Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (called solar photovoltaic or solar PV), wind, biomass, solar hot water/air, or micro-hydro.

• See also resources under action 26.6. 
• The Great Plains Institute and Clean Energy Resource Team work with a group of cities - the Community Energy Network - interested in increasing access to renewable energy. 

Procurement: 

• CERTs provides a local government solar procurement guide (2019), and direct technical assistance for solar procurement. 
• The Office of Enterprise Sustainability has a master contract for solar energy procurement. 
• The MN Division of Energy Resources, through the Local Government Technical Assistance Program helps jurisdictions assess how to approach and advance a clean energy project including insights on methods of contracting, issuing requests for proposals, and providing independent third-party proposal review. 
  • Low-interest funding for projects $100,000 or more is available to jurisdictions through the Energy Savings Partnership.
• The Clean Energy Resource Teams provides assistance to K-12 schools interested in solar procurement as well as guidance, case studies and resources. 
• Solar for Schools and Solar on Public Buildings grants are available to help stimulate the installation of solar energy systems. 
• Public entities can utilize Elective/Direct Pay to benefit from federal tax credits available for renewable energy projects.  

Models: 

• The Morris Model is a partnership of the City, County, University of Minnesota - Morris, and the Schools District with the goal for producing 80% of county-wide energy from renewable sources by 2030. A Conservative Farm Town Went Green Without Really Trying (Wall Street Journal, 2024)
• Elk River is notable, being known as Energy City since 1997, showcasing efficient and renewable energy technologies such as solar PV, landfill gas-energy, a wind turbine, geothermal, etc.