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Federal, state, and county elected officials gathered at the Dakota County Northern Service Center on Tuesday for a ribbon cutting ceremony for a solar carport.
“I feel like it’s been ribbon cutting season in Dakota County, and that’s just a testament to the extraordinary work that Dakota County leaders are doing across our community,” said U.S. Rep. Angie Craig.
- The 111-kilowatt solar carport will offset nearly 10% of the Northern Service Center’s electricity use.
- It joins similar projects at the Western Service Center in Apple Valley, Robert Trail Library in Rosemount, and the Administrative Center in Hastings.
- Total Dakota County solar funding for these projects amounts to $8.4 million, with $7.6 million coming from the federal government and $500,000 from the state. The project in West St. Paul cost $547,000. The county expects to save more than the cost of the projects.
Bragging rights: “What makes this so remarkable, is Dakota County will now generate twice as much electricity as we use in all our buildings and facilities,” said County Commissioner Joe Atkins. “We’ve tried our darndest to find any other county in the country that’s been able to match that, and we have yet to find anybody. So 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.”
Federal investment: “The Inflation Reduction Act was the single largest American investment to combat climate change,” said Craig, pointing to the $6 billion poured into public infrastructure and other investments.
Award: The projects have earned the 2024 Gateway to Solar Sustainability award from the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association.
The future: “In doing this, we’re looking at not only our future, but our children’s future and their children’s future,” said State Rep. Mary Frances Clardy.
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