Rural Renewable Energy Alliance
3963 8th St, SW Backus, Minnesota, United States

Founded in the small garage of a low-­income individual seeking a better solution to his energy poverty, RREAL has evolved beyond its humble origins to an innovative national non­profit serving community across the upper Midwest and beyond. We cannot thank our partners, friends, family, co-workers, and all our supporters enough for helping us to get to this point. What an amazing 20 years it has been and what an amazing 20 more it will be!

Our Mission

We are dedicated to making solar energy accessible to communities of all income levels.     Since 2000, our 501(c)(3) organization has accomplished our mission by providing solar energy assistance to low-income families and communities as a sustainable solution to energy poverty. We also have offered internships, hands-on training, and workshops for people of all ages to learn about solar energy as part of our Education and Community Outreach (ECO) program.

Energy Poverty

On average, low-income households must spend about a fifth of their total income on energy-related expenses, straining already tight budgets.   Struggling families are forced to make the impossible choice between home energy costs and other basic necessities, such as food and medical care.    Fortunately, families can receive support through public assistance, but a stopgap is not a solution. At the national level, we are hemorrhaging public resources without providing a long-term solution or addressing the root causes of energy poverty.

Solar Assistance

Since 2000, RREAL has been dedicated to making solar energy accessible to communities of all income levels.     Through our Solar Assistance program, we provide solar arrays for low-income families and communities as a way to serve more people in need and ensure that everyone can have access to safe, clean, and reliable energy.   â€‹  RREAL combats energy poverty by providing solar energy systems for homes, affordable housing projects, and community solar arrays through three Solar Assistance programs.

Habitat for Humanity Solar Partnerships

In Minnesota, 1 in 4 households experiences housing insecurity at some point in their lives due to unpredictable rent prices, relocation, and lack of access to affordable housing.     Habitat for Humanity helps address housing insecurity by building affordable homes. ​ Even after a home is built, the costs of homeownership continue, which includes the ongoing and increasing cost of energy. ​      RREAL works with Habitat for Humanity to identify households that could benefit from reduced electricity bills due to a solar energy installation.