Community Solar

Redwood Electric Cooperative Community Solar

Members interested in green energy or looking to lock in future electricity prices can participate in Redwood Electric Cooperative's Community Solar project. Redwood Electric developed the community solar project to give members who wanted a portion of their energy to come from a renewable source options they could participate in. All the electricity created by the community solar array is used by Redwood Electric members.

The solar array consists of 448 panels. Each month the total production Redwood Electric Cooperative receives from the array is divided by 448 to determine how many kWh's each panel is allocated. For example: March of 2016 total array production was 18,816. The kWh allocation would have been 42kWh's per panel. The estimated production per panel is around 500kWh's a year. Monthly production will vary by season, with the summer months creating the most electricity and winter months delivering the least.

This project is registered with the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS). Basin Electric Power Cooperative, a Redwood Electric power supplier, is the owner of all REC's. The REC's are being used to help South Central Electric meet its Minnesota renewable energy goals. Participating members do not receive renewable energy credits.

Members pay $.13/kWh each month for their portion of the array’s production. There is no down payment or contract. The price does not change. Members would be locking in a portion of their electric purchases at a price of $.13/kWh until the program ends on December 31, 2037. Members can leave the program at any time but cannot transfer the rate to other members.

This is not an income producing investment. Members do not own the panels. Any financial benefit will depend on future costs of electricity. You will be purchasing energy from the Redwood Electric Cooperative Community solar array at $.13/kWh. The value you get per kWh will be based on the Redwood Electric monthly kWh price now and in the future. As the cost of electricity increases the value of your community solar purchases increases. Limit 10 panels per member.

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What is Community Solar?

What are the benefits?

How does it work?

How are kWh's assigned to participants?

Renewable Energy Credits (REC's)

Participation Option: Purchase per kWh

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