Administrative Law Judge Joseph Meyer ruled that the Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association, a small electric cooperative serving parts of western Minnesota, may not disconnect power to the Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort. The cooperative wanted to do so to punish the Upper Sioux Community, the owner of the casino, for building a solar panel system.
What Is the Power Utility’s Motivation?
The Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power Association argued that the tribe’s 2.5-megawatt solar installation far exceeded the utility’s 40-kilowatt limit for customer-owned generation. The cooperative warned that it would disconnect power to the casino if the system was activated.
The tribe invested millions of dollars in the solar project to reduce electricity expenses and support its clean-energy objectives. According to tribal estimates, the array is expected to provide roughly 30% of the casino’s electricity demand. Tribal officials maintained that the utility’s restrictions should not apply because the system is designed solely to power the casino and would not export electricity to the grid.
Judge Meyer concluded that Minnesota Valley’s policies do not bar so-called “behind-the-meter” generation systems, which are designed to consume all electricity on-site rather than export power to the grid. He further determined that cutting off electricity to the casino because of the solar installation would breach the utility’s obligation to provide service.
Hudson Kingston, legal director of the Minnesota environmental advocacy organization CURE, welcomed the ruling in comments to Minnesota Public Radio on July 10. Kingston described the decision as a clear affirmation that electric cooperatives cannot adopt policies that restrict behind-the-meter solar installations. He said the ruling was encouraging for cooperative members and tribal governments considering large-scale solar investments and viewed it as a positive step in the ongoing transition of the electric grid toward cleaner energy sources.
The Dispute Isn’t New
The conflict between the Minnesota Valley and the Upper Sioux Community dates back to at least 2024, when the former sent the tribe a letter threatening to cut off the casino’s power if the tribe activated the system. Minnesota Valley maintained that its policies cap member-owned solar projects at 40 kilowatts, making the tribe’s 2.5-megawatt installation far larger than permitted.
Interestingly, other bodies also seemed to side with the Upper Sioux Community. For example, back in June 2025, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission sharply criticized the utility’s stance, cautioning that disconnecting electricity to a public facility, even a casino, could put at risk individuals who depend on air conditioning, medical equipment, or other essential services. During the discussion, one commissioner questioned whether Minnesota Valley viewed itself as having a “patent on electricity” rather than fulfilling its obligation to provide service.
In other recent news from Minnesota, Kalshi filed a lawsuit against the state over the latter’s signing into law a draft bill that would effectively prohibit and outlaw prediction markets starting in August this year.