SunShare and Mortenson Announce Strategic Agreement to Develop, Build Community Solar Gardens in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — SunShare, a community solar company with offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado, and Mortenson, announced a strategic relationship to develop and build solar gardens in Minnesota. The announcement comes a week after Xcel Energy announced its plan to more than double its renewable energy by 2030, including exponential growth in solar from 14 megawatts in 2015 to 2,400 megawatts in 2030.

Mortenson will serve as the full engineering, procurement and construction contractor, while SunShare will develop, finance, own the solar gardens and sign up energy users for the program. The renewable electricity generated will be available to Xcel Energy residential, municipal and commercial subscribers as part of its community solar program throughout Hennepin, Dakota, Wright, Ramsey, Carver, Scott, Anoka and Washington counties.  

“Minnesota's community solar program dramatically expands the ability for companies, governmental entities and residents to utilize solar,” said Trent Mostaert, vice president and general manager at Mortenson. “This is a great partnership and an opportunity for Mortenson to work with SunShare, a leading community solar company, and bring our significant solar experience home to Minnesota.”

In 2013, the Minnesota State Legislature established a landmark community solar law through the “Solar Energy Jobs Act,” allowing electric customers who either can"t or don"t want to put solar panels on their homes or businesses to buy electricity generated from a solar array located elsewhere in the community. Customers, including schools, businesses, homeowners, libraries and other municipal buildings, may purchase a community solar garden subscription from SunShare and will then receive credits on their Xcel Energy bills during the contract term.