In the State of Hockey Part 2 - Solar wins the face off. Could be tipping point for solar!

Solar won the face off.  The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) made a decision on March 27, 2014, directing Xcel Energy to negotiate a power purchase agreement with Geronimo Energy to build $250 million in solar arrays.  The vote was 4-0.  They also directed Xcel to negotiate agreements for one or more of three natural gas-fired generators listed in my previous blog and again below.  So the PUC went with both.  They recognized the need for more Summer Net Dependable Capacity that would not be interruptible (natural gas) and encourage the continued build out solar.  With the shutting down of the 2 coal-fired generators at Black Dog, Xcel will reduce its overall carbon emissions footprint - a big win for Minnesota.  This is shaping up to be a tipping point for solar in Minnesota.

Solar
The proposal is to install sun tracking solar panels at 20 locations around Minnesota and near substations for quick and easy connection.  Locating near or adjacent to substations will significantly reduce the line loss of electricity (an excellent idea).  The solar arrays will vary in size from 2 to 10 megawatts.  The total number of megawatts from photovoltaic solar panels will be 100 megawatts.

Coal
Xcel will shut down two coal-fired units at the Black Dog generating station in Burnsville, MN between 2017 and 2019.

Natural gas
Calpine Corp.: expand an existing natural-gas fired power plant with a second combined-cycle turbine rate at 290 megawatts,
Invenergy Thermal Development: expand an existing facility with a 179-megawatt natural gas-fired turbine,
Xcel Energy: expand/add an existing facility with a 215-megawatt natural gas-fired turbine, and
Great River Energy: sell excess its capacity to Xcel.

So, the table below will change by reducing the coal Summer Net Dependable Capacity and increasing both the natural gas and solar Summer Net Dependable Capacity.  As mentioned above, it will reduce Xcel's carbon footprint.


Here is a table of Xcel Energy's 2013 owned generating plants.

				Summer Net Dependable Capacity
Type	Plants	Units		Megawatts		%/Total
Coal	13	27		7,597.00		45.3%
Natural gas	27	69		6,758.00		40.3%
Nuclear	2	3		1,594.00		9.5%
Hydro	26	79		377.00		2.2%
Diesel/Oil	2	14		383.00		2.3%
Refuse-derived fuel	3	6		52.00		0.3%
Wind	3	238		42.00		0.3%
Solar	4	4		0.01		0.0%
Total	77	440		16,785.00		100.1%
Note: Net generating capcity is 327 MW for Xcel Energy owned wind energy facilities.
Summer net dependable capacity is determined to be lower because wind generation is
an intermittment resource and is only available when ambient wind conditions exist.

As mentioned above, the tipping point for solar has arrived.  As mentioned in my previous blog, I would like to see support at the residential level.