CAMP RIPLEY — The Minnesota National Guard and Minnesota Power are joining forces to build a major solar energy project at Camp Ripley.

The Guard and Duluth-based Minnesota Power today announced a $25 million plan to build a 10-megawatt solar array spanning 100 acres at Camp Ripley, the largest military base in Minnesota.

They said the project will be the largest solar energy installation on any National Guard base in the country.

Minnesota Power will also install backup generation for additional energy security at Camp Ripley.

The solar farm and backup generation will be designed to allow Camp Ripley to use the energy produced by the project in emergencies when the electric grid is down. During non-emergency operations the solar electricity would flow to Minnesota Power customers in central and northern Minnesota.