New Peak Power Capacity Should Use Solar, Not Gas

Date: 17 Apr 2013 | posted in: Energy, Energy Self Reliant States | 5 Facebooktwitterredditmail

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It’s parochial, since I’m a Minnesota resident, but I just can’t stand that our state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy, is planning to use ratepayer money to buy three new natural gas fired peaking plants instead of a) installing solar power or b) supporting the proposed solar energy standard.  Share the graphic below if you agree:

Xcel Energy should use solar for peak power

FYI, if you question the claim about “cheaper,” I estimate that commercial-scale rooftop solar in Minnesota will install for approximately $2.11 per Watt by 2020, with a levelized cost of 12.9¢ per kilowatt-hour (9.4¢ with accelerated depreciation and a 10% federal ITC), no fuel cost and no fracking.

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John Farrell

John Farrell directs the Energy Democracy initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and he develops tools that allow communities to take charge of their energy future, and pursue the maximum economic benefits of the transition to 100% renewable power.