ELGIN, IL — Illinois residents are increasingly tapping into solar power without putting panels on their roofs, as the number of community solar projects across the state has more than doubled in five years.
The number of community solar projects participating in the state's Illinois Shines program has climbed from 110 when the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act was enacted in 2021 to 266 today, according to the Illinois Power Agency. More than 40,000 subscribers are now saving money through community solar projects across the state.
One of the newest projects to come online is on a 22-acre property in Elgin.
Cultivate Power recently powered up its Bowes Solar project, which includes two installations capable of generating a combined 9.225 megawatts of electricity for ComEd's territory, according to the company.
The project is part of a much larger buildout. Cultivate Power alone says it has developed 14 projects that are now operating and has another 20 under construction in Illinois, according to company officials.
Bowes is also a milestone for the company: It is the first solar project Cultivate Power has both built and plans to operate itself.
Unlike traditional residential solar, community solar allows customers to subscribe to electricity generated by an off-site solar development and receive credits on their utility bills.
At Bowes Solar, 580 low- and moderate-income households have subscribed and are expected to save 20 percent on the supply portion of their ComEd bills, according to Cultivate Power. Three small businesses, two municipalities and a church are also among the project's subscribers.
Cultivate Power estimates those subscribers will collectively save $13.9 million on their ComEd bills during the project's expected 40-year life.
The growth surrounding the Elgin project reflects a larger shift in Illinois' energy landscape.
Community solar and community-driven community solar now account for about 40 percent of all solar capacity in the Illinois Shines program, according to the Illinois Clean Energy Dashboard.
Stephanie Burgos-Veras, senior policy manager with the Coalition for Community Solar Access, said state policy has played a major role in accelerating development.
She pointed to three major energy laws enacted during the past decade: the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2016, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021 and the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act in 2026.
"CEJA and CRGA in particular have supercharged community solar development," Burgos-Veras told Patch.
The growth has opened solar energy to customers who may not own their homes, have roofs suitable for solar panels or want to pay for their own installation.
Illinois is also expected to remain among the country's fastest-growing solar markets. The Solar Energy Industries Association projects the state will add about 13.7 gigawatts of solar capacity during the next five years.
The Elgin property presented an unusual development challenge.
The 22-acre farm sits near railroad tracks and high-voltage power lines and includes an irregularly shaped footprint and a wetland at one corner, conditions Cultivate Power said had previously discouraged development.
The company redesigned the project around those constraints and used high-density solar-panel racking technology to generate more electricity from the available acreage.
Elgin Community Development Director Marc Mylott said city officials concluded solar was an appropriate use for a property that otherwise presented significant development challenges.
"After reviewing the proposal thoroughly, we determined solar was a great use for this property," Mylott said.
The project will also put the property on the tax rolls. Cultivate Power estimates Bowes Solar will generate about $2.1 million in property taxes during its operating life, with the majority going to School District U-46.
Construction employed more than 75 people, including 49 union laborers, according to the developer.
Cultivate Power is also contributing $575,000 to organizations and programs in the area, including Elgin Community College, Food for Greater Elgin, Friends of the Fox River and workforce-training programs.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Elgin Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.