Go Solar

Community Solar Gardens

Go Solar Without Installing Panels

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

Community solar gardens are for people who want to go solar but are unable to do so on their own. Perhaps you live in an apartment, have a shaded roof at home, or don’t have space at your organization. Now you can subscribe to a community solar garden installed near you and get credits on your utility bill.

How does it work?

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

Who can participate?

  1. Xcel Energy electricity customers
    Subscribe to projects offered by private developers based on garden availability.
     
  2. Those served by other Minnesota utilities
    Subscribe to a community solar garden if a program is offered by the utility. Keep in mind some utility’s gardens may be fully subscribed, and you may be put on a waiting list.

If you are in Xcel Energy territory you may be able to subscribe to a community solar garden being offered by a third-party developer. You can use the CERTs Solar Directory to find and reach out to these companies.

Note: Developers create their own profiles in our solar directory. It's not an exhaustive list of developers. We aren't showing preference by approving profiles in this directory. Use the filtering tools in the directory to identify if you're looking for residential or commercial offerings.

All Utilities Offering Community Solar Garden Programs

Regions: Central, Metro, Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), Southwest (SW), West Central (WC)

Updated 2023.

 

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