Rural Minnesota Solar Initiative
The Rural Minnesota Solar Initiative is a resource to help farmers and small business owners learn more about how solar can work for them, and provide the needed assistance to catalyze projects.
Why here? Minnesota is a great place for solar energy, with more annual solar energy potential than Houston, TX and nearly as much as Miami, FL! There are already more than 700 solar installations in Minnesota, with new projects harnessing the sun each week.
Want to learn more about solar and get started? Here’s what you can do:
- Explore model projects for farms & businesses
- Learn more about events
- Find local solar dealers and installers
- Learn about Minnesota solar manufacturers
- Utility incentives and other resources
- Chat with someone at CERTs
The Rural Minnesota Solar Initiative is generously funded by USDA Rural Development in Minnesota.

The USDA is currently accepting proposals for new projects. To learn more, read the press release about the Rural Energy for America Program: USDA Invites Farmers and Rural Small Businesses to Submit Applications for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects
Model Solar Energy Projects in MN |
Solar Thermal Hot Water for Laundromats or Commercial Laundries
A Laundry Room in Ely, MN: In 2007 Rebecca Spengler decided to revamp an existing laundromat in Ely, Minnesota. She opened A Laundry Room Inc. that June, worked to make the building and her operations as energy efficient as possible, and then installed five solar thermal hot water collectors manufactured in Alexandria, MN by SolarSkies. The system, which helps supplement the existing propane system, includes two 120 gallon tanks and can heat water up to 120 degrees.
Find out how your laundromat or commercial laundromat can benefit from a solar hot water system with the resources below!
- Read a case study about this project
- See a presentation about the project by owner Rebecca Spengler
- Video about the project: Ely in the Balance
Solar Thermal Hot Water for Dairy Operations of All Sizes
Reese Dairy Farm in Goodhue County, MN: Dairy farmers are an industrious group by nature, and farmer and entrepreneur Peter Reese of Goodhue County has eyes for common sense and untapped opportunities. The basic concept of Perpetual Harvest, LLC, came from Peter’s thoughts about how our economy is under-utilizing available and renewable local resources. Solar thermal water heating was a clear best option for the Reese Farm Dairy Farm, and in the resources below Peter details exactly how he made it happen.
Find out how your dairy farm can benefit from a solar hot water system with the resources below!
Solar Thermal Air Heat for High Tunnel Season Extension
Flynn Farm in Frazee, MN: Dallas Flynn and his wife raise vegetables and shiitake mushrooms on a small farm just south of Frazee that they sell at a nearby farmer’s market. They are now using solar thermal air heat collectors to heat the soil and extend the growing season in high tunnel vegetable production. Read the case study and the presentation below to learn more about how this approach can work for you.
Find out how your vegetable-growing operation can benefit from solar air heating!
- Read a case study about the Flynn’s solar high tunnel operation
- Download a presentation about the project
- Learn about other solar applications for greenhouses in Minnesota
Recent Solar Energy Events |
Solar manufacturer Silicon Energy open for business (and a tour)
On January 11, 2012 CERTs was joined by over 150 Minnesotans to tour Silicon Energy’s new solar PV manufacturing facility in Mt. Iron.
Several educational speakers filled us in on the rising importance and presence of solar energy on the Iron Range and across the state, followed by a presentation and tour from president Gary Shaver and lots of networking time.
Here’s what the agenda looked like:
- Welcome & Introductions – Joel Haskard & Bill Mittlefehldt, CERTs
- Commissioner’s Remarks – Commissioner Tony Sertich, IRRRB
- Local Utility Incentives for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Tina Koecher, Minnesota Power; Tanuj Gulati & Tyler Barrell, Energy Management Solutions/Mt. Iron Municipal Utility; Leo Wilenius, Lake Country Power
- Senator’s Remarks – Senator David J. Tomassoni, Minnesota Senate
- Mayor’s Remarks – Gary Skalko, Mayor of Mountain Iron
- Opportunities for Residential, Business, and Farms – Joel Haskard, CERTs
- Presentation & Tour of Silicon Energy’s Manufacturing Plant – Gary Shaver, President
Watch a slideshow of images from the event below or see our set on Flickr with the same photos.
