 About
Solar Minnesota
The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES)
is a member of Solar Minnesota.
Solar
Minnesota is a partnership of the U.S.
Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative (formerly the
Million Solar Roofs Initiative) that brings together business, government,
non-profit, and community organizations to remove market barriers
to solar energy use and develop and strengthen local demand for
solar energy products and applications.
Solar Minnesota provides information-sharing
about events, incentives, planned installations, funding opportunities,
and other informal discussions in bi-monthly meetings. Focused at
the "organization-to-organization" level rather than for
members of the general public, Solar Minnesota welcomes other organizations
to join the effort at any time. Individuals are encouraged to join
the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES), which maintains
representation with Solar Minnesota.
The national Solar America Initiative is designed
to support states and local communities as they develop a strong
commitment to the sustained deployment of solar energy technologies.
The iInitiative brings together the capabilities of the Federal
government with key businesses and organizations and focuses them
on creating a strong market for solar energy applications on buildings.
The group does not direct or control the activities of the state
and community partnerships, nor does it provide funding to design,
purchase or install solar energy systems.
To ensure positive and productive results,
the Solar America Initiative focuses on those areas that have formed
strong partnerships, representing the very heart of this initiative.
Key features of the initiative involve:
| • |
Soliciting voluntary participation
by state and local governments; |
| • |
Encouraging action by businesses,
non-profit organizations, and community groups; |
|
• |
Developing a pool of existing federal lending
and financing options and leveraging other financial support
and incentives; |
| • |
Accelerating the use of solar
energy systems on federal buildings. |
Solar America Initiative partnerships bring
together business, government, the energy industry and community
organizations to install a set number of solar energy systems. Examples
of state and local partners include:
| • |
Builders, developers, and
other businesses |
| • |
Utilities and energy service
providers |
|
• |
Non-governmental organizations |
|
• |
Local governments |
| • |
State governments |
Solar Minnesota Initiatives
Creating
and Implementing Your Community Solar Plan
|
