New rooftop solar powers MN Marine Art Museum and educates public about renewable energy

September 22, 2026 (WINONA, MN) – A new solar array on the rooftop of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) was celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week and will be cause for celebration for years to come as the solar power delivers benefits for MMAM, the community of southeast Minnesota, and visitors to the museum.  

The ribbon-cutting event featured MMAM and its partners in the solar project: 

• The Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MnCIFA), which helped finance the solar project via a $250,000 loan; 

• Solar Bear, the project solar developer; 

• Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), which provided technical advice on the project.  

Additional project partners include solar installer BlueSky Electric, the Frankenthaler Foundation and Morgan Family Foundation, which provided additional financial support for the project. 

More info about MMAM's rooftop solar. 

“The solar on the rooftop of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a wonderful extension of MMAM’s work to connect art, culture and sustainability,” said MMAM Board Chair Bill Hoel. “We plan to educate and engage the public on the benefits of tapping into nature to power our energy, to save money, and to protect our Minnesota lands and waters. This solar array also moves MMAM closer to our goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.” 

MnCIFA Interim Executive Director Pete Klein said, “This investment by the Minnesota Marine Art Museum will reduce its environmental impact and its annual operating costs for the foreseeable future. MnCIFA appreciates the opportunity to assist with making the organization more sustainable.  I hope that more organizations will invest in renewable energy projects like this when they realize the positive economic impact that they make.”

Solar power benefits  

• The rooftop solar will generate enough electricity to cover half of MMAM’s electricity needs each year, estimated at $33,000 annually, with the opportunity for MMAM to reinvest those savings into museum programming and other costs. 

• Visitors to MMAM, which draws over 35,000 visitors annually, will learn about renewable energy and will be able to see in real time the energy generated by the rooftop solar. The educational opportunities will connect MMAM’s roots in the history of the Mississippi River’s arts and culture to a vision for the community’s future.  

• MMAM has drawn national philanthropy and federal government funding for the project:

  • $75,000 grant from the Helene Frankenthaler Foundation, which focuses on advancing energy efficiency and sustainability within the visual arts sector throughout the U.S.;

  • $150,000 grant from the Morgan Family Foundation for capacity to support MMAM’s Building Climate Consciousness and Culture support for an Associate Curator of Clean Water and Climate for two years.

  • $149,300 federal Investment Tax Credit the project is expected to qualify for, covering 40% of eligible costs, including a 10% bonus for sourcing the solar panels from a U.S.-based manufacturer.

More about the rooftop solar project 

• Installation of the rooftop solar by BlueSky involved contracting for workers through the IBEW Unions, ensuring the project provided good-paying prevailing wage jobs. 

• The solar installation of 163.8 kW array is estimated to generate 177,691 kWh per year in electricity, enough energy to power about 30 homes annually. 

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a nonprofit art museum that creates meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the purpose-built museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and boasts six galleries, an educational and events space, and a destination retail shop on its seven-acre riverside campus. From historic works of art to contemporary exhibitions, MMAM is not only describing what marine art is, but pushing the boundaries of what marine art can be. 

More info: 

• Minnesota Marine Art Museum: mmam.org

• Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority: mncifa.mn.gov