Give Greater Minnesota a Boost: Remove Contiguous County Restrictions on Community Solar

Community solar gardens (CSG) land counties, Minnesota’s rural community is leases are a lifeline for farmers missing out on the opportunity to create and agricultural producers across Greater Minnesota – giving them a sustainable option to earn consistent and reliable dollars in economic development at a time income. Since 2013, America’s farmers when COVID-19 is taking its toll across and ranchers have weathered a nearly 50 the state. percent drop in net farm income, the largest four-year drop since the start of the Great Depression.e to inflexible

restriction which hinders subscription and

[email protected] www.communitysolaraccess.org Our Ask Make it easier for rural farmers and landowners to host a community solar garden within the same or contiguous

Generate revenue for rural cities and towns – who are already preparing for historic budget shortfalls

Help farmers in rural parts of the state – many who struggled to operate before the pandemic

Expand clean energy access to rural counties in the state, including towns, schools, and farmers

Lower energy costs for more consumers – many of whom need economic relief

Key Stats Eliminating the contiguous county rule will provide an economic boost to Greater Minnesota at a time when we need it most.

12,000 $600 million 300 MW new solar jobs in the next 6-24 in private investment in rural of new solar energy, enough to months and hundreds of solar power more than 45,000 homes supply chain manufacturing jobs with clean energy

Supported By: MnSEIA, Clean Energy Economy MN, MN Farmers Union and CCSA

[email protected] www.communitysolaraccess.org US Solar & IPS Solar VOS Projects By House District

Paul Marquart 04B (5) # #

Dan Wolgamott 14B (5) 15B (8) # Solar Projects # # # Paul Anderson # ## # 12B (5) # Xcel Service Territory # ## # # ## ## # ## County Boundaries # # # 13A# (6) # # ##30B (2) 17B (1) ## Joe McDonald 29A (2) # # # 18A (5) 17A (4) # 33A (2) # # # Jim Nash # # # 47A (1) 54B (1) # # # 18B (2) # 58B (3) # # Brian Pfarr # # 20A (3) # 21A (2) # ## Susan Akland # 20B (1) 19A (3) ## # 16B (4) # # # # # 21B (5) ## # 22A (1) 25A (1) # Jeremy Munson 24A (3) 23B (2) ##

Peggy Bennett 27A (2)

Miles Data Sources: MN Geospatial Commons, US Solar, IPS 0 20 40 80 ±