Solar-Powered Savings: How a Youth Shelter Cut Its Energy Bills

In an unexpected twist of fate, the unusually hot and dry summer in the Twin Cities has brought a ray of sunshine to Avenues for Youth, a nonprofit running youth homeless shelters in Brooklyn Park and north Minneapolis. According to Trevor Burns, the Facilities Manager at Avenues for Youth, the solar panel array installed on the Brooklyn Avenues location last winter is turning out to be a game-changer. “This has been our most productive six weeks since the installation. The system is truly exceeding expectations,” he enthused.

Burns elaborated that the average cost of electricity in Minnesota is around 17 cents per kilowatt-hour. But thanks to their $90,000 solar panel array, Avenues has managed to reduce their costs to an astonishing 3 cents per kilowatt-hour. Even better, this fee is billed annually rather than monthly. “What makes this all the more exhilarating is that we’re actually contributing excess energy back into the community grid,” said Burns. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the power meters register negative numbers, like negative 400 or even 600, highlighting the energy and cost we’re saving.”

However, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. One of the primary hurdles for many organizations when considering a transition to solar power is the hefty upfront investment. Although these costs are often recouped over time through savings on monthly utility bills, they can be particularly prohibitive for nonprofits like Avenues.

In Avenues’ case, their solar vision became a reality through a powerful collaboration involving multiple organizations. The $90,000 needed for the solar panel installation was largely sourced from a partnership that included Avenues, Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Hammond Climate Solutions, Xcel Energy, installation company TruNorth, and the city of Brooklyn Park, which owns both the land and the building.

Katherine Meerse, the Executive Director of Avenues for Youth, described the project as a heartwarming tale of community unity. “It’s an incredible story of diverse organizations coming together for a common cause—supporting youth who are experiencing homelessness,” she said. Meerse also revealed that the project is saving the organization $4,000 per year—savings that are being funneled right back into programs and support for the youth they serve.

Meerse sees the solar panel initiative as perfectly aligned with Avenues’ broader mission. “We’re committed to partnering with homeless youth to help them reach their dreams. In a world increasingly threatened by climate change, those dreams are at risk,” she said. “So, any step we can take to support renewable energy not only secures the planet’s future but also empowers our young people to achieve their aspirations.”