Community Energy Solar Minnesota

Minnesota community solar legislation.

Community energy solar minnesota.

Even facing pandemic slowdowns and legislative opposition the state far outpaces its closest competitor in operating capacity. In 2013 minnesota s biggest utility xcel energy began a new community solar program following the passage of a wide ranging solar bill that set state solar standards and production incentives. Minnesota residents are coming together to support clean solar energy. The program dubbed community solar gardens works as follows.

Overall a report put together by the solar advocates including the minnesota solar energy industries association attributed 4 000 jobs in the state to community solar. Learn more about our community impact. Your participation is rewarded through solar credits and long term electricity savings potential with a roofless solar energy option. In total our 1 500 megawatts of renewable energy projects produce enough energy to power more than 253 000 homes per year.

Most community solar projects in minnesota are owned and operated by electric cooperative utilities which offer subscriptions to their. Novel energy solutions specializes in reducing government business farm and residential energy costs through solar installations energy efficiency technologies and unique financing options. Depending on the average number of sunny days in a region a 100 mw solar installation will offset anywhere from 109 500 tons of co2 to 127 750 tons annually. The minnesota legislature established an option for customers of xcel energy to support community solar also referred to as solar gardens or solar farms while only xcel was required to develop a community solar program other utilities are developing their own programs.

Sign up for a share of your local community solar project and save money on your electric bill. Minnesota s community solar garden initiative continues to be the largest in the country even after dodging relentless utility opposition a. The project connects to the grid at the chisago substation a point of significant transmission infrastructure and strong electrical ties to xcel energy load. A community solar project in rushford minnesota in november 2015.

Community solar can offer you a variety of benefits including predictable electricity rates over time potential utility bill savings and the opportunity to support a clean sustainable energy resource. The 100 mw ac north star solar project is located in chisago county minnesota approximately four miles southeast of north branch mn.