Hello, dear readers! Today I bring some really radiant news from the world of solar. Drawing my insights from a deeply informing article on pv magazine USA, we delve into the exciting developments in Minnesota thanks to its dynamic governor, Tim Walz. This will be especially interesting for those considering solar panels for their homes or perhaps even a complete solar array for home use.
In case you aren’t up to speed with the solar zeitgeist, Tim Walz was recently anointed as Kamala Harris’s running mate for the 2024 Presidential race. Back in Minnesota, where Mr. Walz is governor, he’s known for his strong leanings towards renewable, clean energy – a cause close to my own heart and that of numerous solar companies.
Minnesota has secured its place in the US solar league, being the 16th among all states for installed solar, a leap from 23rd place in 2023. A significant burst of this energy (pun intended) comes from the state’s pioneering Community Solar Garden Program, hailed as a ‘sunrise’ moment that rolled out almost a gigawatt of community-scale solar in less than a decade. Those looking to install solar panels for their homes could definitely take cues from this.
Governor Walz is a staunch advocate of solar, hoping to top every school in Minnesota with a solar panel. This vision gave birth to the popular Solar for Schools program. Thanks to this initiative, Minnesota flaunts over 23 MW of solar installed atop nearly 190 schools, making it one of the top states for solar schools. The enthusiasm for this initiative led Walz to sign into law Minnesota’s Solar on Public Buildings program, promising to spread solar panels across government edifices across the state.
The Walz-led Minnesota administration backed a new Distributed Solar Energy Standard (DSES) as well that necessitates investor-owned utilities to fulfill a certain share of their retail sales through distributed solar.
But of course, every endeavor has its hurdles and solar isn’t exempt. Minnesota is wrestling with a huge project backlog, delaying further solar project execution. One prime culprit being cited is Xcel Energy, which is believed to be restricting the capacity of the entire distribution system by 20%, under-utilizing nearly 2 to 3 GW of capacity.
In sum, Minnesota has made phenomenal leaps in the solar landscape under Governor Walz’s leadership, fueling the hope that he will act as a beacon of solar energy utilization at the national level. A Harris-Walz Administration, with their shared commitment to clean energy, could truly turbocharge the adoption of solar technology, benefitting not just solar companies but also homeowners seeking to install solar panels or a home solar array.
Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments below. Do share your thoughts, facts, experiences, or doubts, and I’ll try to shed more light on it. After all, a united, informed front is what we need to make our nation brighter and cleaner.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/09/18/a-look-at-tim-walz-clean-energy-record-as-governor-of-minnesota/
