FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2023
Minnesota’s Solar and Energy Storage Trade Association Announces Largest Member Force Yet
St. Paul, MN — The Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA) is proud to announce that the association has reached 150 member companies. This exciting milestone comes after a historic year for the Minnesota clean energy industry at the state Legislature, with over $80 million in funding for solar and energy storage programs advanced by the organization, as well as numerous, key policy changes passed into law with bipartisan support.
Established in 2009, MnSEIA has grown in tandem with Minnesota’s solar and energy storage industries. At the time of MnSEIA's formation, Minnesota had only 330 solar installations producing just 1.5 megawatts of electricity. Today, the state has over 18,000 solar installations and is nearing 2,000 megawatts of installed solar. Minnesota is ranked #16 in the country for its amount of solar and has created over $2.7 billion in local investments. The industry employs 5,000 Minnesotans.
The growth of the industry and swift deployment of solar and energy storage projects could not be possible without strong state policies. Driven by its members, MnSEIA has fostered a strong business market through legislative and regulatory advocacy. Notable achievements include the creation, defense, and ongoing modernization of the state’s trailblazing Community Solar Garden program, establishing Minnesota’s first incentives for energy storage projects, funding for the Solar for Schools program, a new mid-scale distributed generation (DG) solar standard, incentives for residential solar, establishing interconnection standards and cost sharing for grid upgrades, and much more.
“MnSEIA’s growth is directly related to the strength of our solar and energy storage markets,” said Logan O’Grady, MnSEIA’s Executive Director. “The difference between a weak or strong clean energy market is public policy. The decisions state officials make in legislation or regulatory orders is a business signal to the rest of the country. More companies are interested in bringing projects, jobs, and investments to Minnesota because they see the state as a strong and stable market to do business in.”
MnSEIA’s membership has not only grown but diversified through the years. A trade association once filled with installers and developers has evolved into a robust reflection of every aspect of the solar and storage industry. MnSEIA connects and supports businesses of all sizes, trade unions, nonprofits, emerging technology startups, utilities, and ancillary solar service providers such as engineers, financiers, vegetation management companies, manufacturers, and more.
“It’s been rewarding to watch MnSEIA’s membership grow over the years as companies recognize the value we deliver for them in Minnesota,” said Abbi Morgan, MnSEIA’s Director of Business Development and Communications. “MnSEIA keeps our members informed and connected so they can focus more time on growing and running their businesses and less time worrying about political risks to their success. When a potential member is thinking about entering the Minnesota market, we’re often the first call they make.”
MnSEIA is thankful for the support of its members who drive the association’s legislative and regulatory efforts, fund the nonprofit, and help make it all possible. MnSEIA also thanks its Board of Directors, staff, and industry partners for continuously working to protect and promote Minnesota’s solar and storage industries.
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About MnSEIA:
MnSEIA is a member-driven 501(c)(6) nonprofit that promotes and protects Minnesota’s solar and storage industries. We advocate in the state legislative and regulatory arenas in a unified and actionable way to move solar + storage forward. Find out more at www.mnseia.org.
Media Contact:
Abbi Morgan, Director of Business Development and Communications, amorgan@mnseia.org