6.1.a. ERMUSR 08-11-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Our Resources Our Plans for the Future MMPA's members' electric demands are growing. This, combined with Elk River beginning to buy power from MMPA in 2018, creates the need for the Agency to plan for additional generating facilities in the next few years. MMPA's plan is to add efficient resources to the Agency's generating portfolio that help MMPA manage risks related to energy pricing, transmission, and environmental regulation. Distributed Generation Hometown Solar The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission The Agency completed a 15kW solar installation approved MMPA's 2013 Integrated Resource at Faribault Energy Park, and is planning to Plan (IRP) in January 2015. In the IRP, the build small scale solar facilities in member Agency outlined its plan to use Agency-owned communities. This program will demonstrate distributed generation connected with our solar technology in our member communities members' distribution systems to meet MMPA's as well as help support the Agency's Energy near-term capacity needs. Education Program. By interconnecting locally rather than to the Solar high voltage transmission system, the Agency The Agency is investigating a larger-scale solar can avoid transmission interconnection facility, either through direct ownership or via uncertainties, while simultaneously increasing a power purchase agreement, to enhance the reliability of our member communities' and further diversify the Agency's renewable electric systems. resource portfolio. The facility would be The distributed generation facilities would located in a member community. consist of natural gas-fired reciprocating engines. In addition, MMPA intends to include some solar power at each of its distributed generation facilities. Anoka, Chaska, and Shakopee are being evaluated as the first group of MMPA member communities to potentially host distributed generation plants because of their load size. 2014 MMPA Annual Report 17