Agenda - Council Work Session - 04/11/2023

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Introduction Solar development is rapidly increasing in Minnesota but is constrained by access to suitable land. As climate change threatens our way of life, businesses, communities, and families, the state of Minnesota is seeking creative ways to increase renewable energy generation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Locating large-scale solar development on sites in the State"s Closed Landfill Program would make land available for clean energy projects, protect agricultural and natural lands from development, advance the State"s climate goals, and transform blighted property into community assets. Minnesota has a unique challenge, however — half of these closed landfill sites have use restrictions that limit solar development due to past utilization of general obligation bond financing to remediate the sites. This challenge is unique to Minnesota as compared to other states, which typically do not have restrictions due to bond financing on closed landfill sites. In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated funds to the EQB to gain a better understanding of the solar opportunity at sites in the State's Closed Landfill Program and ways to address barriers to solar, including bond restrictions. The EQB contracted with Barr Engineering Co. to conduct a technical assessment of the sites, as well as stakeholder engagement to uncover barriers and opportunities and inform policy recommendations. This assessment, completed in October 2020, is in Attachment I. The EQB also convened a Solar on Closed Landfills interagency team, which collaborated closely with Barr throughout 2020. Following the completion of Barr's assessment, the interagency team prepared reflections on the conclusions, followed up on additional lines of inquiry beyond the scope of Barr's assessment, and summarized information and recommendations in this legislative report. Background Facilitating solar development on closed landfill sites in Minnesota has the potential to forward the State's climate, environmental justice, and equity goals while minimizing land development impacts and generating clean energy jobs. While the threat of climate change can feel like a far-off possibility, the scientific consensus is clear: Minnesota's climate has already rapidly changed over the last several decades and additional, significant changes are expected through the end of this century. Dramatic reductions in GHG emissions are needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Minnesota has ambitious goals to reduce GHGs outlined in the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act, which calls for reducing annual emissions by 80% between 2005 and 2050. While we have made progress, achieving our goal will require much more aggressive action. Minnesota is taking important steps, including establishing a Climate Change Subcabinet and Advisory Council' and setting GHG reduction goals for state government operations.2 Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, including solar, is important for meeting the state's climate goals. Solar energy generation specifically and directly supports the State's equity and environmental justice goals through pollution reduction. As outlined in the 2015 MPCA Environmental Justice Framework,' the agency will proactively target resources to address environmental justice concerns and commit to the goal that "pollution does not have a disproportionate negative impact on any group of people." In its 1 Executive Order 19-37, December 2019. 2 Executive Order 19-27, April 2019. 3 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Environmental Justice Framework, December 17, 2015.