City Council Meeting Date: March 2, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Beth Kallestad, Program Coordinator
Title
Consider resolution regarding Xcel Energy Integrated Resource Plan.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is asked to consider adopting a resolution approving the City of Northfield as a signatory on the Minnesota Local Government Coalition letter in response to Xcel Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan.
Summary Report:
The City of Northfield’s Climate Action Plan includes action item
PP 7.4 - Engage decision-makers, including local members of boards and commissions, county officials, as well as state and national representatives, around elements of the climate action plan.
A coalition of Minnesota Cities and clean energy advocacy organizations have drafted a comment letter which they are asking Northfield and other cities to support with regard to Xcel Energy’s 2020-2034 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The plan outlines the utility's resource needs over that 15 year period, and charts a path for achieving its carbon goals of 80% reduction by 2030 and 100% carbon-free by 2050 with proposed plan retirements and new resource additions. A coalition summary document is provided with this packet for more information. The comment letter is also attached for review.
The Northfield EQC received a presentation on this IRP plan and request for comment at its December 16, 2020 meeting. The City Council received a presentation on January 12, 2021.
EQC discussed a possible motion of support at its January 20, 2021 meeting. At that time Commissioner Trujillo had some questions regarding the IRP and relation to Distributed Energy Resource (DER) issues. He requested the item be tabled until the February meeting so questions could be explored further.
Staff has had conversations with the Minnesota Solar Energy Installers Association (MnSEIA), Xcel Energy and the Citizen’s Utility Board (CUB) to learn more about this issue and options to help bring forward a resolution that is better for residents. We were advised that the IRP is more about the assets of the utility and production of energy for the next 15 years and not the primary route to influence distribution system issues. MnSEIA is working at the legislature this session to try and bring forward some solutions. The PUC is also looking into the issue.
On February 17, 2021 the EQC approved a motion recommending that the Northfield City Council adopt a resolution supporting this coalition letter and become a signer of the letter.
Alternative Options:
Resolution is not adopted.
Financial Impacts:
Not applicable
Tentative Timelines:
Not applicable