The $250m Aurora distributed solar project secured the permit for 21 of the 24 proposed sites in the state, reported Star Tribune.
The commission rejected Geronimo’s proposal to construct solar projects at Pipestone, Zumbrota and Wyoming over local concerns and future development projects by the city governments.
This is the first major solar project to be approved by PUC.
PUC chairwoman Beverly Jones Heydinger said: "Because this is the first facility that we are siting, we are particularly sensitive in having it go as smoothly with local units of government as possible."
Geronimo has been ordered to address the issues raised by the local governments and residents with six of the 21 approved solar sites.
Among the approved, 20 projects will be larger than the existing largest solar array in the state. The largest of the new sites will be near Paynesville.
Planned to be completed in 2016, the Aurora project will supply electricity to Xcel Energy. The facilities will be owned by global energy company Enel Green Power.
The state’s new solar energy directive calls investor-owned utilities to meet 1.5% of their electricity requirements from the sun.
