Dakota County is leading the way in county renewable energy efforts.
Dakota County leaders were joined by federal, state and local partners in an Oct. 29 ribbon-cutting beneath a solar carport outside the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. The county is increasing its renewable energy generation with that installation, two other solar carports and a ground-level solar array. The projects include a combined addition of nearly 1,900 solar panels.
The solar installations are part of a broader energy package that also included building lighting upgrades and heating and cooling system improvements to reduce energy use. All of those efforts, along with improvements to the county's hydroelectric Byllesby Dam, will allow the county to generate twice as much electricity than it uses in all its buildings.
“We're claiming that Dakota County is the first spot in the country that generates more electricity from renewable sources than any of our buildings or facilities use," Dakota County Board Chair Joe Atkins said of county energy generation.
Energy highlights include:
- The solar carport at the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul that will offset nearly 10 percent of the building's electricity use.
- A solar carport at the Western Service Center and Galaxie Library in Apple Valley that will generate the equivalent of 60 percent of the library's electricity use.
- Nearly all of the electricity used at the Robert Trail Library and Rosemount License Center will be offset by the energy generated from a new solar carport.
- Energy generated from ground-mounted solar panels outside the Administration Center in Hastings will offset all of the electricity used in that building.
“This important project allows Dakota County to make smart energy investments and to lead on renewable energy among our fellow counties," Dakota County Commissioner Mary Hamann-Roland said.
It's not Dakota County's first solar energy efforts. The county already has solar panels at the Empire Maintenance Facility. Those panels generate energy to offset two-thirds of the electricity used there.
Native plants have been added as part of the project, including 1.5 acres of pollinator habitat at the Administration Center in Hastings. More than 700 native plants were grown by Dakota County volunteers.
“We're leading in energy and natural resources," Hamann-Roland said.
The $8.4 million energy package was supported with $7.6 million in federal funding. Projects like Dakota County's are exactly what should be supported at the federal level, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig said.
“Today's celebration should serve as an important reminder of what can happen as the result of those strong partnerships across all levels of government," Craig said.
Another $500,000 came from the state.
“This (county) is so innovative," said state Rep. Mary Frances Clardy, adding that Dakota County's project aligns with state energy goals.
The county contributed $300,000 for the project.