Program Updates
Habitat update - 3/25/26
Earlier this month, we selected our solar installer and submitted our grant requests to Minnesota Power's Income Qualfied Grant program for the 6 Habitat homes in our Spring cohort. We'll find out about the grant allocation in April. We also have funding from the Habitat MN from a grant from McKnight Foundation. To round out the funding for this project, we need an additional $15,000 from individual donors. We are excited to help six families across the region with lowering their energy costs with solar on their roofs. Here is some background on the families.
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A woman in Pequot Lakes whose prior housing was a daily drain with leaky roof, mice, and inconsistent heat.
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A family of five in Sebeka had been moving between an old RV and a parent’s basement.
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A family of seven in Pillager had been living in a parent’s unfinished basement.
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A single mom with three boys had been living in rental where a serious mold issue was discovered. The rent was consuming over 50% of the parent’s income.
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The new homeowners in Calumet have not yet been selected.
Fields and Forests Co-Op
Exciting news! Rural Renewable Energy Alliance is partnering with Solar United Neighbors the Initiative Foundation and Clean Energy Resource Teams to promote a Solar United Neighbors Co-Op in our area (Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties in Minnesota). The co-op is a group buy program that takes the hassle out of getting bids for a solar system on your home. Pricing for EV chargers and Battery Backup systems can be requested. No obligation to purchase if you sign up. Information sessions are on the events page, if your are curious and want to learn more...
A new home with solar!
Our renewed partnership with Habitat for Humanity has come to fruition in Cohasset, MN. We assisted Itasca County Habitat for Humanity in getting solar added to this net-zero, energy-efficient home. Fresh Energy provided guidance on the home design. The solar array was funded through Minnesota Power’s Income-qualified solar program, donations from RREAL supporters, and in-kind donations from Wolf River Electric who installed the system. Misty, Rhys and their girls (pictured) helped with construction and are enjoying their new, cozy home. With solar, this fully electric home should have near zero energy costs over the course of a year.
