About MPRB Solar Demonstration Project

The MPRB Solar Demonstration Project provides varieties of solar installation (roof-mounted, wall-mounted, canopy) across a variety of diverse urban environments. Each installation had a different design feature. For instance, helical pier foundations were used for the canopy at Lake Nokomis to use on the sandy soil conditions and customized racking for the East Phillips array to mount. The solar arrays installed via the MPRB Solar Demonstration Project have displaced 288 MWh of traditional electrical power and provided 130 registered renewable energy certificates (RECs). The project gives an interpretive and educational opportunities that discusses the arrays’ energy output, carbon offsets, and other way to add solar demand in Minnesota.
 

Cleaner enviroment and clean energy education 

The project also supported the local clean energy economy: two Minnesota-based solar installation firms installed the five arrays, and all the solar panels were manufactured in Minnesota. In addition, 27 percent of the total expenditures were allocated to City of Minneapolis Target Market Program businesses and Minnesota Unified Certification Program Disadvantaged Minority Owned Business Enterprises. The RDF grant of $969,741 awarded to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board contributed to the $1,119,741 program budget. It has educated millions of park users about the viability of solar technologies, reduced carbon emissions, and supported local economic development. This program has brought incredible results for Minneapolis and for Minnesota.
 

Some of the parks that are part of the program are; 

East Phillips Park Cultural and Community Center:  A 6.5-kW wall-mounted solar array is produce about 9,089 kWh per year. This installation educates the use of solar in a challenging location. The gym’s roof doesn’t have the structural integrity to support solar panels, a wall-mounted array was used. The site was chosen due to the facility being open year-round, with program activities ranging from recreation to cultural events that already support ethnic diversity of the neighborhood.  

Lake Nokomis Main Beach: A 7.4-kW solar canopy array was installed at the beach to provide much-needed shade for beach goers. The solar array is expected to produce about 10,348 kWh per year. In the winter, the solar array will deliver power to the grid. As a regional resource, the beach draws visitors from all over the city and metropolitan area.
 
If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years. For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.