Season 5 • Episode 9
Big Changes for Minnesota’s Community Solar Gardens
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Made possible with support from the Sally Mead Hands Foundation.
About Season 5 Episode 9: Big Changes for Minnesota’s Community Solar Gardens
Minnesota’s solar accessibility has skyrocketed since the passing of the Minnesota Solar Energy Jobs Act in 2013, creating clean energy opportunities for communities across the state. One such opportunity, community solar gardens, have exploded in the past ten years, adding up to 900 megawatts of solar arrays for community benefit.
Learn more about community solar gardens in this episode of the Rise Up Podcast featuring Peter Lindstrom, CERTs manager of public sector & community engagement at the University of Minnesota’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and Extension.
About Our Guest: Peter Lindstrom
Peter Lindstrom is the Manager of Public Sector & Community Engagement at the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) within the University of Minnesota’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and Extension. With a focus on outreach and education, he leads efforts to engage local units of government, including cities, counties, townships, and school districts, in exploring approaches for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.
Peter brings a wealth of experience to his role, having previously served as the mayor of Falcon Heights, MN for 10 years and represented District 10 on the Metropolitan Council. Additionally, his career includes significant leadership positions such as Assistant Director of the Center for Science, Technology & Public Policy at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School, Executive Director of SciMathMN, and Vice President of Public Affairs at the Minnesota High Tech Association.
Episode Chapters:
0:00 Peter Lindstrom Introduction
1:47 MREA Training endorsement
3:07 Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
6:06 Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
10:13 Changes in Minnesota energy markets
13:55 Community solar subscribers
18:33 Solar garden enabling legislation
23:04 Energy storage and solar gardens
24:03 Solar on Schools program
30:03 What’s still needed/magic wand solutions
34:26 Challenges and opportunities in new funding
Midwest Consumers’ Guide To The Energy Transition
The Midwest Consumers’ Guide To The Energy Transition is out now! Learn about the most up-to-date and need-to-know information to help prepare you for a greener tomorrow. Articles are written by regional experts and professionals, many of which have been featured on the Rise Up Podcast!
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Phone: (715)-592-6595
The Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living through education and demonstration.