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By DANA KAZEL
St. Louis County's three newest Public Works facilities - in Culver and Kugler Townships, and near the Whiteface Reservoir - are now equipped with a 40-kilowatt solar array on each roof.
The solar panels were produced locally by Heliene in Mountain Iron, and made possible thanks to $336,000 in grants ($112,000 for each building) from the Minnesota Department of Commerce's Statewide Solar on Public Buildings Program.
Each solar array is capable of producing 55 megawatts of electric energy annually, which is expected to cover 73% of the facilities' electrical energy usage. This estimation takes into account average snowy and cloudy days at each location.
Additionally, the non-fossil fuel energy generated equates to a reduction in approximately six metric tons of carbon emissions for each system annually, or 18 metric tons for all three. Over a typical life expectancy of 25 years, that is a reduction of 450 metric tons of carbon emissions.
"Everything about this project is a win," said County Board Chair Mike Jugovich. "We are using domestically produced solar panels installed by local trade labor. And they are generating renewable energy, and reducing utility costs, which will save money for our taxpayers for decades to come."
These three Public Works garages were completed in 2024, and the roofs were designed with the intent to add solar panels once funding was available.
Solar on Public Buildings is designed to provide incentives for installation of solar energy systems on Minnesota local government buildings. The program offers benefits to communities across Minnesota by reducing energy costs and electricity-based greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the local economy benefits from investments made in expanding energy infrastructure, and from adding clean energy jobs, like solar installations.
With Minnesota currently importing 100% of its fossil fuels, solar power adds “homegrown” renewable sources of energy to the building and the state’s electrical grid.
To learn more about the Solar on Public Buildings Program, visit Solar on Public Buildings / Minnesota Department of Commerce - Energy.
