Denver-based PureSky Energy and the Ecology Action Center [ECA] in Normal have partnered to launch the first community solar program in McLean County — and in the state of Illinois. It was developed through the Illinois Solar for All program.
The McLean 1 solar farm has reached full operation as of this week. The project aims to bring clean, affordable energy to income-eligible households.
It does so by allowing low- and moderate-income households to subscribe to the program with guaranteed savings of 50% of their electric bills. Other similar programs for non-income eligible households offer about 10% of savings.
“All the electricity [from the solar panels] goes into the grid and then it’s part of this electricity mix that everybody in the local area will consume, so none of the renewable energy goes directly to any of our subscribers,” said Janet Janzen, marketing manager at PureSky.
Rather, sets of solar panels have been set up in the county to collect electricity and then solar credits are reflected on subscribers’ bills. One set of panels is about a mile southeast of Bloomington-Normal and the other is in Gridley.
Michael Larkin, senior development manager, said the project is exciting because it brings the benefits of solar to communities otherwise unable to have them.
“We’re able to provide the benefit of solar to subscribers without them having to install infrastructure locally on their property, or we can provide savings to renters who don’t have control of their… yard and such,” he said. “It’s been a great benefit and we’ve basically targeted subscribers locally within the Ameren service territory to provide them with power.”
Largely, families in the program are ones who are not able to afford the costly expense of buying and installing solar panels, but the program also welcomes those who can’t have them. These include people such as renters or homeowners with houses that are too old to handle panels.
“Community solar is often the easiest way for renters and homeowners alike to participate in solar energy, because there’s no infrastructure being installed locally. It’s simply just subscribing to the community solar array,” Larkin said. “So, the biggest benefit for people is most simple — it’s lower electricity costs.”
The project also relieves worries for subscribers over nonrenewable energy consumption. The solar community project is estimated to power 429 households annually while relieving about 4.6 million pounds of CO2.
Illinois and McLean County leading the way
Larkin said Illinois has a “tremendously robust” community solar program and that is what makes the state attractive. On top of that, the openness of McLean County made it an ideal spot for its first program in the state for community solar.
“McLean County was one of the early adopters of utility scale wind and their ordinance has always been relatively friendly towards solar, even before the state statute was passed to set standards across the state,” he said.
“The state still has several years ahead that are looking very favorable for solar development and further clean energy penetration with ComEd and Ameren.”
Corn Belt Energy customers are not eligible for the program at this time.
Michael Brown, executive director of ECA, said he is also excited about the project. It fits into a broader theme for sustainability he shares in: sustainability is made doable through accessibility.
“Community solar in itself, the concept of it really is all about removing the barriers for clean, renewable energy for residents,” he said. “Not everybody can afford to put solar on their home; not everybody even owns their home. In rental situations, obviously, you cannot put solar on top of your apartment.”
Even in his case, Brown said his house was assessed and denied approval for solar panels because of the mature trees on his property. He said by removing the barriers to something like solar power, anyone and everyone gets to have access if they want it.
Furthermore, solar is one of many ways the county and EAC can remain a leader in the sector.
“I think more community solar can do that, but at the same time, we need to look at other ways and places we can be installing solar,” said Brown. “I think there is growing concern about solar taking up valuable farmland, and I think even just to that point directly, there’s lots of ways where solar can coexist with agricultural usage…”
Brown said solar and agriculture can be done in the same area, but also urban locations should not be ignored. He said a good example is the solar installation at Illinois State University’s new College of Engineering.
As for his own work, Brown said EAC has recently published a new community energy strategic plan to increase the amount of clean renewable energy.
