Summit Ridge Energy, a leading developer of community solar projects in the United States, has recently completed 6 MW of new community solar in Illinois. The new solar projects will provide clean energy to residents, businesses, and organizations in the state, while also supporting the local economy and creating new jobs.
Community solar is a relatively new concept that allows people who can't or don't want to install solar panels on their roofs to still benefit from solar energy. In a community solar project, a solar farm is built in a central location, and people can subscribe to a portion of the energy produced by the farm. The subscribers receive credits on their utility bills for the energy produced by their portion of the solar farm, and the excess energy is fed back into the grid.
Summit Ridge Energy's new community solar projects in Illinois are expected to generate more than 9 million kWh of clean energy each year, which is equivalent to powering approximately 1,000 homes annually. The projects will also offset more than 7,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, which is equivalent to removing more than 1,500 cars from the road annually.
The new community solar projects were made possible through Illinois' Future Energy Jobs Act, which aims to promote the development of renewable energy in the state and create new jobs in the industry. Summit Ridge Energy worked closely with local communities, businesses, and organizations to develop the projects, which will provide significant economic benefits to the region. The projects created more than 60 local jobs during construction, and they will continue to support jobs in operations and maintenance over the life of the projects.
Community solar is becoming an increasingly popular way for people to support clean energy and reduce their carbon footprint. It allows people who may not have the resources or ability to install solar panels on their roofs to still benefit from solar energy and support the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system. Summit Ridge Energy's new community solar projects in Illinois are a great example of how renewable energy can provide economic and environmental benefits to communities while also supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future.