ROOF DEPOT PROJECT

Cooperative Energy Futures, EPNI ask city to approve Roof Depot purchase this fall to avoid losing federal solar tax credits

Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) will host a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 at the Greenway Building (2801 21st Ave S.) to celebrate the planned community solar garden on the roof of the new East Phillips “Roof Depot” building. (Right to left): Eddy Olson-Enamorado, Science Education Specialist for the Green Tech Program, at MIGIZI’s Green Tech Institute (GTI); Kyle Samejima, Director of Outreach, Cooperative Energy Futures; Daniel Colten Schmidt, Finance & Development Director, EPNI; Ben Jacobson, co-founder of Sustainable Communities Investment Fund. Other speakers included, but not pictured: Benjamin Tsai, Director of Shared Ownership Center @ Nexus Community Partners; Margaret Levin, State Director, Sierra Club North Star Chapter; Patty O'Keefe, Regional Director, Midwest, Vote Solar; Rukia Abdi, CEF Outreach Representative; and Sebastian Rivera, CEF Outreach Representative. (Photo submitted)

Cooperative Energy Futures, EPNI ask city to approve Roof Depot purchase this fall to avoid losing federal solar tax credits.mp3

Posted Thursday, October 30, 2025 8:56 am

Due to the Trump administration’s cutting of federal solar tax credits, it is imperative that the city of Minneapolis and EPNI come to an agreement this fall to allow CEF to safe harbor up to $1.5 million for the project. Without these tax credits, the East Phillips Roof Depot project will not have a community-owned solar array, and could jeopardize a major aspect of the climate resiliency vision of the project.”

Roof Depot site
1860 E 28th St
Minneapolis, MN 55407
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Cooperative Energy Futures, EPNI ask city to approve Roof Depot purchase this fall to avoid losing federal solar tax credits.mp3

Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF) announced the planned community solar garden on the roof of the new East Phillips “Roof Depot” building on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025.
“This project represents a major step forward in community-led clean energy development, designed to deliver direct financial and environmental benefits to East Phillips residents. Once built, the solar garden will provide affordable solar energy to hundreds of surrounding households, lowering monthly utility costs and ensuring that the benefits of renewable energy stay within the community,” according to Kyle Samejima of CEF.
“Due to the Trump administration’s cutting of federal solar tax credits, it is imperative that the city of Minneapolis and EPNI come to an agreement this fall to allow CEF to safe harbor up to $1.5 million for the project. Without these tax credits, the East Phillips Roof Depot project will not have a community-owned solar array, and could jeopardize a major aspect of the climate resiliency vision of the project,” observed East Phillips Neighborhood Institute representatives. “We have a solution to rising energy costs, we just need the city to sign-off."
“This partnership also underscores how the city of Minneapolis and local organizations can work together to meet clean energy goals, reduce emissions, and reinvest in neighborhoods that have long borne the brunt of environmental inequities," said Samejima.
“The East Phillips Roof Depot community solar project is a powerful example of what’s possible when local residents, cooperatives, and city partners come together around a shared vision for environmental justice and community ownership. This project will bring clean, affordable energy to households that need it most – lowering utility bills, reducing carbon emissions, and demonstrating how Minneapolis can lead the way toward an equitable clean energy future.”
The East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI, epnifarm.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization fighting for environmental justice and sustainable economic development in the East Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. Started by neighbors with a shared dream of reduced pollution and increased access to healthy food, good jobs, and other needed resources, EPNI led a 10-year fight against the city of Minneapolis to win communal stewardship of a 7-acre vacant warehouse in the heart of East Phillips. Now, EPNI and its many collaborators hold the opportunity and responsibility to transform the warehouse into a community-owned, solar-powered multi-use hub and indoor urban farm, with community care at the core.

After halting demolition of the Roof Depot warehouse in 2023, EPNI agreed to a $15.9 million purchase agreement made with the city of Minneapolis and the Minnesota State Legislature. However, the state legislature did not deliver on all of the promised funds, leaving a $5.7 million gap. While the city continued spending millions on the publicly disdained Hiawatha Expansion Project, EPNI spent the last two years cultivating a farm program and an innovative community investment fund. The property is appraised at only $3.76 million. The city is asking for more than that, stating EPNI needs to repay the costs spent on the Hiawatha expansion project.
“The city is requesting $15.9 million to repay the costs spent on the Hiawatha expansion project. EPNI is working now to find a solution with the city to serve the needs of the East Phillips residents, and to fulfil the vision for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm project,” stated Daniel Colten Schmidt of EPNI.
He added, “EPNI has never given up its commitment to environmental justice, bringing investments into the East Phillips community, and serving the needs of our neighbors. Once there is a concrete proposal from the City, EPNI will take that proposal back to our neighbors to make a final decision on how to move forward. EPNI is in negotiations with the city, and we maintain faith that we can find a solution that will serve the needs of our community.”