From Fall 2020 to Spring 2021, the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment, The Southwest Regional Development Commission, the Great Plains Institute and the Clean Energy Resource Teams collaborated to work through the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnership to investigate opportunities to develop solar energy installations in Southwest Minnesota, and specifically Murray County, with considerations of both solar co-benefits and community input. This research project sought to help stakeholders and decision makers in Murray County, Minnesota, identify spaces where the benefits of mid-scale solar can be “stacked” to make the best use of the development. This StoryMap describes the process used to identify potential “sweet spots” for the development of 1MegaWatt – 10MegaWatt (approx. 7-70 acre) PV solar projects that take into consideration pollinator habitat, local water quality improvements, and places/facilities where a load exists to the extent that it would be financially feasible to develop the project. A functional mapping tool which may be used in the siting process of solar developments and which contains the spatial layers as described in this StoryMap can be found here: Strategic Solar Siting In Murray County, Minnesota - Mapping Tool.

Disclaimer

The map layers and associated recommendations contained in this StoryMap are based on current and publicly available data from Minnesota Geospatial Commons. Solar developers and county administrators should use sound judgement and common sense when investigating a location's suitability for solar development and should not rely solely on the information contained in this StoryMap or in the associated mapping tool.