Waite Park City Council to Explore New Community Solar Garden Proposal at Monday’s Meeting

(KNSI) — Waite Park City Council will discuss the possibility of a new community solar garden at Monday’s meeting.

Kraemer Garden LLC says it has the approval of property owners to build an array capable of generating roughly four megawatts of power on nearly 20 acres of land in the 2900 block of County Road 137.

The project was approved in late 2023, but the new interim use permit request has been changed from what was initially okayed. The 9,000 panel, ten foot tall array would fall within the approved footprint from the previous application, but setbacks from neighboring properties have been reduced, and the council will need to sign off on a variance for the project to go forward. The panels would swivel roughly four feet off the ground, and the plot would need to be concealed by landscaping and fencing around the perimeter.

Plans call for the solar farm to be active for 35 years after installation. However, since it sits in an area that the city hopes to develop in the future, staff says the council should okay the project for only 25 years.
If approved, it would become part of a network of sites participating in an Xcel Energy program supported by the State of Minnesota. Customers can subscribe with the gardens’ operators and then receive a credit on their energy bill from Xcel, compensating them for the portion of the solar garden output that is being sold back to the general power grid.
Waite Park will likely demand a $383,000 financial guarantee as collateral for tearing the project down after its useful life is over. The guarantee would need to remain in place even if ownership of the array changes over time.

Waite Park Council will meet for a work session prior to the general meeting. The agenda includes making further progress on a new cannabis ordinance. It would limit the number of marijuana retailers in the city and establish zoning restrictions. Waite Park could rely on Stearns County to license the businesses.

The work session begins at 5:30, and the general meeting will be held inside council chambers at 6:30 p.m. at Waite Park City Hall.

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