Growing the Just Solar Revolution to Scale in Minnesota

Assessing Equitable Solar Models Across Minnesota

Minnesota is leading the nation on renewable energy development. Minnesota’s largest utility, Xcel Energy, is on track to reduce carbon 80 percent by 2030. At the same time, the state is coming to terms with a history of racial and economic inequality, including one of the nation’s highest disparities in energy equity and employment between communities of color and white Minnesotans as well as rural and urban communities.

Equity is recognized in renewable energy work, but assessments of how emerging policies and projects actually achieve equity goals remains understudied. Often when equity is centered in renewable energy projects, capital investments are more difficult to secure, workforce development programs face ongoing barriers related to union rules and the contracting becomes so complex that even energy professionals lack the knowledge to carry the projects out.

This project assessed approaches to equitable solar models in three locations in Minnesota to understand the on-the-ground dynamics of centering and achieving equity in solar. 

Outcomes

• Partnered six student interns with three community partners – 8th Fire Solar in Bemidji, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light in Duluth and Minneapolis Climate Action in Minneapolis – to perform research
• Held experiential learning field trips and conversations with diverse leaders in energy
• Tested an approach to student interns working with Just Solar Coalition members, which can be refined or adapted to future action research projects and potentially in classroom contexts
• Had students present results on barriers and bridges to the regionally specific teams so they could improve education and outreach in future business operations
• Learned that strong networks and relationship-building helps individuals persevere through challenging situations learning about and implementing equitable solar