I assume this was I-90 west of Rochester, which is where most of the wind is sited. Sadly it is nowhere near enough and still only produces 25% of the state’s electrical needs whereas neighboring South Dakota and Iowa are over 50%.
Solar and wind have very different potentials in the state. Minnesota is at the Northern terminus of the wind corridor which they take advantage of. However, it is one of the worst states for solar irradiance potential.
Sherco solar replaces 2.4 GW base load coal with a planned 910 MW of solar and only 3 GWh of storage. This comes across as insufficient in a snowy winter in a state where conversion to electrical heating is a must.
Wait, aren’t those red states? Aren’t Republicans famously anti-renewalables? Like didn’t Trump try to shut down a ~90% complete wind farm. He’s pro-coal right.
So why the huge uptake in renewables in these states against policy? I get that renewables can be the superior choice. But is this yet another case of say one thing, do another?
If they want people to switch to electric heating in Minnesota then they need to make electric cheaper. Utility costs for most in Minnesota drop significantly compared to summer because it’s far cheaper to heat with natural gas than it is to cool with electric.
Fixing the public utilities commission would be good too.
Not surprising they’re up on renewables. The last time I drove through Minnesota it was windmills off into the horizon for many miles.
I assume this was I-90 west of Rochester, which is where most of the wind is sited. Sadly it is nowhere near enough and still only produces 25% of the state’s electrical needs whereas neighboring South Dakota and Iowa are over 50%.
Solar and wind have very different potentials in the state. Minnesota is at the Northern terminus of the wind corridor which they take advantage of. However, it is one of the worst states for solar irradiance potential.
Sherco solar replaces 2.4 GW base load coal with a planned 910 MW of solar and only 3 GWh of storage. This comes across as insufficient in a snowy winter in a state where conversion to electrical heating is a must.
Wait, aren’t those red states? Aren’t Republicans famously anti-renewalables? Like didn’t Trump try to shut down a ~90% complete wind farm. He’s pro-coal right.
So why the huge uptake in renewables in these states against policy? I get that renewables can be the superior choice. But is this yet another case of say one thing, do another?
Yup. The secret is wind is just cheaper in places with strong, near constant resources.
If they want people to switch to electric heating in Minnesota then they need to make electric cheaper. Utility costs for most in Minnesota drop significantly compared to summer because it’s far cheaper to heat with natural gas than it is to cool with electric.
Fixing the public utilities commission would be good too.
Some Minnesota utilities do subsidize electricity prices if you heat with it. All utilities provide strong rebates for installing heat pumps.
I90
Not a scenic drive. If you have to drive through, after dark, this is a good place for it.