FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2026


What’s Next for Minnesota Solar? Gateway to Solar 2026 Brings the Industry Together at a Pivotal Moment


Minnesota’s solar and storage industry will gather September 29–30 to examine the policy, regulatory, business, and market forces shaping its next chapter.

 

St. Paul, MN— Minnesota’s solar industry looks very different than it did a decade ago. More than $5.2 billion has been invested in solar across the state, with enough solar installed to power 471,720 Minnesota homes. Thousands of Minnesotans also work in the industry, and opportunities for solar and storage continue to expand.
At the same time, the industry is entering a new phase, raising important questions about the grid, regulation, project development, business conditions, and Minnesota’s role in the broader energy economy.
Those questions will take center stage at the 2026 Gateway to Solar Conference, hosted by the Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA) on September 29–30 at the InterContinental Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport Hotel.


Gateway to Solar will bring together hundreds of solar and storage professionals, policymakers, advocates, and industry leaders from across Minnesota and the Midwest for two days of discussion about the issues shaping the market.


This year’s program will examine several issues shaping Minnesota’s solar and storage industry:

  • Regulation: Regulatory Roadmap: The Role of the MN Public Utilities Commission in Minnesota’s Carbon-Free Future will explore the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s role in guiding the state’s transition to a carbon-free energy system, with PUC Chair Katie Sieben and Commissioner Audrey Partridge outlining the regulatory decisions and policies shaping that transition.
  • Business and markets: Inside the Solar C-Suite: CEOs Talk Trends, Turbulence, and Tomorrow will bring solar executives together to discuss shifting policies, evolving markets, supply chain challenges, and changing customer demands, as well as how companies are navigating uncertainty and positioning for long-term success.
  • Supply chain and critical minerals: Securing the Supply Chain: Minnesota’s Role in America’s Clean Energy Minerals — A Bipartisan Conversation will examine Minnesota’s critical mineral resources, the opportunity to strengthen domestic supply chains and the intersection of economic development, clean energy and responsible resource development. The conversation will feature Julie Lucas of MiningMinnesota and Minnesota lawmakers Spencer Igo and David Gottfried, moderated by Sarah Whebbe of MnSEIA.
  • Policy: Across the Aisle: What Passed, What Stalled, What’s Next? A Bipartisan Recap of the 2026 Legislative Session will bring a bipartisan panel together for a candid look at the 2026 legislative session, including the energy policies that advanced, proposals that fell short and the issues likely to shape the next session. The closing keynote will feature Athena Hollins, Dave Baker and Jennifer McEwen, moderated by David Moberg of MnSEIA.


“Gateway to Solar is an opportunity for Minnesota’s solar industry to come together, take stock of where we are and have honest conversations about where we go next,” said Cynthia Bennett, Interim Executive Director of MnSEIA. “The industry has grown significantly, and the questions we’re facing now are increasingly complex. Bringing the people who are building projects, shaping policy, navigating regulation, and leading businesses into the same room is how we move the industry forward.”


Gateway will also recognize individuals and organizations making meaningful contributions to Minnesota’s solar industry through the 2026 MnSEIA Awards.
The 2026 award recipients are:

  • Solar Project of the Year: Blue Horizon Energy for the University of Minnesota CAP Solar Projects 2026
  • Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota
  • Distinguished Policy Leadership: Dave Baker, Minnesota House of Representatives; Anquam Mahamoud, Minnesota House of Representatives; Jennifer McEwen, Minnesota Senate; and Eric Pratt, Minnesota Senate
  • Advocate of the Year: Griffin Dooling, Blue Horizon Energy
  • Member of the Year: Wolf River Electric
  • Melissa Hortman Lifetime Achievement Award: Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota


Registration for Gateway to Solar 2026 is open. For the full agenda, speaker lineup, and registration information, visit the Gateway to Solar conference website.
 

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About MnSEIA: The Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MnSEIA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that powers Minnesota’s solar and energy storage industries through education, advocacy, and industry leadership. MnSEIA convenes stakeholders, advances healthy and competitive markets, shapes equitable clean energy policy, and expands access to clean energy opportunities that benefit all Minnesotans. Through the collective strength of its more than 150 member companies and organizations, MnSEIA works at the legislature, in regulatory proceedings, and across the industry to build a stronger clean energy economy and move Minnesota’s solar and storage industries forward. Find out more at www.mnseia.org.

Media Contact:
Megan Holz-Brown, Director of Marketing & Engagement
mholz@mnseia.org
952-715-1419