The Sun is Now Powering Homes in Buffalo, Minnesota

Utility-Scale Solar Project Adds 7 MW to MMPA’s Power Supply

MINNEAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA) has committed to purchasing
100 percent of the renewable power output from the Buffalo Solar
facility. The 7 Megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar facility, located in
the Agency’s member community of Buffalo, Minn., has entered commercial
operation and is now providing power to local homes and businesses.

Joseph Steffel, Utilities Director for Buffalo Municipal Utilities said,
“We are excited to have this renewable power generation asset in our
community.”

The Buffalo Solar facility, comprised of more than 25,000 solar panels,
connects directly to the City of Buffalo’s electric distribution system.
Power from the facility will help MMPA meet the Minnesota Renewable
Energy Standard, which requires 25 percent of the Agency’s energy to
come from renewable sources by 2025.

Oncu Er, Senior Vice President for Avant Energy, MMPA’s management
partner said, “We plan to continue to invest in both renewable energy
projects and clean, efficient, natural gas generation projects to meet
the future energy and capacity needs of our member communities.”

In addition to the power output provided by the Buffalo Solar facility,
the Agency’s renewable energy portfolio includes 122 MW of wind energy
from the Black Oak Getty Wind Farm and Oak Glen Wind Farm, 8 MW of
bioenergy from Hometown BioEnergy, and renewable energy purchases from
other utilities.

MMPA takes a long-term approach to power supply planning that includes
assembling a diversified portfolio of owned and purchased generation
containing both conventional and renewable resources. This approach
allows the Agency to maintain flexibility in the rapidly-changing
electric utility industry.

MMPA provides wholesale electricity to its member communities who in
turn deliver and sell that electricity to residential and business
customers in their communities. The Agency is comprised of municipal
utilities in Anoka, Arlington, Brownton, Buffalo, Chaska, East Grand
Forks, Elk River, Le Sueur, North St. Paul, Olivia, Shakopee and
Winthrop.

More information about MMPA is available at www.mmpa.org.
Members include municipal utilities in Anoka, Arlington, Brownton,
Buffalo, Chaska, East Grand Forks, Elk River, Le Sueur, North St. Paul,
Olivia, Shakopee and Winthrop. MMPA’s management partner is Avant
Energy, a Minneapolis-based energy management company and an innovative
supplier of energy project development, management, trading, consulting
and utility operations services. See more at www.avantenergy.com.

Contacts

For Avant Energy
Bob Rumpza, 612-309-3971
Rumpza Consulting
[email protected]