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on October 24, 2019
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Fudging The Numbers: Why Wind and Solar Cost Estimates from Bloomberg New Energy Finance are Almost Certainly Wrong

Written by Isaac Orr
in Climate, Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

In March of 2019, Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) released a public “fact sheet” alleging the cost of electricity generated by wind and solar in Minnesota had reached new record lows, but there is a problem; BNEF refuses to share the assumptions and methodology used to calculate their cost estimates with the public. This begs the question, what are they hiding? Probably a lot. BNEF estimated the unsubsidized levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for wind and solar to be $38 and $60 per megawatt hour, respectively. In contrast, a study by Center of the American Experiment found the cost of new, unsubsidized...

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on June 28, 2019
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Rep. Gruenhagen Gets It on Energy and Minnesota’s Green New Deal

Written by Isaac Orr
in Climate, Energy, Environment

There's been a fun exchange in the Litchfield Independent Review among Representative Gruenhagen and a member of the public who was defending the Green New Deal. The latest article features Rep. Gruenhagen lambasting the claims made by the writer and defending American Experiment's work on energy and economic issues from the typical ad hominem attacks that come our way from people who don't know how to do the math and evaluate our work for themselves. You can read the article for yourself below, and I'd encourage you to also read the article on the Litchfield Independent Review site so they get...

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on April 14, 2019
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MN Green New Deal, or Green Leap Forward? HF 2836 is the Latest in Minnesota’s Green New Deal Saga

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy, Environment

How many versions of a Minnesota Green New Deal (GND) will DFL lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduce before the end of the legislative session? Thus far at least three different versions have been introduced, each seemingly more energy illiterate than the last. HF 2836 lives up to this standard, and then says "hold my beer." 100 percent "carbon free" by 2030 without allowing large hydro or lifting the ban on new nuclear power plants "By 2030, 100 percent of the electricity each electric utility subject to subdivision 2a provides directly to Minnesota retail customers, or indirectly provides through wholesale sales to...

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on March 12, 2019
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American Experiment Releases Groundbreaking New Study on the High Cost of Renewable Energy Mandates in Minnesota

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

American Experiment is pleased to announce we are releasing a groundbreaking new study detailing the high cost renewable energy mandates in Minnesota. On the 2018 campaign trail, many DFL candidates, including Governor Tim Walz, said they would make obtaining 50 percent of Minnesota's electricity through renewable energy sources by 2030 a top priority in their policy platform. Now DFL'ers in Minnesota are pushing their own version of the Green New Deal, mandating that Minnesota must get 100 percent of its electricity from "carbon free" resources by 2050. Our study found that attempting to achieve a 50 percent renewable energy mandate would...

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