Join the Just Solar Coalition and other community organizations at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) meeting on Thursday February 15th at 10am. The Just Solar Coalition advocates for energy democracy, local benefits and a just transition for all. Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, Community Power, Cooperative Energy Futures, Vote Solar and Minneapolis Climate Action are members and are hosting this event in collaboration with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
The PUC will decide whether or not to approve Xcel Energy’s proposal to drastically lower the bill credits they are required to pay their customers who subscribe to community solar gardens established before 2017. This would cause each household who has subscribed to lose hundreds of dollars in savings each year, transforming their participation from a net benefit to a net cost.
This is such an important issue that we need to pull out all stops.
The event is public and anyone can attend. Community members won’t be able to speak, so it's important to show up to show strength in numbers. We must make it clear to Xcel and the PUC what side we are on and that there is a fierce movement to defend Community-Owned solar.
Please share our Facebook event: bit.ly/PUCFBevent2024
Background INFO RESOURCES
*Here is the link to the MN Public Utilities Docket regarding this issue, that includes instructions on seeing the comments, the majority against the Xcel request to lower bill credits: https://bit.ly/PUCCSGDocket2024
*Article from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance on investor-owned utilities myths about solar costs: https://ilsr.org/investor-owned-utilities-myths-costs-rooftop-solar/
WAYS TO ATTEND:
IN PERSON:
- Thursday February 15th, 2024
- Large Hearing Room, 121 7th Place E, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101
- Suite 350 is on the 3rd floor of 121 7th Place East
- Time: 10:00am - the Community Solar issue discussion will start at 10:30.
- We recommend arriving by 10:00am to leave time for navigation and parking
- You can park in the ramp across the street from the Golden Rule building (85 7th Place East) and walk into the Golden Rule building and take the skyway to 121 7th place East
- We will have refreshments outside the hearing room!
- We encourage you to arrive promptly at 10:am and sit in the front of the hearing room
ONLINE VIA PUC WEBCAST
You can attend via the PUC webcast. Instructions and link here.
PUC PROTOCOL:
No signs or banners are allowed in the PUC hearing room. Protocol for PUC meetings
More logistical and informational details on the hearing: PUC calendar page.
