Ecology Action Center [EAC] in Normal is bringing back a program to McLean County that offers residents solar panel installation below market cost. The program also available to DeWitt County residents is a group buy program called the Grow Solar Initiative.
This is the fourth program between EAC and Midwest Renewable Energy Association [MREA] in the Bloomington-Normal community, with previous ones in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
EAC Energy Coordinator Michael Bay said they did partner with the state in recent years for the Illinois Shines program, but they were not able to partner with any other organization during that time.
“But our partnership with Illinois Shines ended, I believe, at the end of last year, which gave us the opportunities to partner with MREA again and restart the program,” Bay said. “And we want to do it with them because it’s been a successful program … so we wanted to get started again.”
At the core of a group buy program for solar panels is long-term cost savings. The partnership between EAC and MREA comes as summer heat is in full swing and energy prices are rising sharply in the Bloomington-Normal area. They are expected to continue rising after an April notice from the Twin Cities informed residents Constellation Energy was raising rates by 40%.
Even with the cost savings that producing a home’s own energy can provide, the initial installation of panels can still carry a hefty price tag.
Bay said several factors influence how much it can cost.
“There’s no standard cost, it just depends on how much space is on the roof, how many panels you can fit on there and then take into account issues like the orientation of the roof, shading, etc.,” he said. “A recent quote I saw, without group solar [cost savings], was $30,000.”
How it works
Jeff Schneider, solar program coordinator with MREA, said group buy solar assists with the initial cost of installing panels.
“A solar group buy is a process in which a group of consumers come together to purchase solar at a cost that is below what they would be able to receive on the open market when going solar by themselves,” he said. “In addition to that lower base price, the group buy involves volume-based rebates that are reached as more participants go solar in the program.”
Schneider said representatives from the community choose an installer themselves which agrees to offer them parts and construction at the below-market cost. This initiative will buy from StraightUp Solar.
Schneider said a homeowner’s bill will change as soon as the next bill after installation.
“Immediately, you’ll see a reduction in your bills as soon as your next monthly bill, because you’ve generated the significant amount of energy yourself, especially during these sunny summer months,” he said.
Schneider said the benefit to a homeowner’s pocketbook is really felt years after the installation. The majority of homeowners cannot afford to pay for solar panels in cash and instead choose to finance them. Once they finish doing so, he said they save more.
“While they’re paying less for their electricity costs, they’re also paying off their solar array, but in the Illinois market you often see a return on investment of around seven years,” Schneider said. “After that time … you’re achieving the same savings every year but you’re not paying off your solar panels any longer so those savings will often be in the thousands per year.”
Federal incentives are another attractive piece of considering whether to install solar panels. One of the largest is a credit passed under former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. It covers up to 30% of the cost of homeowner’s installing a renewable energy source, including solar.
Schneider said if President Donald Trump’s reconciliation bill passed in its current form, it would claw back that credit. It is only guaranteed through the end of the year, and that will affect new applicants to the program.
“We’re going to make sure that we do not accept anyone into the program if it will be too late for them to get installed in time for the end of the year to take advantage of the 30% tax credit,” he said.
Trump’s bill, also known as the One Big, Beautiful Bill, passed in the House and is under consideration in the Senate. Trump has said he wants his signature on the bill no later than July 4.
In order to ensure that no members of the program go without the tax credit, Schneider said MREA is depending on the chosen installer, StraightUp Solar.
“They have a very good idea of how many projects they can handle and will stop taking on new leads for the Grow Solar program if they think that they are getting more than they can handle before the end of the year,” he said. “So the plan is no one who will who goes solar through our program should be without the tax credit. They will be able to take advantage of that 30%.”
How to learn more
To educate the community on the tax credits, cost and benefits of going solar, MREA and ECA host Solar Power Hours.
“An important part of how the programs are successful is the MREA can be a trusted third-party delivering education and not trying to give a sales pitch, and instead just saying, ‘We want to give you the education and if you’re looking to go forward, here’s a highly vetted, local installer that’s endorsed by the community,’” Schneider said.
Schneider said the last event drew in 500 guests. He said while not all will choose to go solar soon, they might choose to later.
“Maybe they need a new roof, maybe the finances aren’t there now but they will be in the future,” he said. “Those people who attended, they’re potential solar buyers in the future and they might participate in the future program.”
The educational sessions are on Zoom and in person through July and August.
