Connexus Energy puts closed landfill site to work generating renewable energy

Connexus Energy’s Ramsey II Renewable Station, a 4-megawatt solar array built on 24 acres of the buffer area at the Anoka-Ramsey Closed Landfill, began commercial operation Sept. 2. The project transformed land with limited redevelopment potential into a source of renewable energy through collaboration among Connexus, the state of Minnesota and the city of Ramsey.

Ramsey II Renewable Station includes approximately 8,700 solar panels and is projected to generate 7,900 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power approximately 750 homes.

“This project has been more than 10 years in the making, and we’re proud to see Ramsey II Renewable Station now serving our members,” said Brian Burandt, CEO of Connexus. “The project adds another renewable resource to our energy portfolio and reflects our commitment to planning for the future while continuing to provide our members with reliable, affordable electricity.”

The Anoka-Ramsey Landfill began operating as an open dump in 1967, received its first state permit in 1972 and closed in 1993. The 267-acre site contains approximately 5.7 million cubic yards of waste and is owned by the state of Minnesota.

In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature directed the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board to evaluate MPCA-managed closed landfills across the state for their potential for solar development. The Anoka-Ramsey Closed Landfill ranked among the top five of 111 sites evaluated based on factors including its potential to generate electricity, buildable area and proximity to electric infrastructure.

In 2021, the Minnesota Legislature approved site-specific legislation that facilitated clearing the bond restrictions that had prevented solar development at the Anoka-Ramsey Closed Landfill. Connexus is leasing the land from the state of Minnesota, with payments supporting a state account that may help fund future solar development on other MPCA Closed Landfill Program sites.

Ramsey II Renewable Station uses terrain-following single-axis tracking technology, allowing the solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production. Its bifacial panels generate electricity from both sides, allowing reflected sunlight from the ground, including snow during Minnesota winters, to contribute to energy production.

Cedar Creek Energy, a Connexus member based in Blaine, constructed the project and will provide operations and maintenance for the array. Connexus will purchase the energy, capacity and renewable attributes generated by the project under a 30-year power purchase agreement. Kearsarge Energy LP financed and owns the project under a 30-year sublease.

Native pollinator-friendly vegetation was planted beneath the solar panels at Ramsey II Renewable Station, continuing a practice Connexus has incorporated into its solar sites since 2014.