Minnesota
Incentives/Policies for Renewable Energy
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Last DSIRE Review: 02/03/2009
| Incentive Type: |
Interconnection |
| State: |
Minnesota |
| Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: |
Solar Thermal Electric,
Photovoltaics,
Landfill Gas,
Wind,
Biomass,
Hydroelectric,
Geothermal Electric,
Fuel Cells,
Municipal Solid Waste,
CHP/Cogeneration,
Microturbines,
Other Distributed Generation Technologies
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| Applicable Sectors: |
Commercial,
Industrial,
Residential,
Nonprofit,
Schools,
Local Government,
State Government,
Fed. Government
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| Applicable Utilities: | All utilities |
| System Capacity Limit: | 10 MW |
| Standard Agreement: | Yes |
| Insurance Requirements: | Vary by system size and/or type; levels established by commission |
| External Disconnect Switch: | Required |
| Net Metering Required: | No |
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Authority 1:
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Minn. Stat. § 216B.1611
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| Date Enacted: | 2001 |
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Authority 2:
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Minnesota PUC Order, Docket No. E-999/CI-01-1023
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| Date Enacted: | 09/28/2004 |
| Date Effective: | 09/28/2004 |
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Summary:
Minnesota's net-metering law, enacted in 1983, applies to all investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives. Qualifying facilities up to 40 kilowatts (kW) are eligible for net metering; there is no statewide capacity limit for net metering. However, uniform interconnection regulations were not implemented when net metering was established.
In September 2004, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted an order establishing generic standards for utility tariffs for interconnection and the operation of distributed-generation facilities up to 10 megawatts (MW) in capacity. The PUC standards contain technical requirements related to engineering studies, mandatory minimum insurance requirements for different sized systems, equipment certification definitions, a dispute resolution process, and standard application fees. The PUC has approved compliance tariffs filed by the state's investor-owned utilities. Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives were required to adopt a tariff that addresses the issues included in the PUC's order.
All utilities must report annually on the number of interconnected systems. The PUC has developed streamlined uniform interconnection applications and a process that addresses safety, economics and reliability issues.
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Please note: The information on the DSIRE web site provides an overview of incentives and other policies, but it should not be used as the only source of information when making purchasing decisions, investment decisions, tax decisions or other binding agreements. Please refer to the individual contact provided in each record to verify that a specific incentive or other policy is applicable to your specific project.
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