Community Green Energy signs agreement with the City of Tracy, Minnesota to develop Community Solar for the benefit of City and its residents and small businesses.

Lake Geneva, Wisc. (9/21/2015) - Community Green Energy, LLC (CGE) today announced that it has entered into a Community Solar Development Agreement with the City of Tracy, Minnesota. CGE will be exploring five potential city-owned sites as the future host of the Community Virtual Solar Garden.

Under this agreement to develop a community solar program, CGE will lease a site from Tracy and develop the community solar project in accordance with Xcel Energy's Solar Rewards Community MN (SCRMn) program.
Prior to operation, CGE will offer Tracy area residents and small businesses the opportunity to become a subscriber in the solar garden by purchasing production ownership rights in solar PV panel units. In return, subscribers will receive credit on their monthly Xcel Energy electric bills for the amount of electricity that their panels produce.
"With no capital investment of our own, the City of Tracy will be able to benefit from the Xcel community solar program and extend those benefits to our residents and small businesses," said City Administrator Michael Votca.
Through the Community Virtual Solar Garden, the opportunity to own and benefit from solar will be extend to everyone currently receiving electricity service from Xcel Energy, including those that have been prevented from going solar in the past, such as renters and those with shaded roofs. Participants in the program will receive all the long term benefits of solar ownership, minus the liabilities associated with physical system ownership, such as installation and maintenance.
"Our Community Virtual Solar Garden program is designed to make solar more easily available and affordable to residents and small businesses alike," said Community Green Energy's President, Fritz Kreiss. "Anyone can choose to participate, including the 75% who are unable to install solar because they have no roof of their own, or are too shaded or poorly oriented, or just find it too expensive."
"We're thrilled to serve as the Host site for this exciting community solar project," Votca concluded, "and look forward to the positive impact it will have in our community."
CGE will be working with Tracy to finalize site selection and receive project approvals from Xcel Energy, and anyone interested in participating in the Tracy Community Virtual Solar Garden may reserve their spot at myvirtualsolar.com. Participation in solar PV panel subscriptions is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Further details on the project and participation will be announced as they become available.
Community Green Energy develops and finances renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide, including community solar gardens, community choice aggregation and utility scale solar development. www.communitygreenenergy.com 262-248-0927