CleanChoice Energy on Thursday said it was opening an additional 20.51 MW of community solar capacity for residential customers of Xcel. The new capacity is being supplied by fifteen solar farms owned and operated by AltusPower America in various locations in Minnesota. CleanChoice Energy is the largest community solar provider in Minnesota with more than 85 megawatts of solar capacity.
The company said the capacity represents enough community solar subscription openings for approximately 3,550 Minnesota residents. With the community solar program in MN, residential customers purchase a “share” of the solar farm and receive credits on their utility bill equal to the amount of solar electricity that their share produced. Xcel receives all of the environmental attributes, called renewable energy credits (RECs).
“Community solar represents the best opportunity to expand renewable energy in Minnesota. The state is the national leader for community solar, and these new farms mean thousands of additional Minnesota residents can participate in this great program,” said Tom Matzzie, CEO of CleanChoice Energy. “Community solar makes it easy for Minnesotans to go solar and save money.”
“Altus Power is proud to be a part of the expanding community solar opportunity for Minnesotans,” said Gregg Felton, Managing Partner of Altus Power America. “Affordable clean energy is now more accessible than ever before. We are pleased to be working with CleanChoice Energy to bring solar power to the local community.”
Community solar is a hot topic at DISTRIBUTECH Internationalfyuryyqtvrauxqbxdutexvrsqcrxsdxxczazq. The 2020 event takes place January 28-30 in San Antonio, Texas.