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
  
  

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
  
  

Net Metering of Distributed Generation Resources – November 1, 2011 Workshop (Agenda)

• Net Metering Policy Options
  Kim Peterson, NREL
  
  
• Net Metering in the US: Where are we heading?
  Laurel Varnado, NC Solar Center, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
  
  
• Distributed Generation Workshop Series
  Lise Trudeau, Minnesota Department of Commerce
  
  
• A Rural Electric Co-op’s DG Perspective
  Jim Hultman, Runestone Electric Association
  
  
• Windustry’s Perspective on Net Metering
  Dan Turner, Windustry
  
  
• Net Metering at Minnesota Power
  Dan Tonder, Minnesota Power
  
  

Other Distributed Generation Resources on the CERTs website:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Distributed Renewable Generation (DRG) Study, Phase II Webinar
• What is Distributed Renewable Generation; How Might it Work in my Region? Phase I Webinar
• Using a Distributed Strategy in your Region
• Distributed Generation Interconnection Study: Context & Process
• Scale and Ownership of Renewable Energy