Clean Energy News
Minnesota improves to 9th in 2017 ACEEE State EE Scorecard
Minnesota improved
to 9th in the nation (from 10th in 2016) in the 2017 State Energy Efficiency
Scorecard (pdf), according
to a report released Sept. 28 by the American Council for
an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The scorecard assesses state policies and
programs that improve energy efficiency and ranked Minnesota in the top 10 for
the 10th time in the 11 years of the scorecard. Massachusetts and
California were the top two states for the second straight year. Minnesota
scored 33 out of a possible 50 points, up 2 points from the 2016 Scorecard. Read
more (pdf).
 Burdette honored as one of 40 Under 40 emerging clean energy leaders
Jessica
Burdette, manager of Energy Efficiency and Operations in the Minnesota
Department of Commerce State Energy Office, was recently honored by Midwest Energy News’ 40 Under 40
2017 awards program. Burdette is recognized as one of 40 emerging leaders throughout
the region for her work in America’s transition to a clean energy economy.
Burdette has been with Commerce’s Energy Division since 2012 and served as
Conservation Improvement Program supervisor until 2016. From 2008-2011,
she was an energy analyst/project manager for Energy Insight, an energy
efficiency implementer in Minnesota, developing, managing, and implementing
utility demand-side management programs for utilities throughout rural
Minnesota. Burdette served as a board member of the Association of Energy
Service Professionals–Midwest Chapter from 2010-2014 and currently is the chair
of the U.S. Department of Energy’s SEE Action Committee for customer
information and behavior. Read more to learn of other Minnesota
honorees. (Photo: Jessica Burdette)
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CEEM
Report: State’s clean energy industry exceeds 57,000 jobs
Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM) released on Sept. 7 a new report from Clean Energy Trust and Environmental Entrepreneurs that finds that Minnesota now has 57,351 total clean energy jobs. In the
last 12 months, Minnesota’s clean energy industry grew by 5.3%, adding 2,893
jobs—3.8 times faster than overall job growth in the state. Despite the rapid
growth that has already occurred, clean energy technology continues to present
a significant opportunity for business and job growth. Read more.
Renewables
are 13.49% of domestic energy production in early 2017
Citing the
latest issue of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) “Electric Power Monthly” (with data through June 30), nonprofit
research and advocacy group SUN DAY says renewables accounted for 13.49% of all
domestic energy production during the first half of 2017 compared to 12.61%
during the same period in 2016 and 10.88% in 2015. During the first six months
of 2017, energy produced from renewable sources was 10.29% higher than a year
earlier and 21.34% higher than two years ago. Read
more.
MPCA to announce clean diesel
grant opportunity
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will offer around
$200,000 in clean diesel grant funding when it posts its federal Diesel
Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant later this fall. Large pre-2006 diesels are
big polluters, so MPCA will again offer partial grants to help upgrade diesel
engines. Among last year’s grant recipients were Upper River Services in St.
Paul, which received a 40% grant to replace a crane engine used for loading
barges, and LS Marine of Forest Lake, which received a 40% funding to replace
two towboat engines. For more on the grant and to be notified when the funding
opportunity becomes available, visit the MPCA website.
New Power Grid Kits from REcharge Labs
is K-12 energy literacy tool
REcharge Labs® launched two Power Grid Kits, modular
platforms for K-12 students to explore how the electrical grid functions. The
Town Power Grid Kit and the City Power Grid Kit demonstrate traditional power
generation resources and allow students to explore the impact of solar and wind
power along with electric vehicle charging, smart grid technology, and energy
efficiency. The Power Grid Kits align to the Energy Literacy
Framework,
supported by DOE, to improve the understanding of how electricity is generated,
the impact of the electricity generation, and how the system works. To learn
more about the kits or how educators can request a loaner City Power Grid Kit
for their classrooms, visit rechargelabs.org/store.
Tribes can get technical assistance for energy planning, renewables
The U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy provides federally
recognized Indian tribes, including Alaska Native villages, tribal energy
resource development organizations, and other organized tribal groups and
communities with technical assistance to advance tribal energy projects at no
cost. On-Request Technical Assistance provides energy planning, housing and
building energy efficiency, and much more. The Strategic Technical Assistance
Response Team (START) assists in the development of tribal renewable energy
projects. Learn more.
Amaris Homes of Afton is winner in DOE Housing Innovation Awards
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) presented the 2017 Housing Innovation Awards to 24 of the nation's leading builders on Oct. 12 at the Energy and Environmental Building Alliance's High Performance Home Summit in Atlanta. Amaris Homes of Afton, Minn., was a grand winner in the “Innovation in Custom Homes” category. Read more.
Solar News
Commerce active at MnSEIA Midwest Gateway to Solar Conference
The fourth-annual MnSEIA Midwest Gateway to Solar
Conference will be held on Nov. 14-15 at the Hilton-Airport/Mall
of America in Minneapolis. Staff
members from the Minnesota Department of Commerce will lend their expertise to
workshops and panels, and Commerce is a sponsor of the conference. Solar Policy
Specialist Stacy Miller will receive the 2017 Ralph Jacobson Lifetime Achievement
Award. The conference brings together
solar industry practitioners from all over the country for education and
networking. Read more for details and
registration information.
Xcel has 40 CSGs in operation for 139 MW; 200 more MW to come
Xcel Energy announced on Oct. 4 that 40
community solar gardens are up and running, passing the 100-megawatt threshold
for electricity production, according to an article in the Star Tribune. Xcel’s Community Solar Garden program was created by
the Legislature and launched in 2014. Xcel says 139 MW of power are now online.
Projects generating up to 200 MW more could be completed by the end of the
year. Read more.
Wind News
 Xcel Energy on pace to surpass 10,000 MW of wind power
Xcel
Energy announced plans to build and own a new 300-MW wind farm in South Dakota,
adding to the company’s nation-leading wind expansion strategy, according to a
report in WindPower Engineering &
Development. This project puts Xcel Energy on pace to be the first utility
in the nation to surpass 10,000 MW of wind on its system, which would be more
than enough clean energy to power every home in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Read
more.
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Morris research center helps agriculture become more sustainable
In
conjunction with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters, WINDExchange
produced a second audio interview with Michael Reese, renewable energy
director at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minn. The
Center's goal is to reduce the use of fossil energy in agriculture and the
carbon footprint of agricultural products. During this interview, Reese
discusses current research and the fact that the renewable energy sector
continues to evolve and become more feasible for farmers. The first audio
interview with Reese, during which he discusses making nitrogen fertilizer with
wind energy, is available here.
Electric Vehicles
New rapid Metro Transit bus line to include battery-electric buses
Metro Transit's next rapid bus line will bring battery-electric buses to the Twin Cities for the first time, according to Metro Transit of Minneapolis and St. Paul. At least six of the 60-foot articulated buses that will be used on the C Line will be fully-propelled by rechargeable batteries, eliminating tailpipe emissions. The Xcelsior® battery-electric, sixty-foot, heavy-duty transit buses will be manufactured and delivered by St. Cloud, Minnesota-based New Flyer of America. The buses will be among the first 60-foot battery-electric articulated buses put into service in the United States. Read more.
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