5.2. ERMUSR 09-10-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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State Solar Goal (for all utilities) - "It is an energy goal of the state of Minnesota that by 2030. 10% of the retail electric sales in Minnesota be generated by solar energy." While not a mandate. this"goal"applies to all retail electric sales and.therefore. to all electric utility sectors. including public power. Xcel Solar Energy Incentive Program-Xcel must operate a program to provide solar energy production incentives for solar energy systems. The program must be operated for 5 consecutive calendar years commencing in 2014. $5 million per year must be allocated for each of the 5 years from the Renewable Development Fund (RDF). To be eligible, systems must be 20kW or smaller in nameplate capacity and sized to less than 120% of the customer's on-site annual energy consumption. The incentive must be paid for 10 years. Community Solar Garden -Xcel must file with the Public Utilities Commission a plan to operate a community solar garden program to begin 90 days after the commission approves the plan. Other public utilities may apply with the commission to file and operate similar programs. The program must be designed to offset the energy use of not less than 5 subscribers, and no subscriber may have more than a 40%interest. The owner of the community solar garden may be a public utility or any other entity or organization that contracts to sell the output from the community solar garden to the utility. The maximum size for a solar garden is 1 megawatt, and the minimum subscription must be 200 watts of the garden's generating capacity. Subscribers must be customers of the utility, must receive their portion of the solar project's generation as a credit on their electric bill and must live in the county where the facility is located or a contiguous county. Made in Minnesota (Article 11) Solar Energy Production Incentive- Each investor-owned utility must contribute 5% of their CIP spending requirement for 10 years to a new Made in Minnesota Solar Energy Production Incentive account. Each contributing utility receives energy savings credit "based on its payment to the commissioner." Xcel must fill the fund up to $15 million after all other annual receipts are received. The Division of Energy Resources must attempt to distribute incentive payments among utility customers in proportion to the amounts contributed by the utilities. Rebates for Photovoltaic Systems - Eligible systems must be 40kW or smaller, installed on residential or commercial property and receive a "Made in Minnesota" certificate from the DER. The owner receives payments for 10 years, provided that funding is available. No new customers may be added to the 10-year program beginning in January 2025. Rebates for Solar thermal projects- For 10 years, beginning in 2014, the Department of Commerce must allocate $250,000 from the Made in Minnesota account to be spent on rebates for solar thermal systems. The maximum rebate shall be 25% of the installed cost of a completed system or$2,500 for a single family residence, $5,000 for a multiple family 69