As solar prices continue to fall, the demand for it is increasing. More and more utilities, corporations and the general public want electricity produced from solar farms. They are attracted to its environmental and economic benefits.
Minnesota currently has a 1.5 percent Solar Energy Standard (SES) and a state goal of reaching 10 percent solar by 2030. This is separate from Minnesota’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES). The Minnesota Legislature is discussing several different ways to take the next steps on renewables – including increasing the RPS, using a “Clean Energy First” approach, or establishing a 100 percent carbon-free standard by 2050. The state has made incredible progress incorporating renewable energy into its generation resources considering just a dozen years ago Minnesota established the Next Generation Energy Act, which at the time was considered quite ambitious and trend setting at 25 percent renewable energy by 2025. In fact, Minnesota has achieved its 25 percent by 2025 RES eight years early!
As Minnesota contemplates increasing its use of renewable energy generation, solar, no doubt, will be an important part of achieving these goals. The cost of solar generation has decreased 88 percent since 2009; and despite our northern latitude, our annual solar resource is similar to parts of Florida and Texas. In November 2018, the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Solar Pathways Project issued the Solar Potential Analysis Report, which found that solar and wind can serve 70 percent of Minnesota’s electric load by 2050, and do so at a cost that is comparable to the cost of new natural gas generation. The report suggests getting solar capacity to 10 percent by 2030 will grow our solar capacity from 250 megawatts at the end of 2016 to as much as 6,000 megawatts (6 gigawatts) of capacity. To reach the 70 percent level, we would need 14,000 to 22,000 megawatts (14-22 gigawatts) of solar capacity by 2050.
Naturally, when we begin to hear such large numbers associated with solar energy development, the question becomes: “What does 22,000 megawatts of solar really mean; and do we have enough land to do this?” The answer to the latter question is, “Yes.”
Conservatively, one megawatt of solar takes seven to 10 acres of land. Currently, the total land used for existing solar installations in Minnesota is approximately 8,500 acres. By way of comparison, between 1982 and 2012, nearly twice as much land was converted from agriculture to other types of development, primarily housing. Using the most conservative estimate of 10 acres per megawatt, it would require roughly 60,000 acres or about 94 square miles to achieve our state goal of 10 percent solar by 2030. This is about 0.1 percent of Minnesota’s entire land area. To achieve the 70 percent level by 2050, a conservative estimate of approximately 220,000 acres of land would be necessary. This represents just 0.4 percent of our total land area.
Yes, we can have it all
So where should these solar installations be developed? Minnesota ranks as the 12th largest state in the nation, with 83,574 square miles of land area. An analysis of the existing land use in the state reveals that most of the state is covered by cultivated crops or deciduous forests. Indeed, 37 percent of the state is used for agriculture for such crops as corn, soybeans and vegetables, in addition to perennial woody crops that include orchards and vineyards. It also includes “all land being actively tilled.”
[image_caption]Kelley Welf[/image_caption]
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Minnesota has 25.5 million acres of farmland, which is equivalent to 39,870.28 square miles. If we used only farmland to reach Minnesota’s 10 percent solar energy goal, that would require only 0.2 percent of the 25.5 million acres used for farming crops. To reach the 70 percent level referenced in the SPA report, only 0.86 percent of farmland would be needed.
Using farmland for purposes other than growing crops isn’t new. For comparative purposes, consider the fact that Minnesota also has more than 1 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which allows farmers to take their land out of production for a period of time for conservation purposes. That’s more than 1,600 square miles that aren’t being farmed. We could accomplish our 10 percent goal for solar using only 5.6 percent of the land area that is enrolled in the state’s Conservation Reserve Program, or about 20 percent of CRP-designated land, to reach the 70 percent target.
But what about “prime farmland?” About 16.7 million acres are considered “prime farmland” in Minnesota. If 22 gigawatts of solar – enough to meet our 70 percent goal, requiring 220,000 acres – were to be sited exclusively on prime farmland, it would still only use 1.32 percent of the land considered “prime.”
Doing more with less
As we continue to analyze how land is used and are sensitive to ensuring there is enough prime and other farmland available to meet our food needs, it is interesting to note that according to the Agricultural Census Data, the number of acres used for agriculture in Minnesota has declined 7 percent between 1997 and 2017, yet yields for both corn and soybeans continue to increase as a result of innovation in biotechnology and seed blends. This innovation is likely going to continue. As a result of our ample supply of crops, prices are at historic lows creating a need for farmers to find new ways to diversify their revenue streams. Solar is a great option.
Solar never fails as a cash crop
Solar farming can offer a consistent, drought-resistant source of income for rural farmers and their local economies. In Minnesota, on an average annual basis, there are over twice as many farm acres planted that fail due to flooding, storm damage, or blight as there are that would be needed to generate solar energy when we meet the 10 percent energy goal. Still, we are able to meet our needs, and have plenty for other uses such as ethanol, animal feed, and exports to other countries.
Anytime infrastructure projects are planned, finding the right place to put them becomes a very important part of the process. Community input is a major consideration. Every community will have a say about what they would like to see in their community, but the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is responsible for permitting solar farms of over 50 megawatts. For projects under 50 megawatts, solar developers may go through the local permitting process.
There are lots of things to consider. But fear about using the land for solar instead of farming should no longer be a source of concern. The bottom line is that Minnesota has plenty of land to accommodate our agricultural, recreational, and development needs. And, in fact, growing our solar energy industry is just smart.
Kelley Welf is the communications manager for the Clean Grid Alliance.
Very informative article. The idea that some farmers should convert from farming crops to producing renewable solar energy makes sense, especially since solar energy is going to be a more reliable source of income compared to traditional farming.
Among hand wringing environmentalists and do-nothing politicians, the climate change debate muddles along and band aid solutions and shiny new technology PV panels are offered as the solution to the ever more urgent crisis looming before us.
But instead of addressing the real problem, our gluttonous use of energy, we trot out renewable energy replacements for carbon based energy production and pretend it will be the silver bullet.
Imagine if we addressed the U.S. weight problem by mandating that all homes have personal exercise equipment by 2035? What a ridiculous proposition that would be. The same is happening with carbon emissions. Instead of analyzing and eliminating the wasteful energy use on such things as lighted billboards, decorative lighting on buildings, lighted car dealerships and the ultimate frivolous waste of energy, lighting-up water towers.
The first step is to begin conservation efforts until it hurts, then discuss efficiencies such as LEDs and natural day lighting (eliminate daylight saving time and start our days based on daylight hours, not some arbitrary time schedule), then consider alternative energy sources.