Here’s some sunny news from the Star Tribune: this summer, the IKEA in Bloomington will install a rooftop solar array nearly twice the size of the one on the Minneapolis Convention Center roof (currently, the state’s largest), increasing the amount of solar in Minnesota by about 20 percent. It’s the direct result of IKEA’s new corporate policy that focuses on using more renewable energy, and eventually, the company will install solar on nearly all of its 44 U.S. stores. So what’s the downside? Unfortunately, the developer hails from Illinois, and the solar panels will come from a German company located in Oregon.

The Solar Works for Minnesota coalition works to implement policies and financial structures that will retain and expand Minnesota’s fledgling solar industry so future developers and supplies are sourced directly from local communities and businesses. Solar energy is the fastest-growing form of new energy worldwide, and Minnesota is home to over 50 businesses that provide solar energy services like technology, components, and installation. Without strong, thoughtful, and consistent policy to support them, these businesses might be compelled to work in other states or relocate elsewhere. That means Minnesota will lose out while other state’s economies and businesses benefit from an increasingly strong solar industry. We’d call that a big downside.

Learn more about solar in Minnesota and get involved.

Photo: PV-Tech and REC Solar

Here’s some sunny news from the Star Tribune: this summer, the IKEA in Bloomington will install a rooftop solar array nearly twice the size of the one on the Minneapolis Convention Center roof (currently, the state’s largest), increasing the amount of solar in Minnesota by about 20 percent.