Community solar lets you support local solar energy without rooftop panels. You stay with Xcel Energy, and your power still comes on the same wires. This guide covers the rules that matter to you in Minnesota today.

Who can join and where gardens serve

If you get electricity from Xcel Energy in Minnesota, you can join a community solar garden. Gardens can be up to 5 megawatts (MW). You can subscribe from anywhere within Xcel Energy’s Minnesota service territory. It is not statewide.

Not sure if your address is served by Xcel Energy in Minnesota? Use our simple tool to check your eligibility. You can also read a quick overview on our Minnesota state page.

How the program is set up now

On April 14, 2026, Minnesota enacted a law naming the program the Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program. It took effect the next day.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce administers gardens approved for the program beginning January 1, 2024. Gardens approved before that date remain in Xcel Energy’s earlier program, which accepted applications through December 31, 2023. New gardens follow the current rules. Older gardens may have different processes.

Income-qualified options and subscriber shares

Minnesota reserves space for households and organizations that need it most. At least 30% of each current garden is reserved for low- and moderate‑income subscribers. When you add affordable‑housing providers and public‑interest subscribers, such as schools and nonprofits, the combined share is at least 55%.

You can qualify as income‑eligible in two ways:

  • You participate in an approved assistance program; or
  • Your household income is at or below 150% of area median income.

At gardens approved since January 1, 2024, an income‑qualified subscription cannot cost more than 90% of the value of your bill credits. This cap helps keep the subscription price below the credits you earn.

If you think you may qualify, ask what documents are accepted. Many people use proof from an assistance program. Others use income information. You can also start with our eligibility checker.

How billing and credits work

You can choose how you get billed in the current program. You may have one Xcel Energy bill that includes your subscription. Or you can receive a separate subscription bill. This one‑bill option began in 2025. Older gardens may work differently.

Your subscription earns bill credits that reduce part of your Xcel Energy bill. For low‑ and moderate‑income subscribers, the bill credit rate uses the average retail rate for residential customers.

Nothing is installed at your home. No panels, no roof work, and no equipment. Xcel Energy keeps delivering electricity on the same wires you already use.

How savings work with community solar

Here is the basic idea. You pay for a subscription to part of a solar garden. Your utility bill shows credits from your share of the garden. You pay less for your subscription than the credits are worth.

Those credits cover part of your bill. So any discount applies to the credits, not your whole bill. Actual savings depend on the state, the utility, and the specific project.

This is different from rooftop solar. With community solar, you do not buy panels. You are paying for bill credits from a shared solar site. The value of those credits and the subscription price set your potential savings.

What to check before you enroll

A few simple checks can make your experience smoother:

  • Confirm you have Xcel Energy service in Minnesota at the address you want to enroll.
  • Ask whether the garden was approved on or after January 1, 2024, or before. This affects program rules, billing choices, and the income‑qualified price cap.
  • See if you might be income‑eligible. You may qualify through an approved assistance program, or with household income at or below 150% of area median income. Ask what proof is accepted.
  • Ask which billing method the garden uses: one Xcel Energy bill or a separate subscription bill.
  • Ask how credits will appear on your bill and when you should expect to see them.
  • Confirm that the garden serves addresses anywhere in Xcel Energy’s Minnesota service territory. Remember, the program is not statewide.
  • Note that gardens can be up to 5 MW. Size does not tell you everything, but it helps set expectations.

You can learn more program highlights on our Minnesota state page. When you are ready, you can check your eligibility in a few minutes.

A community solar subscription can be a simple way to support local solar energy as an Xcel Energy customer. Knowing how the Minnesota rules work will help you pick the right fit for your household.