Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE Inc., announced today it plans to build two large solar projects in northern Minnesota as part of its continued transition toward a cleaner energy future while prioritizing regional renewable energy investments.
The Regal Solar project near Royalton and the Boswell Solar project in Cohasset were chosen in an open process from competitive bids in Minnesota Power’s 2023 solar request for proposals. The process included an independent evaluator who monitored it and concurred with the selections as being the most cost-competitive for Minnesota Power customers.
The Boswell Solar project will have a capacity of 85 megawatts from about 180,000 bifacial solar modules on about 600 acres, part of it owned by Minnesota Power. It will utilize existing electric infrastructure at the Boswell Energy Center, requiring only a collector substation and a short transmission line to tie into the grid. The project is expected to be online in mid-2027.
The Regal Solar project will have a capacity of 119.5 megawatts from about 255,000 bifacial solar modules on about 800 acres. The renewable project will tie to the regional electric grid though a new 3.5-mile collector line and substation and is expected to be online in mid-2027.
The two projects are part of Minnesota Power’s actions to meet the up-to-300 megawatts of regional solar generation called for in Minnesota Power’s Integrated Resource Plan approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in 2023.
“These two projects exemplify ALLETE’s sustainability-in-action strategy by creating local jobs and local renewable energy, and the Boswell Solar project will support one of our existing host communities as we continue to plan for the future,” said ALLETE Vice President and Minnesota Power Chief Operating Officer Josh Skelton. “These projects will help move us toward our goal of providing more than 80% renewable energy by 2030 while working toward meeting the state of Minnesota law calling for carbon-free energy supplies by 2040. Both projects include preferences for local labor, diverse suppliers, and apprenticeships to train tomorrow’s renewable energy workforce.”
Construction of the two projects is contingent on MPUC and other regulatory approvals. Minnesota Power provides electric service within a 26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting comfort, security and quality of life for 150,000 customers, 14 municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the United States. More information can be found at www.mnpower.com. – Press release
