To apply: 

1. Get a free or low cost energy assessment for your home, multifamily property, business or organization. Residents must have had a Home Energy Squad Planner visit conducted in the last 36 months.
2. Fill out the Climate Champions solar bonus pre-approval application, which requires a PVWatts calculator report (view online PVWatts calculator - your solar installer should be familiar with this tool) and a completed W-9 form
3. Staff will be in touch about next steps. Your solar bonus cost share will be calculated by staff after reviewing your energy efficiency projects. See "Cost sharing amounts" for more information.

Cost share payment will be issued to the applicant within 60 business days of receipt of required documentation:

• Proof of final approved inspection by the City of St. Louis Park for any work requiring a city permit
• Final paid invoice from the contractor or vendor showing the total project cost

Note:  The City of St. Louis Park’s sustainability cost share funds have been fully allocated for the year. If you wish to be placed on the waitlist for this program, please fill out the online Climate Champions cost share application for pre-approval and you will be notified if funds become available. Waitlisted applicants will be notified of available funds in the order of application submission. Applicants who complete their project while on the waitlist will not be eligible for city funds retroactively.

The City of St. Louis Park is not liable for funds promised to property owners because of a contractor misrepresenting this cost share program.

We also recommend that you review the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's solar photovoltaic systems and the state building code fact sheet before applying.

Many buildings and garages will require structural improvements to support a solar array. Installation of a solar energy system on the roof of a structure adds weight to the structure, commonly referred to as “dead load.” This additional weight must be accounted for to ensure that the building can safely bear the weight of the solar installation. When a solar array is added to existing buildings, the cost and complexity of adding weight to the roof vary depending on the structure of the building and roof.

Your solar bonus cost share will be calculated by staff after your reviewing your energy efficiency projects. Note: cost share reimbursements will be capped at a $4/watt maximum. Climate Champions awards will be capped at $25,000 per property owner.

Note: When annual cost share reimbursements exceed $600, the city is required to issue a 1099 form to the cost share recipient and report the payment to the IRS as income. Residents are encouraged to consult a tax professional regarding how this income should be reported on their individual tax return.

For businesses and organizations

• Properties who complete a Climate Champions energy assessment: 10% solar cost share
• Properties who do not complete a Climate Champions energy assessment: 5% solar cost share

Properties that have completed an assessment within the last 36 months are eligible for the 10% cost share.

For residents

Note: standalone furnaces no longer qualify as an eligible energy efficiency improvement project. They must be installed with a cold climate Air Source Heat Pump in order to qualify.

• Your home receives a Home Energy Score of 95+
  • 10% solar cost share
• You complete an energy efficiency project(s) increasing your home’s Home Energy Score* by 5+ points through Climate Champions for Homes
  • 15% solar cost share
• You complete an energy efficiency project(s) increasing your home's score by 5+ points through Climate Champions for Homes and you meet Climate Champions environmental justice criteria (see below)
  • 20% solar cost share 
• You install a cold climate air source heat pump through the city’s Climate Champions for Homes program
  • 15% solar cost share
• You install a heat pump water heater through the city's Climate Champions for Homes program
  • 15% solar cost share

*Home Energy Scores will be included in your Home Energy Squad report, required for the Climate Champions program.

Note: While we try to fund all projects, funds are limited. Priority will be given to projects that qualify for the environmental justice rate if more than one project is competing for any final fund balance.

Eligibility criteria for environmental justice rate 

You may qualify for a higher cost share rate if you or someone in your household meets one or more of the below criteria: 

• My household income is at or below the following annual adjusted gross incomes*, based on household size:
  • 1 member household: $73,650
  • 2-member household: $84,200
  • 3-member household: $94,700
  • 4-member household: $105,200
  • 5-member household: $113,650
  • 6-member household: $122,050
  • 7-member household: $ 130,450
  • 8-member household: $138,900
• Participates in a government assistance program such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
• Is 65 years of age or older
• Has a mental or physical disability
• Is a veteran

Below are the eligibility requirements for the solar bonus cost share program: 

•  Projects applying for the cost share program must be a privately-owned existing residential (one to four units), commercial business, organization or multifamily (five or more units) building located within the City of St. Louis Park.
• Solar installed on new buildings or on additions that completed construction within the past 12 months are not eligible for cost share funds.
• Properties that have received other forms of financial assistance from the city are not eligible for cost share funds.
• Applications limited to one project per master (tax) parcel. If you are applying for multiple projects on different master parcels, fill out a separate application for each project.
• Applicant must be the property owner purchasing the solar array. The solar developer may fill out the application with the property owner’s permission.
• DIY projects are not eligible unless the property owner is a licensed contractor in good standing with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
• Applicants must complete their project within six months of receiving a program pre-approval email. After six months, the funding may be reallocated to another project.
• Any projects that were completed prior to receiving pre-approval are not eligible to be placed on the waitlist.

