North Dakota has the reputation for being a cold
state, with long winters. There is some truth to that reputation. With that
noted, North Dakota does have more sunny days than any other U.S. states along the
Canadian border. Therefore, because the state does outrank the others that
border the U.S. neighbor to the north, you may be wondering about how solar
energy is utilized in the state of North Dakota.
Solar Power: A Little Used Resource in North
Dakota
At this juncture in time, solar energy is a
little used resource in the state of North Dakota. Indeed, North Dakota ranks
in last place when contrasted with all other U.S. states when it comes to solar
energy use. North Dakota even ranks under the other U.S. Canadian border states
that enjoy less sunny days than North Dakota.
As of 2017, North Dakota has a meager installed
solar capacity of 220 kW. There are a variety of reasons why North Dakota is in
last place when it comes to the utilization of solar energy.
North Dakota Governmental Solar Energy Policy
Advocates for the use of solar energy maintain
that the government of North Dakota has established polices that are decidedly
"anti-solar energy." This seems to be particularly the case when it
comes to the state's "net metering policy." In the state of North
Dakota, a home or business owner that takes advantage of solar energy. (As an
aside, North Dakota technically does not have a true net metering policy
because meters are not read monthly.)
A home or business owner's utilization of solar
energy is reconciled monthly. A home or business owner utilizing solar energy
obtains what can best be described as a credit for that usage up to a specific
amount each month. If a consumer exceeds this amount, rather than obtain an
additional credit, or have the additional credited amount roll over into the
next month, or a future month, the home or business owner loses the credit all
together. In other words, a home or business owner ultimately is penalized for
using "too much" solar energy in a particular month.
This policy is considered to be one of the worst
in the nation. If continuous rollover was permitted, as is the case in some
other states, during the winter months, a consumer could apply the excess credits
earned in the summer time during a time period when less energy can be
generated via solar power.
Primary Types of Solar Power Uses in North Dakota
There are two primary ways in which solar power
is being utilized in North Dakota. First, solar panels are being utilized on
residential and commercial buildings. This is not as widespread as is the case
in many states. Moreover, this utilization is subject to the limitations just
discussed.
The second way in which solar energy is being
utilized in North Dakota involves pumping water at remote wells. Supplying
power to remote wells has long been a notable problem in North Dakota.
Utilizing traditional means to supply power to
remove wells in North Dakota required the installation of power lines. The installation
of power lines costs an average of $15,0000 per mile. This could result in what
really might be called astronomical costs to provide necessary power to remote
wells.
With the utilization of solar panels at remote
well sites, a mere $800 is expended to provide the setup for necessary power.
The expense of installing solar panels at these sites logs in at under $1,000,
not matter where the pump and well is located in the state of North Dakota.
The geographic location is such that the
construction of solar farms is not economically advisable at this time.
Generally speaking, the determination in the industry is that there is not
enough sunshine in the state to generate enough electricity within a specified
period of time to assist in offsetting the costs of solar farm construction.
Noting this fiscal reality associated with solar
farms in North Dakota, the costs associated with constructing these facilities
continues to decrease. In other words, at some juncture in the future, when a
cost and benefit analysis is run, solar farms may be considered more financial
feasible in the state of North Dakota.
Solar Energy Research
Despite limited use of solar energy in the state,
North Dakota State University is involved in research associated with solar energy.
This includes work on applications that may render solar energy more widely
useful in North Dakota in the not too distant future.
Jessica Kane is a professional blogger
who writes for Federal Steel
Supply, Inc., a leading steel tubing suppliers of carbon,
alloy and stainless steel pipe, tubes, fittings and flanges.
