DECEMBER 13, 2016 PROGRAM:
The Solar Energy Revolution in Minnesota
Minnesota’s Solar Jobs Act in 2013 set the stage for dramatic growth in the solar industry in Minnesota, catapulting us to being the leader on solar among states in the Upper Midwest. This presentation will look at what has happened to-date as a result of the state’s push into solar energy and how those developments are part of national and global trends in solar energy.
The presentation will also look at what is likely to come next, and where businesses, local governments and community organizations are likely to see opportunities to invest in solar energy. Along with what this could mean for Minnesota in terms of new businesses, job growth, and the role of energy utilities, and how investments in solar energy can help us address racial disparities.
Michael Krause has been involved in solar energy and other sustainable technologies for more than 25 years. He is a former suburban newspaper publisher, and also held policy positions with Hennepin County and in the Minnesota State Senate. He was executive director of the Green Institute, a groundbreaking community development organization, for nine years. In 2005, he formed Kandiyo Consulting, which provides business development, financial and project management, and policy support for green buildings, water technologies and sustainable development, as well as solar energy.