The Woodbury City Council took a giant leap into clean energy when they approved a community solar garden subscription at the March 9th council meeting.
The agreement with Geronimo Energy locks in nearly $1.5 million in savings for the city over 25 years. This calculates to $57,000 annual savings on the city’s electric utility bill.
Community Solar Garden’s allow organizations and residents the opportunity to participate in a shared offsite solar project within Xcel Territory. A community solar garden is a centrally located solar photovoltaic system that produces electricity for subscribers. A third-party developer, in this case Geronimo Energy, owns the garden, and sells subscriptions to commercial and residential customers in Xcel Energy’s territory. Subscribers get a significant credit from Xcel Energy for the electrical production of the solar garden.
Over the past 18 months, staff explored community solar garden options to offset electrical demand. In 2014, the City used 11.3 megawatts of electricity, and spent $1.7 million on that electricity. Woodbury’s agreement calls for 3.63 megawatts of electricity, while leaving open the idea of subscribing to more in the future.
Click here to read the an article in the Woodbury Bulletin to learn more >>
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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