Grow Solar Twin Cities Virtual Resource Packet

We’ve taken all the resources we go through during our Solar Power Hour and compiled them here so you can take a deeper look into all aspects of solar.

Solar 101 Resources

Presentation Slides are available here. The on-demand video version of the presentation can be found below.

Energy Efficiency Resources

Making energy efficiency and conservation choices in your home, including replacing old appliances with new energy efficient models, switching out old incandescent bulbs with LED lights, utilizing power strips to power off electronics when not in use and weather-proofing can save significant amounts of energy. Implementing good energy efficiency measures is an up-front economic investment that can reduce your energy needs, reducing the size and cost of the solar PV system needed for your home or business.If your utility is Xcel Energy, check out their program for rebates, tips, tricks to help reduce your energy usage. They have both residential and business programs. Dakota Electric Association Co-op also has programs and rebates for residential and businesses. Check out your utilities website to see if they offer any energy efficiency programs and/or rebates.

Solar Incentives

The federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit is open to all homeowners regardless of the state in which they live. The tax credit covers up to 26% of qualified expenditures. This includes labor, installation and interconnection wiring. You must own the house but it doesn’t have to be your principal residence. Click here for more information (and to download the necessary tax form) to learn about the Federal Tax Credit.
The Xcel Solar Energy Rewards program provides a pool of incentives for Xcel customers installing residential solar panels or small commercial solar installation. The solar power incentive is linked to the amount of solar energy produced over 10 years by the solar panel installation, so the more you produce, the more rebate you receive. This Solar Rewards incentive is designed to spur more Xcel Energy customers to install solar panel arrays on their home. It is independent from ‘net metering,’ in which excess electricity generated by a home’s solar panel array is fed back into the the grid and is purchased by Xcel. More detail: Rebate: $0.08 / kWh produced, paid annually for 10 years— Array Size: 20kw-DC or less, and can’t be over 120% of on-site consumption.

Financing Solar

The Clean Energy Credit Union, which was founded in 2017 for the purpose of helping folks finance renewable energy and electric vehicle purchases. It is a member-based credit union which MREA is a member of. If you choose to go geothermal through this program you will have access to financing through the Clean Energy Credit Union. Learn about their rates and terms here.
The Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) offers Home Energy Squad visits to all CenterPoint and Xcel Energy customers. Ranging from $70-$100 depending on when your home was built, these audits will help your home become more energy efficient and start saving you money immediately. During the visit they will inspect your insulation, heating and cooling systems, and water heater, install materials at the visit so you save energy and money right away, and connect you to vetted contractors, specialized financing, and rebates. Sign up for a Home Energy Squad visit, and don’t forget to mention the Grow Solar Twin Cities Solar Power Hour to get an additional $30 off.

Pre-Recorded Solar Power Hour

Our Virtual Power Hour presentation will help you understand more about solar technology, the Grow Solar Twin Cities program, and the costs and benefits of going solar. At the end of the virtual presentation you can sign up for a free site assessment.