It’s like a community garden, planted with solar panels!
Community solar is ideal for members who want to harness the power of the sun's energy, but lack a suitable site or funds for a solar array of their own.
Crow Wing Power currently has three community solar arrays, which about 100 of our Cooperative Members subscribe to.
Phase 1 was built in March, 2017 next to our headquarters north of Brainerd. That project sold out quickly by members wanting to support solar.
Phase II was built in June, 2018 at our Swanburg outpost near Ideal Corners. That project's 111 shares sold out in mid July, 2020.
Phase III was constructed in the spring of 2022 and started producing solar power on April 22.
There are still shares available for our latest array.
If you have questions, please call our Member Service department at 218-829-2827 or 1-800-648-9401.
Phase I Generation Monitor Phase II Generation Monitor Phase III Generation Monitor
Phase III Community Solar is Producing!
At their February 17, 2022 meeting, the Crow Wing Power Board of Directors authorized the construction of the Phase III Community Solar project. This third solar project is located next to the Phase II solar array at our Swanburg Outpost east of Pine River.
Members can purchase one to five shares, but no more than their annual kWh average use.
The Phase III Community Solar array has similar characteristics to the Phase II project.
Cost: $1,300/share
Shares Available: 144
Average Annual kWh projected per share: 500 kWhs
Phase III Array Size:
- 55.0 KW AC
- 3,000 square feet
- Average predicted annual energy production 72,000 kWhs
- 144 panels
- 144 shares
- 20 year contract
Crow Wing Power built and commissioned a second Community Solar Array or Phase II in June of 2018. It's solar shares sold out two years later in July, 2020. It's located at the Swanburg Outpost east of Pine River.
Phase II Array Size:
- 50.47 KW DC – 43.2 KW AC
- 3,000 square feet
- Average Predicted Annual Energy Production:
- 55,000 kWhs
- Enough to supply five homes
- Solar Panel Manufacturer:
- Solar World, made in the US
Solar Panel Installer:
Viking Electric In. out of Spring Grove MN
Cell Type:
Monocrystalline
Panel Size:
38" X 78"
Number of Panels:
144
Average Annual kWh projected per share:
500/kWhs/share/annually
The Fall of 2016 we began selling shares in a new Community Solar Project and within a few months we were 100% sold out.
On March 22, 2017 the panels were installed and hooked up to the grid and solar production began. Subscribers began seeing credits on their May bills for the month of April and March.
Our community solar project features a solar photovoltaic (PV) system manufactured and assembled in Minnesota. The panels are installed in tandem, facing back-to-back to maximize installed watts and energy yield per square foot. Because this arrangement offers complete PV coverage of a space, the performance of the system is virtually unaffected by its system azimuth. This is ideal for applications where maximum energy generation is required in a limited space.
We celebrated our new Community Solar Project with a ribbon cutting on Thursday April 20, 2017 with our member supporters/subscribers and Board of Directors.
