Renewable Energy Options
Prairie Sun Community Solar
Prairie Sun Community Solar customers can lease a portion of the solar panels in the array and receive an electric bill credit for electricity generated by their share of the community solar system—similar to someone who has rooftop panels installed on their home. Community solar can be a great option for people who are unable to install solar panels on their roofs because they don’t own their homes, have insufficient solar resources, or roof conditions to support a rooftop PV system due to shading, roof size, or other factors, or for financial/other reasons.
Prairie Sun Community Solar, our 102kW solar array, located along 63rd Street South in Fargo was the first active community solar project in the state of North Dakota. Panels are still available for reservation by CCEC members. Interested in participating in community solar? Click the Panel Reservation link below to get started!
Have a specific question about Prairie Sun Community Solar? Click here to contact a CCEC representative.
Project details
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101 kW solar array DC rating (~89 kW AC rating)
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CCEC has a land lease arrangement with the City of Fargo.
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Prairie Restorations planted a low growing natural prairie grass around the arrays that will require minimal maintenance and provide a natural habitat for wildlife.
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324 panels total, divided into 3 separate arrays of 108 panels, this gets divided further into 6 sections of 18 panels each.
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Panels are 315 Watts each, when strung together into 18 panels, DC voltage is close to 700V, when inverted to AC this is 480V.
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The arrays have an angle of 40 degrees which is optimized to get better production overall in the northern latitudes.
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Project was the first community solar project in North Dakota and was completed in 2016.
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259.5 panels leased (3/29/23) - Contact CCEC for current pricing
FAQ Prairie Sun Community Solar
PSC Solar will be a 102kW solar array, consisting of 324 solar panels, owned by Cass County Electric Cooperative. The array is located on City of Fargo land near the 5400 block of 63rd St. S. in Fargo. Construction was completed in September of 2016.
Any Cass County Electric Cooperative member, regardless of location, may participate in the program. Subject to review of account standing.
The upfront cost of a panel is on a sliding scale. Contact member services to get current pricing, 701-356-4400.
The cost of panel(s) covers the construction, installation, and interconnection of the array. The cost also covers all maintenance and insurance expenses over the entire 20-year span of the project.
When you participate in community solar, you’re choosing an alternative to fossil-fuel consumption. Solar energy is clean and renewable. Additionally, monthly credits will be calculated based on the current electric rate. That means if rates increase, your solar credit will too.
Based on today’s electric rate, the average solar credit from one panel will come to around $35 per year.
The rated power output per solar panel(s) allotted to each member is divided by the rated output for the entire array. This is then multiplied by the array’s total power production each month, resulting in each member’s monthly kWh credit. One full panel is projected to provide a credit of 10-45 kWh per month, meaning your credit will likely vary from month to month due to weather and time of year. Credits will be calculated based on the current rate, so if rates increase, your solar credit will too.
The output from any number of panels may be purchased, as long as purchased panel output does not exceed 75 percent of the account’s lowest monthly energy usage.
Since members will purchase the output of panels and not the panels themselves, no tax incentives will be available for participating.
With PSC Solar, you don’t have to worry about assembling or wiring your solar power—CCEC will take care of that for you. The panels in the PSC Solar array are rated to last at least 20 years and CCEC will handle all maintenance requirements during that time. All you have to do to begin receiving solar power is sign up. This is a perfect program for those interested in solar power who may not be able to install their own panels, such as those living in apartments or condos.
View the panel reservation page to complete a web-based reservation form. Once we receive your completed reservation form, we will issue you an official Energy Credit Agreement. Upon returning your Energy Credit Agreement, payment will be required and your purchase will be finalized.
After 20 years, the project will officially end. Though it’s difficult to glance ahead 20 years, it is entirely possible that a new project may begin at that time.
If you move anywhere within CCEC's service territory, your solar credits will move with you. If you move off of CCEC's service territory, or if you no longer wish to participate in community solar, you can transfer or sell your panel(s) and credits to another CCEC member or CCEC will buy back your panel(s) at a depreciated rate.