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Minneapolis – Saint Paul, MN
October 8, 2009: Minneapolis – Saint Paul receives Recovery Act funding for Solar America Cities Special Project.
Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota’s Twin Cities, are teaming up to jumpstart the widespread deployment of solar technologies. Together they are launching the “Solar in the Cities” initiative (the name of their Solar America Cities project). The Cities have a demonstrated history of environmental leadership. They will engage industry, utility, business, policy, and regulatory stakeholders to create favorable conditions for rapidly expanding the use of solar technologies in the near term. The two municipalities share the goal of large-scale implementation by 2015.
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This small PV system at the Minneapolis Currie Maintenance Facility provides solar energy for a vehicle maintenance and fueling facility run by the city.
This 34kW solar-electric system was installed at the Green Institute at the Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center in 2004. This building helped pioneer green building and renewable energy approaches in Minnesota.
Flannery Construction incorporated solar thermal space heating and domestic hot water into its new facility in Saint Paul. The company plans to apply for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for this building.
Izzy Ice Cream Café in Saint Paul. Izzy Ice Cream’s 8.6kW High Noon Solar Project produces approximately 30% of the ice cream maker’s power during peak production.
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Activities
The Solar in the Cities initiative takes a comprehensive approach to expanding solar energy in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Cities are marshalling a wide array of expertise through strategic partnerships to: - Implement commercial and residential solar installations
- Provide technical training programs
- Conduct city and state policy review.
Solar in the Cities aims to build a solar infrastructure leading to a quintupling of solar capacity in the Twin Cities by 2010.
- Install a 500+ kW PV system and 20-30 additional solar energy systems using an innovative leasing model.
- Promote market expansion of solar technologies through:
- Deployment of solar systems in visible locations within the cities
- Market identification
- Technical outreach.
- Increase the number of qualified solar installers by supporting education and training including:
- Developing technical college solar education curriculum
- Creating a PV training lab to expand professional opportunities for electricians.
Partners
- Century College
- Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul (Project Leads)
- freEner-g
- Green Institute
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- League of Minnesota Cities
- Minnesota Department of Commerce
- Minnesota Renewable Energy Society
- Neighborhood Energy Connection
- Xcel Energy
Solar for District Heating and CoolingThe City will integrate a solar thermal system into a local district energy system to demonstrate how solar energy can supplement existing district energy systems from both a technological and business model perspective.
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