Geronimo Energy gets approval to build 100MW solar projects in Minnesota

Minnesota based solar and wind energy developer Geronimo Energy has received approval from state’s Public Utilities Commision (PUC) to construct 100-MW solar parks across 21 locations.

The $250m Aurora Distribited Solar Project is expected to be completed by next year.

As part of the project Geronimo Energy will install ground-mounted sun-tracking solar arrays at 21 sites.

The latest project will be capable of generating five times the energy produced by the largest solar array in the state.

Geronimo Energy said that it would sell the power generated from the project to Minneapolis-based power company Xcel Energy.

The solar generators used for the project will be owned and operated by Italy’s Enel Green Power.

According to the company, the latest project is the first large scale project to be approved by the PUC.

Minnesota has a new solar energy mandate, which requires investor owned utilities to sources 1.5% of their electricity from solar power.

Geronimo’s other solar projects including the one at at Pipestone was rejected by the regulators because it was too close to the residential areas in the region, while the Wyoming and Zumbrota projects were cancelled because Minnesota government has reserved it for future development.

PUC chairwoman Beverly Jones Heydinger said: "To get the first project off on the best possible footing and hopefully that will create more interest and willingness on the parts of other local units of government to allow future siting. It is a balance we are trying to strike here."

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Image: St. Johns University solar installation in fields. Photo: courtesy of Geronimo Energy.