Solar saves money on top of Robbinsdale city hall

May 2026

We love this story about a funky older city building getting fresh new solar panels thanks to the Solar on Public Buildings grant! Originally published by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the shout out to CERTs at the end is just icing on the cake!

- Joel Haskard, CERTs co-director

Solar saves money on top of Robbinsdale city hall

Robbinsdale’s unique hexagon shaped city hall opened in 1970. The nearly sixty-year-old building began contributing to the city’s utility bill in 2025.

Robbinsdale City Hall In 2025, the suburban Minneapolis city of 15,000 was awarded a Solar on Public Buildings grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Division. With funding from the grant, Robbinsdale’s city hall now has solar power.

“We are already seeing savings reflected on our utility bills which is incredible,” said Robbinsdale Sustainability Coordinator Kayla Kirtz.

The panels and installation were paid for in part by the Solar on Public Buildings grant and a tax credit from the federal government.

“We weren’t necessarily planning to put solar on city hall, but it seemed like an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” said Kirtz.

City hall wasn’t Robbinsdale’s first experience with solar.

Even before the Solar on Public Buildings grant was announced, Robbinsdale had included solar as part of the design plans and construction for the city’s water treatment plant.

“We installed our first solar array shortly before pursuing the Solar on Public Buildings grant,” said Kirtz. “It was an 80kw array on our water treatment plant, installed in Nov 2024.

Robbinsdale conducted an assessment for solar compatibility and found some municipal buildings were not good candidates for solar, and others are a good match for solar. The flat city hall roof was ideal for roof top solar. Robbinsdale City Hall

“City hall was the best option and made for a visible solar project,” said Kirtz. “When people come in to pay utility bill or come to a council meeting you can see it.”'

The solar projects help support Robbinsdale’s Energy Action Plan. The city’s Energy Action Plan includes renewable energy projects, energy efficiency, engaging with residents and businesses about energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling organics and a significant amount of community engagement, talking to residents directly. The city’s Energy Action Plan, adopted in 2023, has a goal to avoid 30% of energy related greenhouse gas by 2030.

Even with the solar on two public buildings, the work continues. Robbinsdale officials are discussing the merits of incorporating renewables into other public buildings, geothermal, EV charging stations, better building envelopes, and expanding the city's EV fleet.

Kirtz has advice for those who have not yet added solar.

“Talk to your peers in neighboring cities, or cities across the state, because those are the best resources. Then get in touch with the Clean Energy Resource Teams. CERTs was a huge asset to Robbinsdale when first installing solar. Commerce, CERTs, GreenStep Cities, and other cities provide a bounty of resources within Minnesota’s local government network.”