This document summarizes a presentation about the promise of solar energy in Minnesota. It finds that while Minnesota currently has a small solar market, costs are high. However, opportunities exist to significantly reduce costs as solar markets grow elsewhere. It argues policy support is needed at both the state and local level, including a renewable energy standard, feed-in tariff program, and improved local permitting processes, to help grow Minnesota's solar market and realize the cost reductions and benefits of solar energy.

1. Solar in Minnesota:Great Promise John Farrell Institute for Local Self-Reliance Presentation to Solar Minnesota Minneapolis| April 25, 2011

2. @ the Institute for Local Self-Reliance Who We Are Community Banking Initiative Energy Self-Reliant States

3. Overview State of Solar in Minnesota Opportunities for Cost Reductions The Value of Solar Policy Matters

4. A Small but Growing Market Installed Capacity: 4 MW Installed in 2010: 1.8 MW – 45% Photo credit: CERTs

5. Minnesota Solar = Expensive? From page 19 of the brilliant report, Tracking the Sun III: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the U.S. from 1998-2009 (large pdf).

6. Cost of Solar != Market Size Solar PV Costs - Does State Market Size Matter? | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/4ypjblp

7. Opportunities for Cost Reductions 40% PRICE DROP! 4 years German solar market 2006 -> 2010 grew from 2.7 GW -> 16 GW

8. Opportunities for Cost Reductions $4.11 per Watt! German solar market 2006 -> 2010 grew from 2.7 GW -> 16 GW

9. Opportunities for Cost Reductions $ per Watt $5.09 $4.67 $5.65 $5.50 $5.20 $5.50 $5.39 $5.70 $4.78 $4.80 Installed Cost for Residential Solar PV Group Purchase

10. Opportunities for Cost Reductions 60% drop in PV cost 5 years Solar PV Balance of System | Rocky Mountain Institute - http://tinyurl.com/3dazuo8

11. The Value of Distributed Solar Distributed Solar Power Worth Far More Than Electrons | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/3tqmerh

12. The Value of Distributed Solar Distributed Solar Power Worth Far More Than Electrons | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/3tqmerh

13. The Value of Solar Distributed Solar Power Worth Far More Than Electrons | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/3tqmerh

14. The Value of Solar Solving Solar's Variability with More Solar | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/65b5nyh

15. RPS Policies with Solar/DG Provisions www.dsireusa.org/ April 2011 WA: double credit for DG NH: 0.3% solar- electric x 2014 OR: 20 MW solar PV x 2020; double credit for PV MI: triple credit for solar- electric MA: 400 MW PV x 2020 NY: 0.4788% customer- sited x 2015 OH: 0.5% solar-electric x 2025 NJ: 5,316 GWh solar- electric x 2026 NV: 1.5% solar x 2025; 2.4 - 2.45 multiplier for PV CO: 3.0% DG x 2020 1.5% customer-sited x 2020 IL: 1.5% PVx 2025 PA: 0.5% PV x 2021 WV: various multipliers UT: 2.4 multiplier for solar-electric DE: 3.5% PV x 2026; triple credit for PV DC MO: 0.3% solar-electric x 2021 NC: 0.2% solarx 2018 AZ: 4.5% DG x 2025 MD: 2% PV x 2022 DC: 0.4% solar x 2020 NM: 4% solar-electric x 2020 0.6% DG x 2020 TX: double credit for non-wind(non-wind goal: 500 MW) 16 states + DC have an RPS with solar/DG provisions Renewable portfolio standard with solar / distributed generation (DG) provision Renewable portfolio goal with solar / distributed generation provision Solar water heating counts toward solar provision Policy Matters: State Laws

16. Policy Matters: State Laws

17. Policy Matters: Local Rules Poor Solar Permitting Rules Increase Residential Solar Prices by Up To 20 Percent | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/5ts5b2k

18. Policy Matters: Local Rules Poor Solar Permitting Rules Increase Residential Solar Prices by Up To 20 Percent | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/5ts5b2k

19. Policy Matters: Local Rules Assessment of Mpls-St. Paul permitting: Permit pricing is about 2x higher than ideal… ~$500 in Minneapolis and ~$800 in St Paul…Minneapolis has a terrific submittal guidelines …St. Paul does not. [Minneapolis] clearly states their expectations: I.E what you need to submit to succeed and obtain a permit.

20. Policy Matters Ontario's Buy Local Renewable Energy Policy: An Update | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/3o4th8d

21. Policy Matters Solar Could Save Minnesota Schools Millions | Energy Self-Reliant States - http://tinyurl.com/5sv8ond

22. Summary Minnesota’s small market has high costs Promising cost reduction potential Policy needed State standard CLEAN Contract (feed-in tariff) Local permitting Solar is Contagious | Energy Self-Reliant States- http://tinyurl.com/444c2og

23. Solar is Contagious 1% Solar is Contagious | Energy Self-Reliant States- http://tinyurl.com/444c2og

24. Thank you! John Farrell energyselfreliantstates.org jfarrell@ilsr.org http://twitter.com/johnffarrell