Clearway Breaks Ground on Community Solar Projects in Illinois
Community solar gives residents, businesses, universities, and municipalities option to choose local clean energy, lower bills
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Clearway Energy Group (“Clearway”) and Clearway Community Solar announced today that construction began on the company’s first community solar projects in Illinois. The four community solar farms under construction represent 12 MW of Clearway’s 60 MW Illinois community solar portfolio and are located throughout Illinois. The projects are being constructed by Signal Energy.
“We’re proud of the team and partners who, despite this year’s challenges, were able to safely come together to break ground on Clearway’s first projects in Illinois,” said Craig Cornelius, CEO of Clearway Energy Group. “Community solar serves an important role in achieving the state’s clean energy goals and gives area residents, municipalities, and businesses the option to support local clean energy and lower monthly utility bills.”
Today’s announcement represents Clearway’s first projects supported by the Illinois Shines Community Solar Program, which was designed as part of the Future Energy Jobs Act. Clearway’s community solar portfolio in Illinois will create more than 70 jobs during construction as well as permanent positions once operating and represent a significant economic investment in the state. The power generated from the portfolio will be the equivalent of removing 12,000 cars from the road each year, planting over 70,000 acres of forest in the U.S., or offsetting emissions from burning 60 million pounds coal.
The projects will be placed in service in 2021. Once complete, the four community solar farms will serve more than 1,800 residential and commercial subscribers in the ComEd service territories in the greater Chicago area and beyond, including Northwestern University and the Village of Fox River Grove.
Earlier this year, Clearway and Northwestern University announced the university’s long-term agreement to purchase energy from this portfolio, becoming Clearway’s first major community solar subscriber in the state. The company also announced in August the completion of its sixth community solar fund, unlocking capital for more community solar construction in Illinois and elsewhere.
Clearway Community Solar is a fully integrated business that manages project development, customer subscriptions, and customer management, becoming a market leader in community solar with more than 200 MW of projects nationwide serving more than 15,000 customers.
With community solar options in both ComEd and Ameren service territories, residents, businesses, and municipalities can support local solar generation in Illinois by subscribing to a Clearway Community Solar farm with no upfront costs and without installing equipment on their property. Participants receive solar bill credits that reduce their utility supply charges, with overall guaranteed savings.
Clearway is actively accepting new subscribers for its community solar projects in development. To learn more, visit clearwaycommunitysolar.com.
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About Clearway Energy Group
Clearway Energy Group is accelerating the world’s transformation to a clean energy future. With more than 4.7 gigawatts of wind, solar, and energy storage assets in 25 states and a development pipeline across the country, we are offsetting the equivalent of nearly 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions for our customers. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with offices in Carlsbad, CA; Scottsdale, AZ; and Houston, TX. For more information, visit clearwayenergygroup.com.
About Clearway Community Solar
Clearway Community Solar develops, owns, and operates local solar farms, enabling households, businesses, and municipalities to support 100% renewable power, no roof required. A convenient and practical approach for going solar without property installations or upfront costs, Clearway Community Solar has nearly 100 solar farms active or in development in Illinois, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York. Clearway Community Solar farm subscribers support clean, local power while lowering their electric utility bill. To learn more about the program, visit clearwaycommunitysolar.com.