The following are the program rules and procedures:

• Because funding is limited, projects completed without pre-approval will not be eligible for funding. A Home Energy Squad “planner” visit must be completed before city funds will be released.
• The City of St. Louis Park reserves the right to revoke the funding if the property owner or contractor violates program rules and procedures.
• Project costs include all costs required for design and construction of the solar array itself. Electric panel upgrades or any structural improvements required to support the load of a solar array and any optional project additions (such as skirts or snow guards) or will be excluded from the cost sharing calculation.
• Funds are allocated based on what’s approved in the application. In the event system size increases or decreases, the applicant is responsible for working with their developer to submit updated documents to the city. Any additional cost share funds must be approved by the city's program administrator.
• The applicant is responsible for arranging all the upfront project financing.
• Cost share funds can only be used to compensate for the installation cost of the system.
• Check with your tax preparer to find out if there are tax implications of receiving cost share funds.
• Check with your property insurer to find out if solar panels are covered under your insurance policy.
• All work must meet City of St. Louis Park, state, regional and national zoning, building and fire codes.
• The City of St. Louis Park can't recommend specific contractors.
• The applicant is strongly encouraged to verify the installer’s qualifications. The installation of racking, placing and securing modules, and the installation of all electrical wiring and electrical equipment, must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor and its licensed or registered employees. Make sure the installer and the licensed electrical contractor are in good standing with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). To verify the status of licenses, visit the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's website or call DLI at 651.284.5069.
• The applicant is responsible for ensuring that product purchases, equipment purchase, installation or other work proposed have been completed satisfactorily before paying the contractor(s).
• Cost share reimbursements will be capped at a $4/watt maximum. 
• Climate Champions awards will be capped at $25,000 per property owner.

• To ensure enough funding for all program participants, the city will not offer more than one solar bonus cost share reimbursement per household in the same 5 year period.

• Any projects that were completed prior to pre-approval are not eligible to be placed on the waitlist.

What if I completed a Climate Champions assessment in the past 36 months?

If you have completed a Climate Champions home energy assessment and started an energy efficiency project, reach out to erabine@stlouisparkmn.gov to discuss how to qualify for the solar bonus cost share. Proof of your assessment and completed project will be required.

Is there a cap on the funding amount available per project?

There is no cap on the funding amount at this time.

Who receives the cost share funds?

The funds will go to the property owner.

The program is currently waitlisted. Can I still apply?

Yes! You can still apply to the program and be placed on the waitlist. If funds become available throughout the year, applicants will be notified in order of pre-approval. If you complete your project while on the waitlist, you will not be eligible for city funds retroactively.

The city will provide a $1,000 (base rate) or $1,500 (environmental justice rate) bonus for energy storage when paired with a solar installation. Residential properties, businesses, organizations and multifamily buildings are eligible. Apply for pre-approval using the online application. 

Property owners that add (retrofit) battery storage post solar panel installation are eligible.

Applicants are also encouraged to apply for Xcel Energy’s Battery Storage Incentive Program.

• $1,000 cost share: base rate
• $1,500 cost share: environmental justice rate
  • Residents who meet Climate Champions environmental justice criteria
  • Businesses and organizations located in census tracts 223.02, 227 or 230
  • Multifamily properties that provide their rent roll and are found to have at least 66% of their units at an affordable rate.

Visit the United States Census Bureau's website to find your census tract.

• Battery capacity must be at least 10 kWh.
• Applicants can apply with or after a solar panel installation, but a solar panel installation is required.
• Battery must be interconnected with solar panels.
• Projects applying for the cost share program must be a privately-owned existing residential (one to four units), commercial business, organization, or multifamily (five or more units) building located within the City of St. Louis Park.
• An energy assessment must be performed within 36 months of and prior to commencing the solar battery project. Reach out to sustainability staff if you are unsure of the right energy assessment for your property. 

• The reimbursement percentage the city provides for the solar panels will be calculated separately from (without) the battery storage equipment. View the solar bonus cost share information above to learn more.
• The City of St. Louis Park reserves the right to revoke the funding if the property owner or contractor violates program rules and procedures.
• The applicant is responsible for arranging all the upfront project financing.
• Check with your tax preparer to find out if there are tax implications of receiving cost share funds.
• The applicant is responsible for ensuring that product purchases, equipment purchase, installation or other work proposed have been completed satisfactorily before paying the contractor(s).
• All work must meet City of St. Louis Park, state, regional and national zoning, building and fire codes.