Solar Energy for Municipal Buildings

Rooftop Solar on City Buildings

In 2011, the City installed 40-kW rooftop solar arrays on three of its buildings: Rondo Community Library, Western District Police Station, and the Public Works Municipal Garage using grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce. A smaller 7.75-kW rooftop solar installation was also completed at the South Saint Anthony Recreation Center in 2011. Together, these rooftop solar arrays produced nearly 85,000 kWh of electricity during 2024. The solar arrays the Public Works Municipal Garage and South Saint Anthony Recreation Center had to be decommissioned in spring 2025, however, when the roofs needed to be replaced.

Solar arrays also provide electricity for several city-owned properties that are managed by third party entities - including CHS Field, the  Saint Paul RiverCentre, and the  Science Museum of Minnesota.

The City of Saint Paul is increasing its use of renewable energy by installing rooftop solar at multiple municipal buildings during 2025-2026, supported by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Commerce's  Solar on Public Buildings Program.

Solar projects the North End Community Center and Fire Station #3 were completed in late 2025.

The City will also be adding solar at the renovated Animal Services facility, the new Hamline Midway Library, Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center, and Frogtown Community Center during 2026.

Community Solar for City Buildings

The City of Saint Paul has supported solar energy development in the region by subscribing to off-site community solar gardens. About two dozen municipal buildings receive a portion of their electricity from community solar programs.

During 2025, the City of Saint Paul purchased more than 5800 MWh of electricity through these subscriptions to community solar gardens.