Community Energy Resilience Through Microgrids Across Minnesota
Minnesota communities are taking important steps to strengthen energy resilience through locally powered microgrids. Microgrids help keep essential buildings operating when the main electric grid goes down—ensuring continuity for shelters, community hubs, and critical services.
Through the State Energy Program, we're supporting microgrid and backup power projects that help communities prepare for disruptive events in ways that meet their unique needs.
Recent projects include energy efficiency upgrades at a major community center in St. Paul, a new battery paired with an existing solar array in Northfield, and an electric vehicle in Morris that can supply backup power during outages.
Featured Community Projects We're Excited to Highlight
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa
Bois Forte, located in northern Minnesota, is working toward long-term energy independence and community resilience. The Boise Forte Band is exploring a microgrid system that would help ensure reliable power for Tribal buildings and services. This effort supports their broader goals of environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and energy sovereignty.
Oxford Community Center in St. Paul
Oxford Community Center is a busy gathering space and one of St. Paul's largest emergency shelters. With more extreme heat expected in the coming decades and aging heating and cooling equipment, Oxford needs reliable, efficient power.
St. Paul is designing a microgrid that combines electric heating and cooling, rooftop solar panels, and battery storage. This will replace an outdated generator, cut energy costs, and make sure the center can fully operate as a shelter and cooling center during emergencies.
Morris Community Center
Morris Community Center is a central hub where people meet, receive services, and find support—whether they're picking up Meals on Wheels, attending city meetings, or gathering with friends and neighbors.
The building already has solar panels, but storms can limit how much power they provide. Morris is adding a new backup option: an electric pickup truck that can plug into the building and supply power during an outage. Because the center uses relatively little energy, the truck's battery can keep essential services running when residents need them most.
Community Microgrid Project in Moorhead
Moorhead faces frequent severe weather that can disrupt electricity, especially in older neighborhoods. With many households living on limited incomes, outages can hit the community hard.
Moorhead is developing a microgrid to ensure that emergency operations and communication systems stay online during storms or other disruptions. This reliable backup power will help the city support residents before, during, and after emergencies.
Northfield Community Resource Center
The Northfield Community Resource Center (NCRC) serves children, families, and older adults through programs like Head Start, the Senior Center, and the local food shelf. Because so many people rely on the building every day, having consistent power is essential.
Northfield is designing a battery system that works with the center's existing solar panels. The batteries will store energy and provide backup power during outages, allowing the NCRC to keep vital programs running and continue serving the community without interruption.