Minnesota Commerce Dept. & power companies try to block approval of solar projects
State energy officials and power companies tried Tuesday to derail a proposed $250 million solar energy project designed to meet future electricity needs of Xcel Energy Inc. customers in Minnesota.
In regulatory filings, the Minnesota Commerce Department, Xcel and two other companies that want to build natural gas power plants urged state regulators to reject Edina-based Geronimo Energy’s plans to build approximately 20 large solar power arrays across Minnesota.
In an unprecedented ruling three weeks ago, state Administrative Law Judge Eric Lipman examined the arguments for solar power vs. natural gas generation and concluded that solar would be a better deal. He recommended that the state Public Utilities Commission approve the Geronimo solar project.
The commission is not required to follow Lipman’s recommendations, and in regulatory filings on Tuesday, the other companies said it shouldn’t.
http://m.startribune.com/?id=241389281
