The document proposes a 10% renewable solar energy standard for Minnesota that would create over 8,000 jobs, get over 2% of the state's electricity from solar by 2022 and 10% by 2030, and install solar on around 50,000 rooftops. It would result in millions in energy savings and billions in economic activity. The standard would require utilities to purchase sufficient solar energy to meet targets, financing projects through an incentive that declines over time on top of a per kWh price utilities pay for solar electricity. The cost to ratepayers would be an estimated $37 million per year or about $1 per month for residential customers, while creating $10 in economic output for every $1 in incentives.

1. Solar Works for Minnesota
An Affordable, Job-Creating, 10% Clean Local Solar Energy Standard
Presentation by John Farrell
Version 3 ILSR’s Director of Democratic Energy
February 14, 2013 jfarrell@ilsr.org

2. What 10% Solar Means
•Creating over 8,000 good jobs in the state’s solar
industry, including 1,300 manufacturing jobs
•Getting over 2% of our electricity from solar by 2022
and 10% by 2030
•Putting solar on as many as 50,000 Minnesota rooftops,
from residential to small businesses to big businesses
•Millions of dollars in energy savings and billions of
dollars in economic activity

3. Results: Solar Energy for Minnesota
6,000
10%
megawatts
4,500
3,000
2.5%
of electricity
1,500
0
2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030

4. Results: Solar Jobs for Minnesota
7,000
10%
installation Installation 6,500
operations
manufacturing
megawatts
5,250
3,500 2.5%
1,750
Operations 1,300
Manufacturing 1,300
0
2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030

5. How it Works
• Solar requirement: Like the Renewable
Energy Standard (RES), utilities must
buy sufficient solar to meet target.
• Broad participation: Utility must meet Sample Distribution of Solar Projects
target by purchasing solar from
projects of various sizes. 400
Residential 2.5%
250
Small Commercial 12.5%
100
Med. Commercial 25%
56
Large Commercial 35%
20
Utility Scale
# of projects 25%
% of capacity
0 100
0.1 200
0.2 300
0.3 400
0.4

6. How it’s Financed
Sample Solar Price for Commercial Solar (100-300 kW)
20¢
• Utility calculates a buy-all “value
of solar” price they will pay for
solar electricity based on its value Incentive sunsets
to their grid system. 15¢
• A production-based incentive
layers on top of the value of solar 10¢
price to make solar projects
financeable.
5¢
• The incentive is calculated
based on the solar array size.
0¢
2014 2017 2020 2023 2026 2029
• The value of solar price and
incentive are paid on a 20-year, Declining incentive
standard contract. Utility value of solar

7. What’s the Benefit? What’s the Cost?
• 6,600 jobs (over 1,300 in • Up to $37 million per year in solar
manufacturing) incentives (~$1 per month per
residential electricity customer)
• 50,000 rooftops with local solar
power
• Millions of dollars in electricity
savings for Minnesota homes and
businesses
• $7 billion in economic activity
•
Every $1 in incentives buys $10 in economic output

8. How Strong is Support for Solar Power?
Support for using more solar power
Democrats 99%
Independents 83%
Republicans 76%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Support Undecided Oppose
Poll conducted January 2012 by Minnesota Environmental Partnership and RE AMP

9. How Strong is Support for Solar Power?
Willingness to pay at least $2 per month for more solar power
Democrats 97%
Independents 86%
Republicans 89%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
$2 per month or more Less/Don’t Know
Poll conducted January 2012 by Minnesota Environmental Partnership and RE AMP

10. Comparison: Who’s Setting the Solar Pace?
10%
10%
Minnesota
NM other state standards
8%
6%
AZ
4% NM
DE
NJ CO
2% MD
NV IL
0%
2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030

11. Comparison: Who’s Using Buy-All, Sell-All?
Buy All Programs
Statewide
1 or more local/
*distributed generation regional programs