We received lots of nice media attention for the event. Take a look:
- Duluth News Tribune – Solar energy finds a home on Iron Range
- WDIO TV Duluth – Solar Power Becoming Popular
- Fox 21 News Duluth – An Inside Look at the Silicon Energy Plant
Going nuts for solar-powered greenhouses at Hazelnut Valley Farm
Over forty people from around southeast Minnesota visited Norm and Mary Erickson’s solar-powered greenhouse and hazelnut farm recently in Lake City as part of a Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) free tour focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Norm and Mary Erickson of Hazelnut Valley Farm retired and started a hazelnut farm in Lake City, MN. Their nutty adventures into the business of growing, harvesting, and processing the crop led them to install a solar-heated greenhouse with many innovative features. They look forward to a future where hazelnuts can be profitably converted into biodiesel.
“We now have over 4,200 bushes in the ground and nut production keeps on growing—from 10 pounds in 2006 to over a ton in 2011,” said Mr. Erickson. He passed around hazelnuts and hazel nut oil for people to sample. “Our market focus has shifted from biodiesel to the edible local kernel and oil markets because product values are currently much higher there.”
Beyond hazelnuts, people were interested in the Erickson’s highly efficient green house, which also incorporates renewable energy systems into the design. A unique low-temperature energy storage system is in the earthen berm behind the greenhouse. The Erickson’s filled three hundred and twenty 55-gallon polyethylene drums with water, and sealed and buried them in the storage area to increase the energy storage capacity and to speed energy flows to and from the ventilation system.
In addition, a solar thermal panel collects energy to heat potable water, with electric backup for cloudy periods. An array of solar thermal panels east of the greenhouse heats a storage system that can be tapped for heating a food dehydrator 24/7 and to warm the floor in the work area.
“This is a great example of entrepreneurship that incorporates local foods, energy efficiency and solar energy,” said Joel Haskard, co-director of CERTs. “Businesses of all different types and sizes are finding ways to reduce their energy usage and even create some of their own energy on-site. It can be a real win-win.”
View more photos from the event in this slideshow:
For more information, check out our case study on the project, Going Nuts for Clean Energy: Solar-Heated Greenhouse and Biodiesel from Hazelnuts
Minnesota Solar Manufacturers |
SolarSkies: Solar Thermal Hot Water Collectors
106 Donovan Drive
Alexandria, MN 56308
1-877-SOLAR-57
Learn more:
Rural Renewable Energy Alliance: Solar-Powered Furnace
2330 Dancing Wind Road SW #2
Pine River, MN 56474
218-587-4753
Learn more:
tenKsolar: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
9549 Penn Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55431
952-303-7600
Learn more:
Silicon Energy: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
8787 Silicon Way
Mt. Iron, MN 55768
218 789-1710
Learn more:
Minnesota Solar Dealers & Installers |
Now is a great time to add a solar to your farm or business! The CERTs Solar Installers Map, coupled with planning resources from the Minnesota Division of Energy Resources, Department of Commerce and CERTs, will provide everything you need to get started.
These documents from DOC-DER can also help you find a company and plan a project:
- Hiring a renewable energy installer
- Consumer Guide to Solar Systems
- I want my own solar system
- Solar Modeling Resources
- More DOC-DER solar resources
Utility Incentives & Other Resources |
Solar incentives from Minnesota utilities:
- Austin Utilities
- Brainerd Public Utilities
- Minnesota Power
- Moorhead Public Service Utility
- Owatonna Public Utilities
- Rochester Public Utilities
- Xcel Energy
Organizations and programs of note:
- Minnesota Renewable Energy Society
- MN Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources
- Clean Energy Project Builder
- Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association
Know of anything we’re missing? Email Joel Haskard to let us know.
Talk with CERTs about Solar |
Are you a business owner or farmer interested in one-on-one follow up regarding solar? Please contact Joel Haskard, CERTs Co-Director, at haska004@umn.edu or 612-625-8759.












Clean Energy Resource Teams