[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE CITY OF MOORHEAD FOR ITS INNOVATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS

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                        HON. COLLIN C. PETERSON

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2016

  Mr. PETERSON. Mr. Speaker, the City of Moorhead in Minnesota is 
leading the way in developing innovative community energy programs that 
provide local investment opportunities, diversifies Minnesota's energy 
portfolio, and improves our nation's energy independence. Moorhead 
Public Service is the tip of the spear in those efforts.
  I congratulate the administrators at Moorhead Public Service for 
envisioning and building renewable energy projects like Capture the Sun 
which have brought national recognition to the people of Moorhead. 
Today, I would like to expand this recognition to the United States 
Congress.
  Capture the Sun is a community solar garden located in north Moorhead 
and administered by Moorhead Public Service. The project provides local 
energy customers the opportunity to invest in renewable energy by 
purchasing one or more solar panels. The renewable energy is then 
delivered to the home or business of the investor, offsetting costlier 
sources of energy. The $480 per panel investment is paid back through 
20 years of more affordable electricity bills. With the Capture the Sun 
model, customers who may not have been able to afford infrastructure 
costs associated with building solar panels on their roofs are now able 
to invest in renewable solar energy.
  Moorhead Public Service began its first phase of community solar in 
2015, and the initial local reaction to community solar was 
overwhelmingly positive. In fact, the customer demand for solar panels 
was so strong that Moorhead Public Service decided to expand Capture 
the Sun to a second phase in 2016. I had the chance to attend the 
ribbon cutting ceremony for the second Capture the Sun community solar 
garden on October 4, 2016. It was impressive to learn that every panel 
for the second project has already been purchased by local investors.
  Each .310 kilowatt panel produces an estimated 35 kilowatt hours per 
month which is enough to power five 60-watt light bulbs for four hours 
per day for a month. Between the two solar garden projects, 216 panels 
have been purchased by 160 customers. This means an estimated 7,560 
renewable kilowatt hours are produced by the sun to local investors 
every month. These kilowatt hours save customers money over time and 
diversify the City of Moorhead's energy portfolio.
  The model has worked so well that the Western Area Power 
Administration (WAPA) awarded Moorhead Public Service with its 
prestigious Administrator's Award in recognition of its dedication to 
service and best business practices. In the award announcement, WAPA 
stated that Moorhead Public Service proves that a ``utility of any size 
can forge a powerful partnership with the community by being responsive 
to its customers' needs.''
  As our nation's economy continues to grow, the demand for electricity 
will grow with it. We depend on innovators like those at Moorhead 
Public Service who remain proactive in keeping their community's 
electricity rates affordable, especially in rural America. The energy 
investment opportunities provided to Moorhead residents will remain a 
leading example of what can be accomplished for other municipal 
governments across Minnesota.
  I am proud to represent the City of Moorhead and the 7th District of 
Minnesota. I remain inspired by the technological and economical 
advancements made by leaders in my district. Today, I urge lawmakers to 
join me in commending Moorhead Public Service's Capture the Sun 
project.

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