Ecolab To Offset Its Energy Usage In Minnesota Via Solar

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — St. Paul-based Ecolab Inc. has commissioned a new community solar garden project that it says will offset nearly 90 percent of its energy usage from all its company operations in Minnesota.

The project will be built by SunEdison Inc. and will deliver solar energy into Minnesota's local power grid. Ecolab will buy 40 percent of the gardens' 40 megawatts of photovoltaic power under long-term subscription agreements. Surplus power from the solar gardens will be provided to schools, municipalities and other entities in the state.

St. Peters, Missouri-based SunEdison plans to begin construction on the gardens at the end of 2015 and continue into 2016 after receiving approval from Xcel Energy.

SunEdison subsidiary TerraForm Power, Inc. will be the owners and operators of these gardens once they come online.

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