What is Community Solar? Many People, One Array. Learn More
What is Community Solar?
Community Solar offers the benefits of the sun – clean and low cost energy – to those who cannot install a solar array on their own property. Home owners, municipalities, schools, and businesses can enjoy saving money on their monthly electricity bills while also contributing to the environmental benefits of clean solar energy by subscribing to a Community Solar Array.
Community Solar is now possible in Illinois because of the Future Energy Jobs Act, which was passed in 2016. Immediately after the Illinois Shines program was launched by the Illinois Power Agency, the Community Solar incentives were oversubscribed, and the state held a lottery in which very few projects were selected. StraightUp Solar’s ShineMines (our community solar developments) are still pending and awaiting a legislative change to increase available community solar funding. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more.
Community Solar is made possible through an innovative billing policy known as “virtual net metering.”
Subscribers continue using energy as normal on their property that is then directly offset by the energy produced from their subscribed fraction of the remote Community Solar Array.
Individuals or organizations who pay a utility bill can become subscribers to a Community Solar array.
Interested in more detailed information on Community Solar subscriptions in Illinois? View the Illinois Shines Community Solar Brochure.
Are you interested in subscribing to a Community Solar array in Illinois? Let us know!
Questions or comments? Contact us at hello@straightupsolar.com or (844) 97-SOLAR