About the Program

Minnesota approved the Community Solar Garden Program in 2013. Through this program, Minnesota residents can sign up to support a new, local, solar project. Energy from the project flows to the electric grid, replacing fossil fuels and directly lowering emissions. When you sign up to support a project, you receive clean energy credits that lower your electric bill.

More Information

How it works

Check Availability

Enter your zip code and utility to see if we have a clean energy project in your area.

Connect Your Utility

Enter your utility account information to connect your account to a new clean energy project. If you don't have your information with you, our tools enable you to quickly access your account.

Provide Payment Info

Once you are connected to a project, you will receive clean energy credits and pay your utility through Common Energy. Your connection to the grid will be exactly the same, you will just pay less!

Enjoy the Savings & Impact!

Each month you will receive a Statement of Savings from Common Energy. This statement will show your original bill, your savings with Common Energy, and your positive environmental impact.

Every customer drives positive change

"I really believe in decreasing our carbon footprint and this is the easiest way to sign up for solar energy. You literally sign-up and all of a sudden you are getting your energy from local solar farms and you are saving money."

Ken Young

, Owner Emack & Bolio’s

"Signing up for Common Energy is a great way to help the environment and save money. Who can argue with it? I’d love it if more and more people signed up for Common Energy."

Louise Bliss

, Homeowner

"I feel it is important to get involved with Common Energy because we’re not just saving money, we’re saving energy."

Joe Keneally

, Owner, Clay Ponds Farm

In The Press

"We are pleased to be part of this important project that brings real economic and environmental benefits to the entire community,” Richard Keiser, CEO of Common Energy

Solarbuilder, clifton Park, NY

"The [Rockdale, MD solar] project is offering a 10 percent discount to residential electric rates as one-year subscriptions with the option to renew annually or cancel without cost."

Frederick news post, frederick, MD

"Through the partnership, New York State residents can sign up for a 10% discount on their electricity rate for up to 20 years at no cost."

WJEN, horseheads, ny

"I think one of the most important things that we want to do is partner with organizations like Common Energy to try to get the benefits of this to the community, so that residents can save money."

the leader, corning, Ny

"Through [the] NY Community Solar Partnership with Common Energy, Capital Region homeowners and renters can add solar energy to their existing National Grid account, save 10 percent on electricity and lower emissions in their community."

Greentech media, capital region, NY

"Community solar farms allow utility customers to dedicate a portion of their bill to getting power from the projects, saving the average customer about 10 percent on their monthly bill."

times union, albany, NY

Join the Courtland Solar Farm and save with Xcel!

About the Courtland Solar Array

Courtland, MN

706 kilowatts

8,919 pounds

Planting 223 trees

About the Program

Every customer drives positive change

In The Press

Certificates and affiliations

Join the Courtland Solar Farm and save with Xcel!

About the Courtland Solar Array

Courtland, MN

706 kilowatts

8,919 pounds

Planting 223 trees

About the Program

How it works

Check Availability

Connect Your Utility

Provide Payment Info

Enjoy the Savings & Impact!

Every customer drives positive change

In The Press

Certificates and affiliations

Support clean energy and save!