Current information (09/11/2024): Round one of the Solar on Public Buildings Grant Program Request for Proposals has closed. Round 2 will open on Monday, October 21. Please visit the Commerce RFP website for the posting: Request for Proposals (RFP) / Minnesota Department of Commerce - Business (mn.gov).
Application First Step:
Prior to completing the Solar on Public Buildings Readiness Assessment, Applicants must first obtain a unique project ID number (“ID”) by emailing the Department at SolarOnPublicBuildings.COMM@state.mn.us to request an ID and must do so for each application/building. The email must include:
- Local unit of government’s primary point of contact
- Primary contact title
- Primary contact email
- Planned installation site (e.g. county, city, town, other local government jurisdiction, Tribal government and building)
In 2023 the Minnesota Legislature established the Solar on Public Buildings (SPB) Grant Program (Minn. Stat. § 216C.377). The purpose of this program is to provide grants to stimulate the installation of solar energy systems on public buildings. The Department of Commerce will administer $4.3M in grants to local governments in Xcel Energy electric service territory through at least two funding rounds.
Eligible applicants for this grant program are local units of government (LUGs) including a county, statutory or home rule charter city, town, or other local government jurisdiction, excluding a school district eligible to receive financial assistance under section 216C.375; or a federally recognized Indian Tribe in Minnesota. (Minn. Stat. § 216C.377, subd. 1).
Grants will be awarded for up to 70% of the project costs (dependent on the government’s financial capacity) for a solar array that is built on or adjacent to a public building and is the lesser of 40kW system capacity or 120% of the building’s annual energy consumption.
Funding Round 2 Application Timeline
Step 1: Notice of Intent: Public Building Readiness Assessment
- Date of Issue: Monday, October 21, 2024
- Public Building Readiness Assessment Due Monday, December 2, 2024
- Public Building Readiness Eligibility Notification: Monday, December 30, 2024
Step 2: Full Grant Application
- Application Open: Upon Notification
- Application Due: Monday, April 21, 2025
- Final Notification: Monday, May 19, 2025
State Grant Funding 2024
The Department of Commerce has been instructed to consider the financial capacity of the LUG when determining the amount of the grant award. For counties, cities, and townships, the department will use a tiered system of financial capacity, assessed by the Adjusted Net Tax Capacity / capita, determined with data from the MN Department of Revenue. Other local government jurisdictions such as Watershed Districts and Housing Authorities will be assessed based on the counties or cities’ ANTC/Capita within the respective jurisdiction. Tribal Nations, designated as “disadvantaged communities” by the federal government, are eligible for a Tier 1 grant award of up to 70% system cost.
| Maximum Allowable Grant | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier | Adjusted Net Tax Capacity / Capita | Up to % System Cost | Not to Exceed |
| Tier 1 | Under $1,000 | 70% | $84,000 |
| Tier 2 | >$1,000 | 60% | $72,000 |
| Tier 3 | >$2,000 | 50% | $60,000 |
| Tier 4 | >$3,500 | 40% | $48,000 |
| Tier 5 | >$4,500 | 30% | $36,000 |
| Tribal Nations | 70% | $84,000 | |
Questions and Additional Information
A public webinar providing details about the Solar on Public Buildings program will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 10:30am.
For questions about the program and application process, email Energy.Contracts@state.mn.us. All questions will be answered in the Solar on Public Buildings FAQ and updated weekly, available on the Solar on Public Buildings webpage.