Democratic State Sen. Rob Kupec has introduced a bill in the Minnesota Senate to streamline that interconnection process for certified plug-in solar systems. It’s the companion legislation to a proposal from state Rep. Larry Kraft, a Democrat from St. Louis Park. Kraft told MPR News he’s never seen so much excitement around a clean energy bill.
“It’s a great thing for energy affordability, and it’s also just a great thing for individual freedom,” Kraft said, for people who want to tap into the power of the sun that’s shining on their property.
“When you start to conceptualize how much power the sun is producing on a daily basis, on every square inch of land, you start to realize every plot of land is its own fortress, or its own microgrid,” he said.
The proposal is still alive in the Minnesota Senate. But advocates concede it has a narrow path to approval in a closely divided legislature.
“If we aren’t successful with passing it this year, we will absolutely be coming back next year, and we’ll have a better shot, probably, of getting it done,” said Patty O’Keefe, Midwest Regional Director for Vote Solar.