A trade group for solar power says installation of solar panels is surging in southern Minnesota, especially in utility-scale projects, reports The Associated Press. In one instance, a farmer decided to lease a rocky eight-acre field for installation of solar panels with a total capacity of 1 megawatt of electricity and an annual rental payment that is “a lot more” than it was generating as a cattle pasture.
The Solar Energy Industries Association says the plummeting cost of solar panels is one reason for the explosion of installations. Another is federal tax credits for renewable energy. Favorable state utility policies also help the fledgling industry grow. Solar power is less than one-tenth of 1 percent of Minnesota’s electric usage.
The trade group says community solar gardens have spurred the growth in utility-scale solar projects in the the state. “In Southeast Minnesota, several counties have seen big boosts in solar power over the past two years,” says the AP. Goodhue County approved projects totaling 9 megawatts last year and 5 megawatts so far this year. Wabasha County has added 10 megawatts thus far in 2016-17.