ComEd, partners plan to develop 60 rooftop community solar projects in Illinois

ComEd is joining with commercial rooftop solar developer Solar Landscape and U.S. self-storage operator Public Storage to jointly develop 60 rooftop community solar projects across northern Illinois in the next two years, the companies said July 30.

Together, the projects will deliver 44 megawatts (MW) of community solar energy to boost grid capacity and create opportunities for customers to lower their energy costs, according to ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones.

“With demand for power rising faster than supply, community solar sites like this one offer a clean energy solution that can help close the supply gap and offer bill savings for customers,” Quiniones said. “By year end, we expect to have some 400 community solar installations across ComEd’s northern Illinois territory, making this region a national leader in developing a renewable resource that has a key role to play in delivering clean, affordable power over the long term.”

Once completed, the projects are expected to generate enough electricity each year to power approximately 6,150 households while delivering an estimated $750,000 in annual electricity bill savings for subscribers, more than $36 million over the life of the projects. The average residential subscriber is expected to save approximately $120 annually on electricity costs, said ComEd, a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corp.

The partnership plans to convert underutilized storage facility rooftops into energy-producing assets that deliver affordable electricity savings to households. The Illinois portfolio covers approximately five-million-square-feet of rooftop space.

“Commercial rooftops represent one of the fastest, most scalable opportunities to expand the electric grid using infrastructure that already exists,” said Shaun Keegan, CEO of Solar Landscape. “By partnering with ComEd and Public Storage, we’re transforming underutilized real estate into energy infrastructure that lowers electricity costs for Illinois families while helping meet the region’s growing demand for power.

“This portfolio demonstrates how utilities, property owners and private capital can work together to deploy clean energy at a meaningful scale,” Keegan added.

“We’re proud to partner with ComEd and Solar Landscape to demonstrate how commercial properties can deliver maximum value as community assets,” said Nathan Vitan, chief legal officer and executive sponsor for sustainability at Public Storage.

As Illinois experiences increasing electricity demand driven by economic growth, electrification, and new technologies, ComEd said it is upgrading the grid to accommodate the rapid expansion of distributed energy resources. 

The utility’s investments will enable more renewable energy projects to come online, strengthen grid reliability, and help deliver affordable energy options to customers across northern Illinois, said ComEd.

The projects will also create local jobs and expand career opportunities, with construction expected to support approximately 300 jobs.