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News Release

Contact: Matt Laible, Communications Department, 612-673-2786

City of Minneapolis receives grant to construct the largest urban solar array in the Midwest

Dec. 10, 2007 (MINNEAPOLIS) The City of Minneapolis has been selected to receive a $2 million grant to construct the largest urban solar array upper Midwest. The grant is funded through the Xcel Energy Renewable Development Fund, and will allow Minneapolis to build a 600 kilowatt array. The solar array is currently planned to be constructed on the roof of the City’s Public Works Currie Maintenance Facility.

The array will be made up of 3,000 panels, which would generate enough electricity to power nearly 80 homes. The electricity will be used at the Currie facility, and could allow the City to expand its fleet of plug-in hybrids, which would be able to recharge at Currie using solar energy. Minneapolis currently has 28 hybrids in its fleet, which could be converted to plug-in hybrids.

“This is truly exciting news,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak. “Because of our past investments to expand our use of solar energy at City facilities, we now have the opportunity to build what we expect to be the largest urban solar array in the city, state or upper Midwest. Not only will this solar project allow us to save taxpayer dollars on electricity, but using renewable energy is one of the best things we can do to fight climate change.”

“As a City, we’re always looking at how we can promote ways to protect our environment, whether it’s renewable energy, green roofs, or rain barrels,” said City Council Member Scott Benson, chair of Council’s Health, Energy, and Environment Committee. “This grant will help us practice what we promote. It’s an impressive project, and something people in Minneapolis will really be proud of.”

“This grant is the result of some great work by City staff who have worked hard in the last several years to find many ways to make our operations more environmentally friendly,” said Steve Kotke, director of the Minneapolis Public Works Department. “This new installation will serve as a model for others who are looking to use renewable energy.”

The grant will need to be formally approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in spring, 2008. For this project, Minneapolis has partnered with EyeOn Solar, which has significant experience developing and operating solar installations.

Minneapolis already has three solar arrays producing power for City facilities, lowering energy costs and making the buildings more environmentally friendly. The three solar installations saved the City $1,250 dollars on its electricity bill and reduced carbon dioxide output by 21,400 pounds last year.

All three of the City’s current arrays were installed in the last year and a half. The array at Fire Station No. 6 generates 5 kilowatts of power; an array the Currie facility generates 4.2 kilowatts; and a tracking array at the Royalston Public Works facility generates 2.6 kilowatts of power. By comparison, the new array will generate more than 100 times more power than the City’s current largest array.

Minneapolis has worked to decrease emissions in its vehicle fleets, trimming its fleet by more than 150 vehicles since 2003. Some Minneapolis staff now use HOURCAR, a unique car-sharing program that uses hybrids. Minneapolis also has 134 flex-fuel vehicles that can use E-85, and it uses B-20 biodiesel in most of its heavy equipment.

Reducing emissions from its vehicles is just one way Minneapolis works to protect our environment. In April 2007, the City released the first-of-its kind report, Minneapolis GreenPrint, which details the many successes Minneapolis has had in its efforts to protect our environment and the challenges it still faces. To learn more about sustainability in Minneapolis, and to view the GreenPrint report, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability.

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Communications Department
301M City Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55415

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