So far in 2010, some big things have happened in the area of energy efficiency. It bears repeating time and again: the cheapest and cleanest energy is the energy we don't use. Improving energy efficiency in our daily lives--meaning doing lots more with less energy--is 70 percent cheaper than generating new energy. The efficiency highlights so far in 2010...

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The electric transmission system in Minnesota and the Midwest operates near or at capacity much of the time. In 2007, legislation was passed that required a statewide study to identify locations in the transmission grid where a total of 1,200 megawatts of relatively small renewable energy projects (between 10 and 40 megawatts of power) could be operated with little or no change to the existing infrastructure. The study, or Dispersed Renewable Generation Study (DRG), was prepared by electric line experts at Minnesota utilities and managed by a stellar technical review committee, under contract with the Minnesota Office of Energy Security. It was intended to find out if smaller wind energy projects can connect into the lower voltage distribution lines, thereby avoiding the costs and constraints of connecting to the high voltage transmission lines.

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Every four years, the Minnesota Department of Commerce's Office of Energy Security is required to issue the State Energy Policy and Conservation Report, or "Quad Report." The Quad Report describes the state's energy system, its structure, costs, and environmental impacts. The 2008 report, released September 15, identifies energy reliability as the administration's energy policy going forward, which is defined as focusing on utility operations, investment in electric transmission, power quality and service standards, and economics. It makes a general nod toward community renewable energy development as well. While it's certainly a good background explanation of the energy system in the state, as are earlier quad reports, it spends only three pages on energy conservation, which belies its name and primary reason for being.

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The proposed Big Stone II coal-fired power plant lost its lead partner last Friday. Otter Tail Power Company announced that it was withdrawing both as a participant and the lead developer in the project citing the economic downturn and the uncertainty of future environmental regulation.

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