The Alexandria Echo Press reprints a commentary from Mark Glaess on Minnesota's Renewable Energy Standard, the state law that requires utilities to buy 25 percent of their energy from renewable resources. His commentary first appeared in a local electric coop newsletter.
Rather than feel good bromides, Glaess brings hard numbers on what the well-intentioned policy is costing Minnesota electric ratepayers,
"In 2009, Minnesota utilities produced 3,441,000,000 kWh by capturing the wind. On average, utilities paid 4.5 cents for each kWh...the market only paid an average of 2.7 cents for each kWh produced by wind... The loss of 1.8 cents per kWh spread over 3.4 billion kWh cost Minnesotans some $62 million in 2009."
Read the whole thing.
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