Solar and Wind

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It might feel intimidating to bring solar or wind power to your home or business.

Find out if your location is suitable for a solar energy system through the Google Project Sunroof and/or the Minnesota Solar Suitability Analysis.

Solar Energy System Installers: Find a solar energy system installer from either the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA) or the Solar Business Directory .
Permits
- Review our solar checklist before applying for your permit.
- When you are ready to apply for a solar permit, complete this application and include it with your online permit application.
Community Solar
- Learn the basics (What is it? How does it work?) about community solar gardens from SolSmart (non-profit).

Residents

Want to learn more? Check out Clean Energy Resource Teams information
Federal Tax Credit: Save 30 percent of the cost of your solar energy system installation through the federal solar tax credit.
Xcel’s Solar*Rewards^®: Monthly payments are made to the owner of the solar energy system in exchange for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for the energy produced.
Financing: Center for Energy and the Environment provides solar energy system financing in the form of low interest loans for residential property owners.
Group buys: Purchase rooftop solar with a group of Twin Cities neighbors through Solar United Neighbors

Community Solar:
- Xcel’s Solar*Rewards^® Community: Residents with inadequate sunlight for solar can still support and renewable energy by subscribing to a nearby, third party community solar garden. Once subscribed, customers will begin receiving credits on their monthly bill, without installing anything on your property.
- Community Solar Tips: Subscribing to a third party community solar garden is an important financial decision. The city urges all residents to do their research prior to making this decision. Cub MN and MN Dept. of Commerce provide some good tips on what to consider when making this decision.

Residents are able to get their energy from Minnesota solar and winds. Renewable Connect Flex allows flexible enrollment and requires no equipment installation. A typical home using 750 kWh of electricity per month could be 100 percent Renewable energy-powered for about $4.50 more per month, in addition to your current electric charges.

Businesses and organizations

Want to learn more? Consider attending a Grow Solar Twin Cities presentation later this summer.
Federal Tax Credit: Save 30 percent of the cost of your solar energy system installation through the federal solar tax credit.
Xcel’s Solar*Rewards^®: Monthly payments are made to the owner of the solar energy system in exchange for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for the energy produced.
Federal assistance is available for nonprofit solar installations through tax credits, regardless of tax status. The amount covered by this credit varies by organization.

Off-Site Solar

Xcel’s Solar*Rewards^® Community: Organizations with inadequate sunlight for solar can still support and renewable energy by subscribing to a nearby, third party community solar garden. Once subscribed, customers will begin receiving credits on their monthly bill, without installing anything on your property.
Community Solar Tips: Subscribing to a third party community solar garden is an important financial decision. The city urges all residents to do their research prior to making this decision. Cub MN provides some good tips on what to consider when making this decision.
Hosting a Community Solar Garden: Instead of purchasing and owning solar, businesses can rent their roof to an investor. The business then buys back their energy at a reduced rate. Learn more about hosting a community solar garden.

Financing

MinnPACE: This unique finance structure allows commercial property owner businesses to access 100 percent financing for energy efficiency projects (including hard and soft costs) with payments rolled into property taxes through a special assessment. Payments are lower than a typical loan with up to 20-year financing at a fixed interest rate.