Powering MN with Distributed Renewable Energy: Presentations & Resources

Updated Nov. 10, 2011.

The Division of Energy Resources, Minnesota Department of Commerce is hosting a series of Distributed Generation Workshops to examine opportunities and issues related to greater development of distributed generation resources in Minnesota.

The department is hosting four workshops this fall to discuss the benefits, barriers, and issues associated with increased DG capacity. We’re pleased to share the presentations from these workshops below. Upcoming workshops will focus on net metering and next steps, and we will share those presentations once they’re available in November.

What is it? Distributed generation is a decentralized power plant, feeding into the distribution level power-grid and typically sized between 10 and 150 MW. Our electric utility infrastructure in this country is based on a system of large power plants feeding power to customers through a vast transmission and distribution system, collectively known as “the grid”. Distributed generation is a concept where smaller, highly efficient power plants would be built along the existing grid, close to the end-user customer. It is similar in concept to the move from large central computers to desktop computers on a network. Minnesota, with our strong renewable energy capabilities, is ideally suited to take advantage of distributed generation across the state.

Opportunities and Issues for Distributed Generation Resources – September 29, 2011 Workshop (Agenda)

  • Successful U.S. State Policies for Supporting Renewable and Distributed Generation
    Jason Keyes, Keyes & Fox, LLP
     
  • Minnesota Distributed Generation Resources: Successes, Challenges, Opportunities
    Matt Schuerger, Energy Systems Consulting Services, LLC
     
  • Combined Heat & Power Policies and Projects
    Cliff Haefke, US Department of Energy
     
  • Solar Market and Thoughts on the Role of Government/Private Partnership
    Joel Cannon, tenKsolar
     
  • Solar America Cities & Distributed Generation
    Anne Hunt, Environmental Policy Director, City of Saint Paul
     
  • Distributed Generation and Small Wind
    Chad Palmer, Sales Manager, Wind Turbine Industries Corp
     
  • Distributed Generation, A Case Study of U of MN Morris
    Lowell Rasmussen, U of M Morris
     
  • Technical History and Future Development of Cogeneration
    Paul Stohr, Director of Energy Solutions Business, Cummins, Inc
     
  • Koda Energy, LLC CHP Biomass to Energy
    Paul Kramer, Rahr Malting
     
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Distributed Generation Contracting Issues – October 11, 2011 Workshop (Agenda)

  • Interconnection Standards
    Michael Sheehan, P.E., Failte Group
     
  • Minnesota Interconnection Standards
    Thomas Basso, NREL Smart Grid Standards, Office of Electricity
     
  • Contractual Issues In Distributed Generation Projects
    Jeffrey C. Paulson, Paulson Law Office, Ltd.
     
  • Customer Supply Standby Service Needs
    Paul J. Lehman, Xcel Energy
     
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Net Metering of Distributed Generation Resources – November 1, 2011 Workshop (Agenda)

 

Other Distributed Generation Resources on the CERTs website:

 

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