Heard the term “solar garden” but not sure what it’s all about or whether it might be right for you? Here’s a great chance to find out: On April 9, Local organizations and church groups will host an educational program on community solar gardens at White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Maple Street in Mahtomedi. Refreshments and exhibits will be available at 6:30 and the program will begin at 7 p.m. with an opening talk by Don Shelby, former WCCO-TV news anchor.

Interest in community solar is booming in Minnesota right now as Xcel Energy works to fulfill its commitments to grow renewable energy in the state. Community solar gardens provide energy consumers a way to tap the sun’s energy even if they don’t have enough sun — or funding — for their own array of collectors by helping to finance a centrally located system that then credits their electric bills for the amount of power produced.

A Community Solar Garden might be a great investment for a city, a neighborhood, a group of churches, and individual subscribers, but this form of solar development is new, and energy consumers need to understand the system in order to invest wisely. Potential investors can get background information on April 9 in presentations by Trevor Drake and Brian Ross,from the Metro Clean Energy Resource Teams, who will explain the basics of community solar garden development. A spokesperson from the Minnesota Renewable Society will review case studies of existing community solar garden projects. Following the presentations, Don Shelby will moderate a question and answer session.

The community solar garden program is co-sponsored by the White Bear Unitarian Universalist Global Climate Change Committee, the St. Andrews Environmental Stewardship Team, St. Jude of the Lake Creation Care Team, White Bear Lake Area League of Women Voters, Izaak Walton League, Mahtomedi Area Green Initiative, Mahtomedi City Environmental Commission, St. Croix Chapter Citizens’ Climate Lobby, River Valley Action, Transition Stillwater, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, and Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light.

Photo courtesy of Mike Baker (Creative Commons / Flickr); Don Shelby courtesy of Don Shelby; artwork by Becky Siekmeier