Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

What Minnesota Renewable Energy Society does

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 and headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, with a team of approximately 11 employees. It operates as the Minnesota chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) and is the state's oldest renewable energy advocacy organization. MRES promotes the adoption of renewable energy through educational programming, demonstration projects, and community-based initiatives targeted at homeowners, schools, solar industry businesses, and low-to-moderate-income households across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area and Greater Minnesota.

The organization's core programs include a Speaker Series, the Eco Experience exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair, an annual Sustainability Tour, a Community Solar Garden subscription program, a Solar Boat Regatta event, solar site assessments ($175-$225), equipment rentals, the Solar Flare newsletter, and a Find an Installer directory. It maintains formal partnerships with Greenway Solar, Solar United Neighbors, Xcel Energy, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, ASES, DSIRE, GreenTech Renewables, Vestas, and Water Furnace. The Impact Community Solar Project in North Minneapolis, launched in partnership with Greenway Solar, extends the organization's reach into underserved neighborhoods.

MRES's revenue model is diversified across individual and business membership dues (tiered $25-$1,000), donations, event sponsorships, fee-based solar site assessments, and Community Solar Garden subscription pass-throughs. A notable capital event was a $2.3 million grant from the Xcel Energy Renewable Development Fund in 2015 to scale community solar initiatives. The organization is governed by a volunteer board led by Chair Kim Havey, Vice Chair Doug Shoemaker, Secretary Eleanor Mahon, and Treasurer Ben Bissonette. Overall, MRES operates as a community-driven education and advocacy nonprofit with limited recurring revenue and asset-light program delivery.

Name

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

Legal name

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

Website

https://mnrenewables.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1978 that promotes renewable energy adoption in Minnesota through educational programs, community solar projects, and events. It serves homeowners, businesses, schools, and low-income households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Education and Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Retail & Community PPAs (Community Solar/Shared Renewables) (EUAGADAC)

Keywords

• Renewable energy education
• Solar advocacy
• Community solar programs
• Solar site assessments
• STEM solar outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $25 for discounted/seniors/students to $1,000 for premier business membership. Benefits include free speaker series admission, solar site assessment discounts, equipment rental discounts, committee eligibility, and voting privileges.
2. Event Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors support signature events including the Solar Boat Regatta, Eco Experience at Minnesota State Fair, and Sustainability Tour. Sponsorship tiers offer promotional benefits including logo placement, social media outreach, and volunteer t-shirt recognition.
3. Donations: Individual donations support MRES programs and mission to advance renewable energy in Minnesota.
4. Solar Site Assessment Fees: Residential home assessments at $175 and commercial building assessments at $225. MRES members receive $25 discount on assessments.
5. Community Solar Garden Subscriptions: Community solar subscribers receive credits on their Xcel Energy bills. Subscribers pay the developer (Greenway Solar) at Xcel rate minus $0.035 per kWh, saving approximately $25/month.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MRES is a nonprofit organization that advances renewable energy adoption in Minnesota through educational programs (monthly Speaker Series, Solar Boat Regatta, Eco Experience MN, Sustainability Tour), community solar subscription services for low- and moderate-income households, and practical support services such as solar site assessments and equipment rentals. It serves as the Minnesota chapter of the American Solar Energy Society and funds its mission through memberships, donations, event sponsorships, grants, and service fees.

Product overview

MRES operates as a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of educational programs, community initiatives, and practical services rather than a unified software product. Core programs include the monthly Speaker Series for public education, the annual Solar Boat Regatta for STEM-focused youth competition, Eco Experience MN at the State Fair for broad consumer awareness, and the Sustainability Tour showcasing residential and commercial solar installations. Service offerings include Solar Site Assessments for property solar evaluation and Equipment Rentals (solar tiny house, trailer, cart, pathfinder) for demonstrations. The Community Solar Garden program enables low-income households to access solar energy savings through a partnership with Greenway Solar. The Solar Flare newsletter and Find an Installer resource support ongoing community engagement and consumer access to the solar market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Monthly Speaker Series Monthly educational presentations on the third Thursday of every month featuring speakers from technical, policy, business, scientific, and advocacy backgrounds on renewable energy topics. Free for members and open to the public.
• Eco Experience MN at the Minnesota State Fair Major public exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair (e.g., August 27 - September 7, 2026) featuring indoor and outdoor displays on energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy storage, and sustainable practices for fair attendees and families.
• Sustainability Tour Annual self-guided tour of Minnesota homes and businesses featuring solar installations, energy storage, water-saving landscapes, and other sustainable practices, run as part of the ASES National Solar Tour.
• Community Solar Garden Subscription Program Community solar subscription program operated in partnership with Greenway Solar that allows qualifying Xcel Energy households in select Minnesota counties to receive bill credits and save approximately $25/month on their electricity bill.
• Solar Boat Regatta Annual competition in which middle and high school teams design, build, and race solar-powered boats, featuring speed, slalom, and endurance races and a focus on STEM education.
• Solar Site Assessments Property assessments performed by certified solar site assessors (State Certified Energy Auditor, MREA Certified Solar Electric Site Assessor, MREA Certified Solar Thermal Site Assessor) providing detailed reports including energy efficiency review, solar window measurements, array sizing, production estimates, and cost/incentive information. Priced at $175 for residential and $225 for commercial, with a $25 member discount.
• Equipment Rentals Rental program offering solar tiny house, solar trailer, solar cart, and solar pathfinder for demonstrations, events, and educational purposes by members and partner organizations.
• Solar Flare Newsletter Monthly email newsletter compiled by MRES's advocacy committee providing upcoming events, renewable energy news, and current developments in Minnesota's clean energy landscape.

