If solar power is ever going to make a big impact on Cook County, it is going to do so at least in part because of the efforts of the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP).
But CCLEP can’t do it alone, said Virginia Danfelt, Don Grant and George Wilkes, who came before the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission on November 19.
Danfelt, who is the CCLEP coordinator, asked Grand Marais PUC to partner with CCLEP to offer a continuing education workshop for licensed contractors on Thursday, February 12.
Seven continuing education credits will be offered from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to contractors who complete the class. This meets the annual continuing education requirement for maintaining a contractor’s license that includes two hours of energy requirements. Homeowners and non-licensed building professionals are also encouraged to attend the class, said Danfelt.
This is the third year CCLEP is offering the class. The first year 17 people attended and 24 people attended the second year. “We have been asked by contractors to bring the class back,” said Danfelt.
CCLEP received $400 last year from the PUC and Danfelt requested the same amount, but Karl Hansen, PUC board chair said, “We can raise that to $500. This helps support the local workforce.” A unanimous motion passed to contribute $500.
Wilkes said CCLEP is offering a new program “designed to facilitate solar electric development throughout Cook County. As you are probably aware, the cost of solar power has decreased drastically in recent years, and as concerns about climate change increase, it is very likely that we will see increasing interest in local solar power production,” said Wilkes.
To facilitate this growing demand, CCLEP is creating an educational and informational campaign to create a “pathway” for individuals and businesses to install solar power systems on their properties.
Also, said Danfelt, CCLEPwillconductaafeasibility study to determine best strategies for implementing economically viable community solar projects that would make solar power investment available to those without access to good solar power sites.
Funding will be sought from a grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation for $20,000, said Wilkes. CCLEP is also asking for a letter of support for the grant application and $2,500 in matching funds. Arrowhead Electric had also been asked for a letter of support and a match of $2,500.
“Arrowhead informed us that they are supportive and will write a letter of support, but they won’t contribute any money at this time,” said Wilkes, who then asked if the PUC would be interested in putting in the full $5,000.
“Good try,” said Hansen, laughing.
By building the solar program Danfelt said it is hoped that more local customers will consider installing solar power, which will in turn facilitate more local jobs as well as increase self-reliance. It is also an important component to climate change, noted Wilkes. CCLEP also hopes to use the project to build a better energy future for Grand Marais, said Wilkes, even though it may seem at odds with PUC’s mission, he added.
Kennedy said the PUC had been looking for ways to get involved with solar energy. “CCLEP is offering us a chance to get involved. It’s a good project; it’s something we have been interested in. We can get some answers about whether solar can be a possibility for us.”
“Just because Arrowhead dropped out doesn’t mean we have to,” said PUC’s Adam Harju.
Danfelt said PUC’s specific role in this program would be limited to participation in drafting, review and editing educational materials; and participation in a Community Solar Power Working Group, which would be facilitated by a solar power consultant. Wilkes said a regional search would be held to find a consultant who could work with a small community like Grand Marais and Cook County. He felt that it would take $10,000 to pay for that consultant’s work. PUC participation would amount to only about 30 hours over the course of the grant period, which will run March 23, 2015 to March 23, 2016, said Danfelt.
Kennedy moved to send a letter of support for CCLEP to the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation and offer CCLEP $2,500 if the $20,000 grant is received from the foundation. Hanson and Harju voted in favor and a letter will be drafted and sent in support of CCLEP’s grant request.
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