Erin Smith, West Central CERT Coordinator, chatted with David Wakely, Director of Communications of MN Community Solar, and other stakeholders about an exciting community solar project in Sibley County that is now accepting subscribers. The project, which was announced in late August 2014, will be a 1 megawatt community solar garden in Gaylord, MN. The project is coming to fruition through a partnership with Front Row Energy founded by Steve Mangold.
In 2010, Mangold purchased the land in Gaylord where the project will be located (four acres between Michael Foods and the Gaylord wastewater treatment plant) and approached MN Community Solar with his project idea after attending a presentation. The goal of the project is to create economic development in the region. Paula J. King joined her husband, Steve Mangold, on the project in Gaylord in 2012. Both King and Mangold have experience working in socially responsible businesses. King is the founding Dean of St. Catherine’s University’s School of Business and Leadership and has actively worked to bring sustainability into the curriculum.
People in Sibley County or a neighboring adjacent county who are Xcel Energy customers are able to sign up for subscriptions now via the MN Community Solar website. The cost of a subscription will not exceed $894 and the price could go down closer to construction. The developers predict that a subscriber will save 15-35% of their electricity costs over the life of a subscription.
Gaylord’s City Administrator, Kevin McCann, is excited to have the project in his community and believes it will be a huge benefit for not only residents in Gaylord but surrounding communities alike.
If you’re interested in learning more about community solar gardens, please review more resources from the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs).
Community Solar Gardens are centrally-located solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers. Could it work for you?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.
Where do you want to start?
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