Pivot Energy starts construction on 10 community solar projects in Illinois

By Chris Crowell July 21, 2022

One of these projects includes a 2.8-MW system in Kankakee, Ill. (shown above).

Pivot Energy has started construction on 10 new community solar projects in Illinois that will provide low cost electricity to households and businesses across the state. The portfolio of projects represents 17.1 MW of capacity through the Illinois Adjustable Block Program across Ameren and Commonwealth Edison utility service territories.

Pivot Energy’s community solar capacity in Illinois now stands at 51 MW, making the company one of the leading providers in the state. Pivot Energy previously developed a 34-megawatt portfolio of community solar projects across Illinois in early 2021.

“We are fiercely dedicated to providing equitable access to community solar,” said Garrett Peterson, Senior Vice President of Project Development of Pivot Energy. “By offering solar energy to those who need it most, we are empowering individuals and expanding the benefits to entire communities in the form of cleaner air, lower electricity bills, and jobs.”

The portfolio is expected to produce 80 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, offsetting the equivalent of more than 60,000 tons of carbon emissions according to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator.

Community solar allows local households and residents to subscribe to the portion of electricity generated by a local project. It also opens up a ton of other public/private opportunities. Also known as “shared solar” or “community solar gardens”, these projects expand the benefits of solar, including lower energy costs, to those who do not own their home or do not have adequate space for their own solar energy system.

With the passing of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) in 2016 and the subsequent Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in 2021, Illinois is becoming nationwide leader in the deployment of renewable energy.

“We applaud Governor Pritzker’s efforts to transition Illinois to clean energy,” said Peterson. “Our company is proud to employ Illinoisans and invest in the local economy in our effort to deploy renewable energy for those who previously did not have access.”

Pivot partners with community organizations in allocating subscriptions to those most in need and manages them through the SunCentral platform, their proprietary cloud-based software.