Dive Brief:
- Last year, the state of Minnesota generated 21% of its power from renewable sources, a rapid expansion of clean energy from 6% a decade ago, Forbes reports.
- According to a new report from Minnesota Department of Commerce, the state is "well on pace" to exceed its 25% renewables standard by 2025.
- The data, compiled by the DOC and U.S. Energy Information Administration, found 17% of the state’s electricity was generated by wind energy, compared to just 3% a decade before. Coal use fell from 62% in 2005 to 44% in 2015.
Dive Insight:
Minnesota has been working rapidly to add renewable energy since the state adopted in 2007 the bipartisan Next Generation Energy Act, which set the 25% renewable standard. Six years later, the state also established a Solar Energy Standard, which requires that 1.5% of Minnesota’s electricity come from solar energy by 2020 – with a goal of 10% by 2030.
Minnesota currently gets less than 1% of its power from solar, leaning heavily on wind power instead. But solar resources are poised for growth in the state, the DOC report concludes. "In 2016 alone, Minnesota’s solar power generation is expected to increase 15-fold," the agency said.
The Commerce report predicts solar growth will come to the state via rooftop panels, community solar and utility-scale projects. It pointed out that Xcel Energy, Minnesota's largest utility, has indicated at least 250 MW will be installed this year as part of a community solar program.
The DOC said several large-scale solar projects are under construction or development, including North Star Solar near North Branch (100 MW) and Aurora Solar at multiple locations (100 MW). Also, Minnesota Power recently received state approval for a 10 MW solar project at Camp Ripley near Little Falls.
