Minnesota Power details plans for two solar projects in northern part of state

Minnesota Power, an ALLETE Inc. company providing electric service within a 26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, plans to build two large solar projects in the northern part of the state as it continues transitioning to a cleaner energy future.

The two projects are part of Minnesota Power’s actions to meet the up to 300 megawatts (MW) of regional solar generation called for in its Integrated Resource Plan, which the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved in 2023. Construction of the two projects is contingent on Minnesota PUC and other regulatory approvals.

“These projects will help move us toward our goal of providing more than 80 percent renewable energy by 2030 while working toward meeting the state of Minnesota law calling for carbon-free energy supplies by 2040,” said ALLETE Vice President and Minnesota Power Chief Operating Officer Josh Skelton. “Both projects include preferences for local labor, diverse suppliers, and apprenticeships to train tomorrow’s renewable energy workforce.”

The Regal Solar project near Royalton, Minn., and the Boswell Solar project in Cohasset, Minn., were chosen from competitive bids in Minnesota Power’s 2023 solar request for proposals.

The Boswell Solar project will have a capacity of 85 MW from about 180,000 bifacial solar modules on about 600 acres, part of which is owned by Minnesota Power. The project will utilize existing electric infrastructure at the Boswell Energy Center, requiring only a collector substation and a short transmission line to tie into the grid. The project is expected to be online in mid-2027, according to Minnesota Power.

The Regal Solar project will have a capacity of 119.5 MW from about 255,000 bifacial solar modules on about 800 acres. The renewable project will tie to the regional electric grid though a new 3.5-mile collector line and substation and is expected to be online in mid-2027, the company said.

“These two projects exemplify ALLETE’s sustainability-in-action strategy by creating local jobs and local renewable energy, and the Boswell Solar project will support one of our existing host communities as we continue to plan for the future,” Skelton said.

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