Community Solar Gardens are centrally-located solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers, and they’re taking root in Minnesota. Here at CERTs we wanted to learn more about the experiences of subscribers in Minnesota and share them with others who are curious about community solar.
Meet Eric: Eric Schilling of Ham Lake works on designs for next generation pacemakers and defibrillators as a biomedical engineer at Medtronic. He and his family are also proudly powering half of their home energy use with community solar.
CERTs: Why did you decide to subscribe to the Connexus Energy SolarWise community solar garden?
Eric Schilling: I’ve always been interested in minimizing my environmental impact. I had been hoping to install a solar array on the roof of our house, but a solar site assessment revealed that it wasn’t a suitable site because of the pitch of the roof and obstructing trees. So the community solar project was a great way to accomplish the same goals.
CERTs: What was the process like to subscribe?
Eric: It was very simple. I expressed my interest to Connexus, they sent some paperwork to review and sign. That was it.
CERTs: How did you decide how much solar to get?
Eric: Our goal is to consistently get at least 50% of our family’s electricity from solar, so we got 6 solar panels. We try to minimize our electricity use with LED light bulbs and efficient appliances.
CERTs: What has the impact been on your energy bill?
Eric: So far we’ve been getting about 100-230 kWh from the solar panels, depending on the month, representing a savings of $10-$27 per month on our energy bill. This works out to be around 40% of our total energy usage on average. I’m hoping for even better performance when we get to the long daylight months this summer.
CERTs: What are you doing to tell others about community solar, if anything?
Eric: I’ve told a number of friends, neighbors, and family about the opportunity. I have a small solar sign that I display proudly by the garage.
CERTs: What would you tell a friend if they asked about community solar gardens?
Eric: I would say it’s a great way to get the benefits of using solar energy without the hassle of installing and maintaining your own solar array.
To learn more about the Connexus SolarWise community solar garden, click here to visit their website. You can also check out the map and photos below.
Community solar garden location:
Check out photos below to see the Connexus SolarWise garden grow:
More interviews with community solar subscribers:
- Rachel and John Egan of Blaine, MN
- David Schmidt of Corcoran, MN
- Douglas and Dennis Falch of Winona, MN
- Christine and Tom Custer of Brownsville, MN
- Jim and Carol Johnson of Pelican Rapids, MN
- Gary and Betty Dagen of Barnesville, MN
Community Solar Gardens are centrally-located solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that provide electricity to participating subscribers. Could it work for you?Are you interested in going solar but unable to do so on your own? Perhaps you live in an apartment, have a shaded roof at home, or don’t have space at your organization. Where do you want to start? |
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