WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) cut the ribbon on a new rooftop solar array that will cut the museum's electricity costs in half while advancing its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
The project was financed through a $250,000 loan from the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority. Solar Bear developed the project, and BlueSky Electric handled the installation.
"The solar on the rooftop of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a wonderful extension of MMAM's work to connect art, culture and sustainability," said Board Chair Bill Hoel. "We plan to educate and engage the public on the benefits of tapping into nature to power our energy, to save money, and to protect our Minnesota lands and waters."
The rooftop solar will generate enough electricity to cover half of the museum's electricity needs each year, estimated at $33,000 annually. The museum plans to reinvest those savings into programming and other costs.
More than 35,000 visitors to the museum each year will be able to see in real time the energy generated by the rooftop solar. The educational opportunities will connect the museum's roots in the history of the Mississippi River's arts and cu...