Equitable Solar Deployment with Electric Cooperatives

Team Members: University of Minnesota Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy; Clean Energy Resource Teams; Great Plains Institute; East River Electric Power Cooperative; Renville-Sibley Cooperative Power Association; Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative; Sioux Valley Energy; Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association; STAR Energy Services LLC

This team focused on deepening understanding of how electric cooperatives can design equitable solar PV projects consistent with the goals of their organizations. To understand the possibilities for equitable solar deployment, the project team carefully defined cross-subsidy by delving into the multilevel structure of electric cooperatives. Understanding that utilities and analysts apply different cost-categorization perspectives was key to developing a transparent analytic model that traces the economic value flows of new solar PV projects across the tiers of a cooperative system. The team produced a report that synthesized the key findings of this study for electric cooperative managers and stakeholders and pointed to future areas of research and collaboration.

Solar PV deployment models relevant for cooperatives (Adapted from Planning for Equitable Solar Deployment with Electric Cooperatives)

Publications

Chan, Gabriel, Matthew Grimley, Jamison Stallman, Joshua Anderson, and Mark Teklinski. 2021. Planning for Equitable Solar Deployment with Electric Cooperatives. University of Minnesota Center for Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy.