market is small in Minnesota will be revisited also. Minnesota adopted the law in needs with solar electricity?” Answering herself, she and thus there are fewer incentives compared to 1981 — the first state in the nation to do so — and said, “An area the size of Mille Lacs, or Ramsey solar electricity. However solar thermal energy is there are now 43 states with net metering regulations; all have higher limits than Minnesota. ❖ County.” The more quantitative answer is only 0.25 less versatile than solar electricity. percent of the state’s area. Just one California solar field equates to the 8 mgW of total solar production currently in Minnesota. The single biggest solar facility is the Minneapolis Convention Center with 600 kW capacity, a 2010
MnFRAC seeking students for 4-H State Fair mentor program
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The Minnesota Foundation for Responsible Animal Care is inviting college students with an interest in serving as spokespersons for animal agriculture to apply for the position of Minnesota State Fair 4-H Animal Science Peer Mentor. Six positions are available. Persons in these positions will serve as mentors to selected 4-H State Fair livestock exhibitors in all species (beef, dairy, sheep, swine, goats, poultry and rabbits) to encourage, model and role-play positive interactions with State Fair visitors to livestock displays. MnFRAC is seeking college students age 18 or over with an interest and/or experience in 4-H and livestock exhibits. Other qualifications are communication, teaching and coaching skills, ability to work with a variety of adults and youth, expertise in production, processing and promotion of one or more animal species and experience as a livestock exhibitor and industry spokesperson. A copy of the job description may be found on the MnFRAC website, www.mnfrac.com.
The program will include a one-day orientation/training led by MnFRAC, 4-H and Midwest Dairy staff, written materials for review and coaching and daily support by MnFRAC staff during the State Fair. Applicants must be available the five days of the 4H Livestock Weekend, Aug. 22-26. A $300 stipend per person, fair entry tickets and 4-H meal tickets will be provided. To apply applicants must submit a resume, transcript and statement describing why they are interested in this position and the industry knowledge, communication and leadership skills that they bring to the position. Application deadline is July 1. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Send completed materials to Juanita ReedBoniface, Project Manager, JRB Associates Inc., 2462 Lake George Dr. N.W. Cedar, MN 55011. For more information, contact AgriFolks@gmail.com. For more information on MnFRAC, log on to www.mnfrac.com. ❖