Community Solar – in very general terms Community Solar describes a situation where there is a larger centrally located solar array. Residents buy or lease the solar panels, or the power that comes from them. Their local utility purchases the electricity produced by the array, and credits the residents for their share on their electric bill.
Minnesota joined 12 other states that allow and encourage community solar when our legislation was passed last year.
It greatly expands access to solar for those who don’t own a home, and the 75% of homeowners who don’t have good enough solar access.
The programs vary from state to state so here is how it works in Minnesota.
It greatly expands access to solar for those who don’t own a home, and the 75% of homeowners who don’t have good enough solar access.
The programs vary from state to state so here is how it works in Minnesota.
Only Xcel is required to have a community solar program. Because it is very popular, a couple utilities, such as Tri-County electric went ahead and have installed their own ‘utility owned’ array. What we are proposing is different from Tri-county in that we will locate and work with a community solar developer to establish the array, and it will probably be owned by a 3rd party financer.
Xcel Energy filed their proposal in September of last year, and have been negotiating with the Public Utilities Commission on the final rules. These are now finally complete and projects all over the state are about to start moving forward.
Xcel Energy filed their proposal in September of last year, and have been negotiating with the Public Utilities Commission on the final rules. These are now finally complete and projects all over the state are about to start moving forward.
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