Show All Answers

1. What is a Community Solar Garden?

Community Solar Gardens are centrally-located solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers.

2. Who is it for & why would I do it?

Are you interested in going solar but unable to do so on your own? Perhaps you live in an apartment, have a shaded roof at home, or don't have space at your organization. Now you can join a community solar garden installed near you!

Community solar gardens are a simple way to go solar. You purchase an up-front subscription, then soak in the rays (much of Minnesota is as sunny as places like Houston, TX and Tallahassee, FL).

3. How does it work?

1. Solar PV Panels are installed in sunny locations to produce renewable electricity.
2. Individual entities can subscribe to enough solar to cover up to 120% of their annual electricity usage.
3. Each subscriber's utility bill is credited with the electricity created by their share of the solar garden.

4. How much solar should I get?

The amount of electricity you use each year helps you decide how much solar to get. Your solar garden subscription can cover up to 120% of your usage. A typical Minnesota home uses 800 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month. Remember: a more efficient home means more cost-effective solar!

5. Who is involved in a project?

As a subscriber, you don't have to worry about every detail below are the key players:

- Subscribers: individual entities who get solar power
- Developer: primary group organizing the solar garden
- Host Site: location where solar garden is installed
- Finance: sources of financing for the project
- Utility: electricity provider where solar garden is installed
- Site Assessor: expert that studies solar garden location
- Installer: expert that installs the solar garden
- Outreach Partners: groups that find subscribers