Quantifiable outcome

• Community solar subscribers save approximately $25/month on electricity bills
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greenway SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015MRES partnered with Greenway Solar to build and operate community solar gardens. Greenway serves as the developer for MRES community solar projects, handling subscription billing where subscribers pay the Xcel rate minus $0.035 per kWh, saving approximately $25/month. MRES received a Renewable Development Fund grant in 2015 to build community solar projects serving low- and moderate-income subscribers.
• Xcel EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013MRES community solar projects operate through Xcel Energy's community solar program, adopted by Minnesota Legislature in 2013. Xcel Energy supplies bill credits to subscribers equivalent to their rate times production in kWh. MRES also received Renewable Development Fund grants funded by Xcel Energy customers.
• Solar United Neighbors (SUN)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMRES partnered with Solar United Neighbors to help bring solar energy to more Minnesota communities. SUN helps organize 50-100 neighbors into solar co-ops, providing support through each stage of the solar process while leveraging bulk-purchasing power for discounted pricing. SUN has completed over 350 solar co-ops nationwide helping over 7,400 people go solar.
• Minnesota State FaircoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair is presented by the Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. MRES is one of many exhibitors at this major sustainability showcase.
• Minnesota Pollution Control AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of the Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair along with the Minnesota State Fair.
• American Solar Energy Society (ASES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRES is the Minnesota chapter of ASES and participates in the ASES National Solar Tour. Joint membership available for $60 combining MRES and ASES benefits including printed and digital subscription to Solar Today magazine.
• DSIREminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMRES website links to DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency) as a resource for policies and incentives to help users go green.
• GreenTech RenewablesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEco Experience partner providing exhibits and essential services and/or financial support for the event.
• Vestas Wind SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEco Experience partner providing wind turbine technical training career information at the event exhibit.
• Water FurnaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEco Experience partner providing exhibits on heat pump technology and sustainability.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• American Solar Energy Society (ASES): National nonprofit umbrella for solar energy education and advocacy. MRES is the Minnesota chapter of ASES, and they co-promote the National Solar Tour and joint membership — directly comparable mission and program structure.
• Vote Solar: National nonprofit focused on state-level solar policy advocacy. Vote Solar operates in Minnesota and pursues overlapping policy goals (community solar, net metering, equitable access) that intersect with MRES's advocacy committee work.
• Environment America: National federation of state environmental advocacy organizations. Like MRES, Environment America operates state-level chapters with public education and policy advocacy missions, including renewable energy promotion.
• Solar United Neighbors: National nonprofit that organizes solar co-ops and grassroots advocacy. MRES partners directly with SUN to bring co-ops to Minnesota; both serve residential solar adoption through community-driven education and group purchasing.

Broad incumbents

• Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): National solar industry trade association representing the full solar value chain. SEIA's advocacy and market research overlaps with MRES's mission, though it is industry-led rather than consumer-driven and operates at a much larger scale.
• Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): National nonprofit that builds regulatory and workforce foundations for clean energy. IREC's work on credentialing, training, and interconnection has overlap with MRES's solar site assessor certification model.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Coalition of state clean energy funds and programs. CESA's state-level coordination and grant programming complement MRES's role as a state-level implementation partner for community solar initiatives.

Regional players

• Fresh Energy: Minnesota-based independent nonprofit driving clean energy policy and innovation. Fresh Energy's state-level advocacy for solar policy in Minnesota closely parallels MRES's policy committee work and community engagement.
• Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA): State trade association representing Minnesota solar industry businesses. MRES board member John Dunlop previously served as a technical representative at MnSEIA, and the two organizations represent complementary sides of the Minnesota solar ecosystem.
• Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs): Minnesota-based program partnering with local communities to advance clean energy. Like MRES, CERTs focuses on community-driven renewable energy education and outreach specifically in Minnesota, making it a strong regional peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MinnesotaRenewables/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/minnesota-renewable-energy-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minnesota Renewable Energy Society