A welcome from Solar United Neighbors’ new Minnesota Program Director

Hello. I’m Bobby King, Solar United Neighbors’ new Minnesota Program Director. I’m eager to help strengthen our community of solar supporters. This excites me for a couple of reasons.

Our current energy system is based on an extractive model. Profits are centralized and benefits are taken from the community. This is particularly true in Minnesota’s rural communities.

Solar United Neighbors understands how to transform our energy system so that it benefits everyone. It empowers people to produce and use energy locally. Doing this means taking on powerful interests. Solar United Neighbors knows this is a fight worth taking.

The other thing that excites me about this work is the opportunity to educate and engage fellow Minnesotans about solar energy. I want to help people on the ground learn what works and what doesn’t. Through that process we’re building a group of leaders who are deeply informed about what policies need to be changed so that everyone can benefit from solar energy.

Before coming to Solar United Neighbors, I spent two decades working with the Land Stewardship Project (LSP). At LSP I worked with members to create policies that maintained a family farm‑based system of agriculture. I look forward to applying my experiences there to this challenge.

My initial focus will be developing solar co-ops in rural parts of the state. Solar co-ops help members learn about solar energy and go solar. The co-ops are free to join. Joining isn’t a commitment to purchase a system. Members receive a bid from an installer chosen by co-op members through an open and competitive bidding process. Solar United Neighbors works with members each step of the way to ensure they are confident in their decision to go solar.

I look forward to meeting as many people as I can to build Minnesota’s solar community. If you’re interested to chat, drop me a line.