Solar Energy for Municipal Buildings

Rooftop Solar for 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.

Roof replacement projects were completed at the Public Works Municipal Garage and South Saint Anthony Recreation Center in spring 2025, so both of those solar arrays were decommissioned at that time.

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 will increase its use of on-site renewable energy by installing solar at multiple buildings in 2025-2026. Saint Paul was one of 18 local governments that received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce during the first round of funding under the Solar on Public Buildings Program in early 2025, which supported the installation of a 40-kW rooftop solar array at the North End Community Center.

The City of Saint Paul also received Solar on Public Buildings grants to install rooftop solar arrays at the renovated Fire Station #3 during fall 2025, and the Animal Services facility and Hamline Midway Library in spring 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 2024, the City of Saint Paul purchased more than 6300 MWh of electricity through these subscriptions to community solar gardens.