Minnesota Judge Prevents Power Shutoff to Upper Sioux Casino Over Solar Project
Background of the Dispute
Administrative Law Judge Joseph Meyer has ruled against the Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association, an electric cooperative serving parts of western Minnesota, preventing it from cutting off electricity to the Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort. The cooperative sought to disconnect power as a response to the Upper Sioux Community’s installation of a large solar panel system at the casino.
Reason Behind the Utility’s Actions
The utility company argued that the tribe’s solar project, a 2.5-megawatt system, greatly exceeded the cooperative’s policy limit of 40 kilowatts for customer-owned generation. The cooperative had warned that it would disconnect electricity if the solar system became operational.
However, the Upper Sioux Community invested millions in the solar installation to lower electricity costs and promote clean energy use. The solar array is expected to supply approximately 30% of the casino’s electricity consumption. The tribe contended that their system should not be subject to the utility’s restrictions since the solar power is intended exclusively for onsite use and does not feed electricity back into the grid.
Judicial Decision and Implications
Judge Meyer determined that the cooperative’s policies did not prohibit “behind-the-meter” solar systems designed to meet onsite power needs without exporting electricity to the broader grid. He ruled that disconnecting power due to the solar installation would violate the utility’s duty to provide service.
Hudson Kingston, legal director of the Minnesota environmental group CURE, praised the ruling as a strong confirmation that electric cooperatives cannot enforce policies limiting behind-the-meter solar energy projects. Kingston highlighted the decision as positive news for cooperative members and tribal governments planning substantial solar investments and an encouraging sign of progress toward a cleaner energy grid.
History and Wider Context
This dispute has been ongoing since at least 2024, when the Minnesota Valley Cooperative warned the Upper Sioux Community about potential power disconnection if the solar project was activated. The utility’s restriction, limiting solar installations to 40 kilowatts, made the tribe’s system nearly 63 times larger than the allowed size.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission publicly criticized the utility’s threat in June 2025, emphasizing that disconnecting power to a public facility like a casino could endanger individuals relying on air conditioning, medical devices, or other critical infrastructure. One commissioner questioned whether the cooperative was acting as a service provider or claiming exclusive control over electricity supply.
Other Notable News from Minnesota
In unrelated news, Kalshi has filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota in response to a recent law that intends to ban prediction markets starting in August this year.
