Solar energy has prevailed over gas fired power generation in Minnesota based on a head-to-head price comparison.
In what it calls an unprecedented ruling, the StarTribune reports a judge reviewing whether electricity giant Xcel Energy should invest in new gas generators or utility scale solar power has decided solar provides more bang for buck.
Xcel doesn’t appear to agree and other competitors also touting their gas-fired generation solutions may share similar views and appeal the decision.
However, if the decision is upheld by Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Geronimo Energy has its sights set on building numerous solar farms in Xcel’s service area; an initiative worth around USD $250 million.
Geronimo Energy is a utility-scale wind and solar energy developer based in Edina, Minnesota. The company was started by a farmer who decided to put the knowledge he gained after establishing a wind farm on his own property to good use.
Geronimo Energy has strong ties to Enel Green Power; one of the world’s largest renewable energy producers. Enel Green Power boasts a portfolio of 8.731 GW, represented by more than 745 wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass facilities in operation around the world
The Geronimo Aurora Solar Project would see 100-megawatts of distributed solar power installed across 20-25 sites in 18 counties; with facilities ranging in size from 2-10 megawatts.
Minnesota’s Governor Mark Dayton signed a mandate last year compelling Xcel and other major power companies to source 1.5 percent of their power from the sun by 2020. The “Solar Energy Jobs Act” will boost Minnesota’s solar capacity from the 13 MW capacity at the time the bill came into play to more than 450 MW by 2020. The Act also establishes a longer-term goal of achieving 10 percent solar by 2030.
