ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones, Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Doug Scott, Boone County Board Chairman Karl Johnson, and representatives from Ameresco, Inc. gathered today to officially open a new community solar project. The project, located on a former landfill owned by Boone County and managed by the city of Belvidere, is the 160th community solar initiative in ComEd’s northern Illinois region. It is also one of the first to provide solar power to both a county government and local businesses.
The solar project, located near the intersection of Illinois Route 76 and Squaw Prairie Road, consists of two adjacent solar arrays covering 34 acres. With over 9,600 solar panels, the project generates 3.5 megawatts (MW) of power. Boone County has subscribed to about 36% of the energy produced, which will be used to power county facilities that support public health, safety, and other services. Commercial customers are also subscribing to the project. Community solar subscribers receive credits on their electricity bills based on their share of the energy generated, helping them reduce their bills by up to 10% annually.
Quiniones said in a statement, “The Belvidere project reflects the growing interest beyond the residential sector in the benefits of community solar, and the continued growth of renewables on our system. And we are proud to partner with Ameresco in the conversion of a former landfill to contribute to the clean energy transition and to the local economy.”
“Community solar makes it easier for Illinoisans to access the savings and benefits tied to clean energy, regardless of their income level. CEJA set the state on a path toward increased renewable energy sources over the coming decades, and Illinois will continue to make sure renters, homeowners, and commercial customers alike are able to plug into the value tied to the energy transition,” stated Chairman Scott.
Belvidere is recognized as an Equity Investment Eligible Community (EIEC), and Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of 2021 is helping these areas access the clean energy economy. As part of the EIEC designation, at least 10% of the workforce on community solar projects must include equity-eligible individuals, with this percentage increasing to 30% by 2030.
Community solar enables all ComEd customers to benefit from clean solar energy without needing to install their own solar panels. In Illinois, customers can subscribe to a community solar project for up to 200% of their electricity usage over the past 12 months. The energy produced by the community solar project flows into ComEd’s grid, contributing to the state’s overall energy supply.
Karl Johnson, Boone County Board Chairman, commented, “The solar project at our City-County landfill in Belvidere has been in the works for several years and was first initiated by former County Administrator Ken Terrinoni. Our local small businesses can benefit by subscribing to the community solar program and the county will generate additional lease and tax revenue. Landfills are an ideal location for solar projects because there are limited uses for these properties. We will help generate renewable energy while preserving our precious farmland. This is truly a win-win solution.”
Jon Mancini, Senior Vice President at Ameresco, als mentioned, “We are thrilled to participate in this important milestone for community solar in the ComEd zone. This project underscores our commitment to fostering sustainable energy solutions that benefit the county and small businesses. By providing clean, renewable energy, we are reducing the carbon footprint, supporting economic growth and creating a greener future all.”
ComEd’s 160 active community solar sites across its 11,400-square-mile service area currently serve over 30,000 customers. More than 1,100 MW of Distributed Energy Resources have been connected to the ComEd system, including 270 MW from community solar and 450 MW from residential rooftop solar. ComEd projects that by 2025, over 1,900 MW will be interconnected, and by 2030, this number will rise to approximately 3,600 MW, enough to power around 120,000 U.S. homes for a year.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) aims to boost renewable energy support, setting a target of 40% by 2030 and 50% by 2040 in Illinois. It also plans to create nearly 9,800 MW of new solar capacity and increase funding for the Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) program, which helps lower-income customers access solar energy. The ILSFA funding will rise from $30 million to $70 million annually to support solar project grants.
