Statement on SF 2855 and the Future of Community Solar Gardens in Minnesota

Joint Statement from CCSA, MnSEIA, Vote Solar, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and Solar United Neighbors on SF 2855:

“We strongly oppose SF 2855 and the companion House bill, which recklessly proposes to sunset Minnesota’s newly reformed Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) Accessible Community Solar Garden (CSG) program in 2028. This blatant rollback is a gift to powerful utilities intent on protecting their monopoly and crushing competition—at the direct expense of Minnesota families and small businesses.

Just one year ago, Minnesota’s legislature modernized the community solar program to expand access and deliver guaranteed energy savings to more Minnesotans—especially those who need it most. The LMI program was designed to put power in the hands of people, not monopolies—empowering renters, small businesses, schools, and local governments to lower their energy bills with clean, local solar power.

Community solar is already working for Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the program has delivered affordable, renewable energy to over 34,000 families and businesses and is projected to generate $1.67 billion in economic benefits statewide. Rolling it back would kill local clean energy jobs, weaken our grid, eliminate critical savings for thousands of households, and drive energy costs higher at a time when Minnesotans can least afford it.

Minnesota should be leading the nation, not becoming the first state to dismantle a program that delivers savings, energy independence, and economic opportunity to our communities. The legislature must reject SF 2855 and stand with Minnesota families.”

Original post here.

Lightstar opposed proposed legislation in MN: Lightstar supports the current program dates and MW allocations in Minnesota Statutes 2024 for steady growth: 80MW from 2027-2030, and 60MW from 2031 onward. Our long-term commitment to Minnesota means the proposed end of the community solar program in SF2855 after 2028 would limit our project completion and future investments; Our Minnesota pipeline currently consists of around 20MW of community solar projects in various stages of development, representing enough clean energy generation to power approximately 4,000 homes. Therefore, the provision to sunset the community solar program after 2028 as filed in SF2855 would hinder our ability to bring our current projects to fruition and invest in Minnesota beyond 2028.

Brianna B. Fiorillo, Midwest Senior Policy & Strategy Manager, Lightstar 

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