Applications to open for Minnesota solar incentive program

The Minnesota Commerce Department will accept applications for the fourth year of its Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program from Jan. 1 until Feb. 28.

The program has funded almost 1,100 solar electric and solar thermal projects in the state.

“The Made in Minnesota program is helping drive growth in the state’s rooftop solar market,” Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman said. “The program is boosting Minnesota’s clean energy economy by making solar more affordable, creating more clean energy jobs and diversifying the state’s energy resources.”

Solar electric systems owners selected for the program receive an incentive payment annually for 10 years based on the amount of electricity they produce. Solar thermal system owners receive a one-time rebate of up to 25 percent of the installed cost.

The program is open to Minnesotans who install solar PV or solar thermal systems using solar modules or collectors that were made in Minnesota.

Applicants to the solar PV program must be either customers of an investor-owned utility or developers of community solar gardens less than 40 kW. Solar thermal rebates are available to any Minnesotan utility customer with priority given to investor-owned utility customers. Incentives and rebates are awarded by random selection.