Shining a Light On Olympic Village

Olympic Village, a 320-unit affordable housing community in Chicago Heights, is on a path to producing 282,000 kWh of electricity to offset 200 metric tons of carbon dioxide thanks to their recently energized solar installations. The Illinois Solar for All project, made possible by StraightUp Solar, Fresh Coast Solar, and National Preservation Housing Partners (NPH), included the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems on 16 buildings across the community totaling approximately 257KW in solar capacity.

“It’s great to see the Olympic Village project fully energized, generating solar energy and creating an extraordinary environmental impact,” said project developer Dan Hancock. “To put things into perspective, the total carbon dioxide offset per year from this project can be compared to approximately one car driving 513,000 miles a year or the carbon sequestered by 238 acres of forest.”

Not only is this project significantly benefiting the environment and providing solar access to an underserved community, but the cost savings gathered from lowered energy costs will be reinvested to make future improvements to the project.

“At NPH, we focus on the purchase, rehabilitation, and preservation of low-income, Section 8 housing,” said Olympic Village property owner Andrew Delman. “The philosophy for our work is that it must profoundly change the life and environment of every resident and community for the better. Therefore, making the switch to solar was an easy decision.”

Since the inception of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), solar capacity has grown exponentially across Illinois. Provisions, like tax benefits and reimbursement programs, have made solar more affordable for the general public, and programs, such as Illinois Solar for All (ISFA), are providing affordable access to renewable energy for income-eligible communities, which continue increasing equitable access to solar across the state.

“Equitable access to solar energy is a priority for the Illinois solar industry,” said Lesley McCain, executive director of the Illinois Solar Energy Energy and Storage Association (ISEA). “Projects like Olympic Village are so important because they not only drive us one step closer to reaching a 100% clean-energy future, but they also provide direct impact and cost savings to communities that are often underserved and underrepresented.”

Olympic Village is a shining example of the positive impact made when the industry is focused on equity and has the right incentives and provisions in place. As the solar industry continues to grow, the Olympic Village project will serve as an example to be replicated in other communities for the continued expansion of solar in underserved and underrepresented communities. The need for these projects will only increase as Illinois pursues its aggressive renewable energy goals.