As members of Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative, you are at the heart of everything we do. Our goal is to provide you with safe, reliable, and affordable electricity while adapting to the ever-changing energy landscape. In order to fulfill this mission, it is critical that we stay informed and take action on legislative priorities that impact our cooperative and its members.
Reforming Net Metering for Fairness and Sustainability
One of the key issues facing Minnesota’s electric cooperatives is outdated net metering policies. Currently, state law requires utilities to purchase excess energy from residential solar installations at nearly double the wholesale rate. This results in a cost shift, where non-solar members effectively subsidize those who can afford to install solar panels.
Why Reform is Needed
- Changing Technology: Over the past decade, solar panel costs have dropped by 90%, and efficiency has increased by 300%. The net metering policy was originally designed to support a fledgling industry, but today, solar is thriving.
- Cost Equity: The current system disproportionately benefits higher-income households, while the majority of our members bear the financial burden.
- Grid Reliability: Overbuilding solar for profit, rather than for household use, puts unnecessary strain on our grid without delivering cost-effective carbon reductions.
Our cooperative supports reforms that encourage responsible solar growth – allowing members to install systems that meet their needs without shifting costs onto their neighbors. A balanced approach ensures fairness for all members while promoting renewable energy adoption.
Role of Nuclear Energy in a Carbon-Free Future
As Minnesota law pushes us toward carbon-free electricity, we must explore all available options. While wind and solar play crucial roles, they alone cannot provide the 24/7 reliability needed to power our homes and businesses. Nuclear energy remains the only large-scale, carbon-free baseload power source available today.
Why We Must Consider Nuclear Energy
- Efficiency: A single football field could store all the used nuclear fuel generated in the U.S. since the 1950s, and nuclear power has operated for decades without harming public health.
- Reliability: Unlike wind and solar, which depend on weather conditions, nuclear plants provide consistent energy generation.
- State Policy Barriers: Minnesota is the only state in the nation that bans new nuclear construction. We believe it is time to have real discussions about lifting this moratorium to allow for advanced nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors, to be part of our energy future.
Protecting Rural Electric Cooperatives from Unnecessary Costs
Legislative mandates and property tax changes can significantly impact electric rates for cooperative members. The longstanding property tax exemption for essential utility infrastructure – such as streetlights and meters – has helped keep rural electric rates affordable. Removing these exemptions would disproportionately impact rural areas, where cooperatives serve fewer consumers per mile of line.
Similarly, local control over energy decisions is critical. Our locally elected board understands the unique needs of our community and is best equipped to make decisions that balance affordability, reliability, and sustainability. We oppose one-size-fits-all legislative mandates that undermine cooperative governance.
Our Commitment to You
Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative is committed to advocating for policies that protect our members from unnecessary costs, ensure equitable energy solutions, and maintain a reliable grid. We will continue working with policymakers, industry leaders, and cooperative members to navigate these challenges together.
