West Central Initiative, MN

Minnesota’s West Central Initiative earned a SolSmart Silver designation for regional leadership in solar access in 2025. Their work included efforts to increase access to solar financing; assisting local governments in procuring solar energy for municipal operations; trainings for area local governments in permitting, inspection, planning, and zoning best practices; providing information about solar to the public; and more.

• Posted online resources about solar installers and/or solar quote platforms for solar PV.
• Posted online resources about residential and commercial solar PV financing options and incentives including an inventory of local incentives or locally-enabled finance (e.g., a revolving loan fund) for solar PV provided by member communities.
• Posted online resources about consumer protection and solar PV.
• Posted an online summary of state policies related to a property owner’s solar access and solar rights, including links to state-level policy.
• Posted an online solar map for the region.
• Supported a solar informational session and/or solar tour explaining solar PV opportunities and policies.
• Demonstrated regional organization support for local solar strategies through speeches, press releases, opinion articles, etc.
• Discussed solar PV goals and/or strategies for increasing solar PV development within an appropriate committee, commission, taskforce, and/or working group.
• Supported a community-wide group purchase program (e.g., Solarize).
• Developed a regional funding model or institution that directly funds or facilitates new solar PV adoption within the region.
• Partnered with financial institutions and/or foundations to offer loans, rebates, grants, or other incentives for solar PV projects. (Financial institutions could include entities such as a local or regional bank, CDFI, or credit union).
• Supported member communities in procuring solar energy or installing solar PV for direct use for local government facilities.
• Included specific solar PV goals, metrics, and strategies in the most current version of relevant regional plans.
• Posted a solar landing page on the regional organization’s website with information that may include the region’s solar goals, educational materials and tools that promote solar, and resources for solar development.
• Hosted regional training for planning and zoning staff from communities and counties in the region on best practices in planning and zoning for solar PV.
• Hosted regional training on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
• Hosted regional training on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.