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In the same 736 page report (noted below) it states that the electric utility will need to bring on-line a total of 1,109 megawatts of capacity by the year 2024 to meet the estimated demand. California has brought on-line 1,148
megawatts to date of diversified solar PV (many of the 81,100+ systems are installed for residential and commercial customers on unused roof space) in the last 10 years and has created new job estimates as high as 50,000. Granted solar PV only works when the sun shines but the beauty is that it very closely matches the power load curve of the power company which experiences most of their load during the same time frame that the sun is shining. The economic benefits would be enormous as diversified solar PV could bring in billions of dollars to stimulate local Minnesota economies while creating many 10's of thousands of wide ranging secure jobs. Now that it has been in the news regarding the government's $4 billion a year in oil subsidies, renewable energy should receive a level playing field. Ask your politicians to support Solar PV by creating legislation equal to or better than the other leading solar states.
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There is an interesting fact in a publicly available 736 page document created by our local utility detailing their resource plans from 2011 to 2025. It stated on page 56 that they expect the average price per kWh to go from 8 cents in 2011 to 11 cents in 2016. This is a 37.5% increase over the next 5 years.
One way you can place a hedge against energy inflation is by installing a grid tied solar electric system. This can lock in your electric rate at as little as 3 cents per kWh and this rate will remain nearly flat for the next 25 years. Now you will smile even more when you see their rate increases...the more they raise, the more you save. |
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