Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric (SWCE) constructed a 250-panel solar array on the property of the co-op’s headquarters in Owatonna in 2015.

An innovative approach to community solar has been developed to drive down the up-front cost for SWCE members to participate. The Sunna (pronounced SOO-nah) Project allows any member to subscribe to the solar community program, and in return, be allocated the energy produced by their subscribed panel(s) to offset their monthly electric bill. To participate in The Sunna Project, members need to subscribe for (1) 410-watt solar panel for $170, and participate in the co-op’s 16-hour Storage Water Heater program.

SWCE members, who wish to subscribe for a solar panel, but not participate in The Sunna Project, can pay $875 for their panel and also earn the subscribed energy production allocation. Any member wishing to subscribe for additional panels will pay $875 per panel.  Members are limited to the equivalent number of panels that would produce their average annual energy usage.  The Sunna Project at SWCE is being promoted by The Minnesota Project, a non-profit group that promotes sustainability, go to https://minnesotaproject.wordpress.com/ to read their article.

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