Solar Energy for Municipal Buildings

Solar for City Buildings

The City of Saint Paul began expanding its renewable energy use in 2025-2026 with new on-site solar projects supported by grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Commerce's  Solar on Public Buildings Program.

Solar projects at the North End Community Center and Fire Station #3 were completed in 2025. In 2026, rooftop solar systems were also installed on the renovated Animal Services facility,  Hamline Midway Library, Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center, and Frogtown Community Center.

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. Two dozen municipal buildings receive a portion of their electricity from community solar programs. In 2025, the City purchased more than 6100 total MWh of electricity through these subscriptions to solar gardens.

History of Solar on City Buildings

In 2011, the City installed rooftop solar arrays on four of its buildings using grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Minnesota Department of Commerce:

• Rondo Community Library,
• Western District Police Station
• Public Works Municipal Garage
• South Saint Anthony Recreation Center

Together, these rooftop solar arrays produced nearly 85,000 kWh of electricity during 2024. The solar systems on the Public Works Municipal Garage and South Saint Anthony Recreation Center were decommissioned in 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.