New incentives for Minnesota communities to cut rooftop solar red tape

Lawmakers have passed an energy bill that, among other clean energy permitting reforms, will help Minnesota communities cut red tape for residential rooftop solar systems.

The legislation includes $2 million to help local communities adopt SolarAPP+, an online automated rooftop solar permitting system developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. $1.5m comes from Minnesota’s renewable energy development account, and must be spent in Xcel’s service territory (which covers ~2/3 of the state). The remaining $500,000 comes from the general fund and can be spent outside Xcel’s service territory. Communities can get incentives ranging from $5,000 and $20,000 and the state must set up the program by March 1, 2025. You can learn more about the benefits of SolarAPP+ here. 

“This bill encouraging communities to cut red tape and make it easier, cheaper and faster for Minnesotans to go solar,” said Johanna Neumann, senior director of Environment Minnesota’s Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy.

Neumann coauthored the report Rooftop Solar on the Rise, which found that Minnesota ranked 31st in the country for growth in small scale solar over the past decade. The report recommends consistent statewide permitting that make it fast and easy to “go solar.” 

Minnesota’s action brings the total states with SolarAPP+ funding programs (either operational or being set up) to six, with California, Colorado, Maryland, Illinois and Washington having similar programs. The bill now heads to Governor Walz for his signature.