Over 90 school districts in Minnesota already benefit from solar, and there has never been a better time for schools to take advantage of clean energy opportunities. A dramatic drop in the cost of solar panels, combined with new financing choices, makes solar widely available.
Established by the State Legislature in 2021, the Solar for Schools Grant Program is designed to stimulate the installation of solar energy systems on Minnesota schools, while using the opportunity to incorporate renewable energy use into school curriculum. As of May 2023, K-12 schools (Independent, Special, and Cooperative Districts), Tribal Contract Schools, as well as MN State Colleges and Universities are eligible to apply for grants through the program. Learn about the program updates from 2023 [PDF].
The application process consists of obtaining a Project ID from Commerce, submitting a School Readiness Assessment which will demonstrate a school’s readiness to apply for grant funds — download our checklist [PDF] to prepare for the assessment.
Those schools deemed ready will be invited to complete a Full Grant Application.
2024 Funding Round 2
2025 Funding Round 1
For information pertaining to application deadlines or eligibility, to learn more about the program, or to apply for a grant visit the Solar for Schools Grant Program.
CERTs staff provide schools free and unbiased technical assistance at any stage throughout the solar project development process and throughout the grant application process.
For general guidance, scroll down to view our Menu of Services for tips and resources to prepare for solar on your school.
Reach out to CERTs for assistance in preparation to meet the Readiness Assessment or Full Grant Application requirements. Contact Peter Lindstrom (612-625-9634 or [email protected]) to schedule a meeting. Examples include:
Our experts will help you figure out how to take the right steps towards clean, renewable energy. We can provide technical assistance on the programs and initiatives below that will lead to energy efficiency, financial savings, community leadership, and STEM education curriculum that will help prepare students for a clean energy future.
Many utilities provide energy assessments at either a low cost or free. Contact your utility to find out about available energy assessment options and rebates. A good start to find out about available incentives is the DSIRE website.
The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide facility assessments and community sustainability assistance to small businesses, institutions, and communities in Minnesota at no cost.
Contact: Ralph Dickinson, 651-233-3374, [email protected]
The Energy Saving Partnership is a municipal lease program offered by the Saint Paul Port Authority in partnership with U.S. Bank. Local governments and schools have access to 100 percent financing and reduced interest rates for projects that incorporate renewable energy or result in energy savings. Interest rates are low due a significant loan loss reserve.
The Air Ventilation Pilot Grant Program, established by the State Legislature in 2023, will provide grant funding to public schools to assess, test, adjust and improve heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Contact: Mike Lynn, 651-539-1864, [email protected]
Start by getting educated on options. CERTs provides technical assistance to understand the pros and cons of renewable energy options including community solar gardens, on-site solar, green pricing programs, and green tariffs. Your options and what might work best will vary based on your utility, energy usage, and goals. CERTs has resources on the following, and we'll cover on-site solar in-depth in the next section.
It is important to check in with your local city and county about ordinances that might be in place that would impact your solar project. Some local jurisdictions require setbacks or structural assessments, for instance. Your solar installer should know this process, but it’s worth learning in advance.
Review and evaluate the proposals you receive based on your goals and budget. For an apples-to-apples comparison of financed proposals, you can use you can use the Solar PPA calculator. The calculators compare bids and provide estimates of costs and savings over the term of the contract.
You could be inspiration for others! Tell your neighbors, family, friends, colleagues, and local media outlets about your experience so they know how easy and rewarding it is to go solar. You might be surprised how influential you are! Need a helping hand? CERTs can provide guidance on communicating your success and help get the word out to local media.
Contact: Shaylyn Bernhardt, [email protected]
Get out your ribbon, giant scissors and cameras for a fun celebration of your success. CERTs will help get the word out and provide guidance to make your event a big win for your district.
Contact: Maggie Kozak, [email protected], 612-626-0555
The Power of Minnesota film is about people, their communities, and their stories about clean energy development around the state. Following the screenings, participants share conversations with their neighbors about what they learned and what surprised them about the film. This can be a great way to engage your broader community in a conversation about clean energy.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is using Volkswagen settlement funds to reduce harmful air pollution, address climate change, and invest in a cleaner transportation future. Minnesota will receive $47 million total from the national settlement, and will distribute these funds in three phases over 10 years. MPCA can use VW funds in two primary ways: fund vehicle replacements that take older, more polluting diesel vehicles off the road and replace them with new, cleaner models, and invest in electric vehicle infrastructure. To distribute funds, MPCA offers grant opportunities with a competitive application process.
Federal Clean School Bus Program
Authorized by the recently signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years to replace school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. The first federal funding opportunity under this program was the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates. EPA will offer $500 million for zero-emission and clean school bus rebates.
Even after tapping into these tools, it’s always nice to talk to a human to ask questions, learn who else has installed solar, and get help all along the way. Peter Lindstrom with CERTs is ready and willing to help your school move forward with solar.
