-
ComEd and SunVest Solar completed four new community solar projects in northern Illinois.
-
Community solar allows ComEd customers to access clean energy without installing solar panels.
-
Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) aims to increase renewable energy support.
ComEd and SunVest Solar have recently announced the successful completion of four new community solar projects located in northern Illinois, with two projects in Dekalb and another two in Freeport. This development marks a significant milestone as it brings the total number of community solar projects within the ComEd service territory to 88. This initiative empowers ComEd customers to enjoy reduced electricity costs and contributes to the broader objectives of expanding renewable energy and advancing Illinois' clean energy goals.
The two community solar farms established by SunVest in Dekalb span an impressive 24 acres along Gurler Road and are adorned with more than 9,400 solar panels. Similarly, the two innovative solar farms located in Freeport extend to 23 acres on South Cranes Grove Road, housing more than 11,650 solar panels. Together, these four solar installations possess a combined generation capacity of 12 megawatts (MW) of clean energy, which equates to providing electricity for nearly 1,700 typical Illinois households.
Community solar offers a unique opportunity for all ComEd customers to reap the benefits of clean solar energy, all without the need to invest in solar panels for their own. Participants subscribe to a solar energy farm owned by an independent developer and, in return, receive credits on their monthly ComEd bills corresponding to the energy generated by their share of the project. This generated energy flows into ComEd's grid, contributing to the overall energy supply. Typically, customers subscribe to an amount of electricity that offsets their annual consumption. In most cases, ComEd customers can subscribe to a community solar project within the ComEd region, provided it is not already fully subscribed.
Additionally, ComEd has recently launched a user-friendly community solar calculator. This tool assists customers in determining the most suitable subscription size, providing estimates of costs and potential savings.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of Illinois, enacted in 2021, increases support for renewable energy to achieve 40 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. It creates approximately 9,800 megawatts of new solar capacity and a substantial increase in funding for the Illinois Solar for All program. This program, which extends access to solar power for lower-income customers, has seen its annual funding rise from $30 million to $70 million.
ComEd presented multi-year grid and rate plans to the Illinois Commerce Commission earlier this year in line with this legislation. These plans are instrumental in accelerating the expansion of renewable energy and ensuring that all communities have equitable access to the benefits of clean energy as per the stipulations of CEJA. These plans are aligned with ComEd 2030, the company's recently announced vision for a carbon-free energy future. This vision promises to cater to the evolving needs of customers and deliver benefits to all communities for the remainder of this decade and beyond.