Abbott Northwestern Hospital puts the sun to work for the neighborhood

[Allina Health Newsroom, April 11, 2025] An Abbott Northwestern Hospital parking ramp is being topped off with a massive community solar garden that will soon help people in the Phillips neighborhood bring down their energy costs. 

“This was an intentional decision by Allina Health to provide this for our neighbors,” said Alison Pence, Allina Health director of community engagement. “This truly is their resource.” 

The solar garden space is the roof of the new Abbott Northwestern Hospital Purple Ramp where a 2000-panel solar array is expected to generate 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, much of which will be donated to the community in the form of credits on energy bills. 

“We expect the panels will create enough energy to power about 150 homes in Abbott Northwestern’s south Minneapolis neighborhood,” Pence said.  

Allina Health has partnered with Cooperative Energy Futures on the project. The group is currently building a co-op for the solar garden and will eventually work with Xcel Energy to get credits to members.  

Visit the Cooperative Energy Futures website for information about the solar garden and income limits for becoming a co-op member.

Posted on April 11, 2025 in ANW Construction, Abbott Northwestern Hospital