Reactivate, Obama Foundation partner for Illinois community solar projects
The Barack Obama Foundation has partnered with renewable energy developer Reactivate to serve as the “anchor tenant” for the developer’s community solar projects in Illinois.
As the projects’ main tenant, the Obama Foundation will gain access to solar energy to support the sustainability goals of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Officials say the partnership “unlocks the financial viability” of Reactivate’s community solar portfolios, and will help directly enable low-to-moderate income households and small businesses to subscribe to the programs’ remaining capacity.
“President Obama set a clear vision: to make sustainability a centerpiece of all we do, and to serve as a model for what is possible,” says Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “We believe that taking care of the one planet we have starts with the choices we make right in our own backyard. That is why the Obama Presidential Center not only is sourcing 100% of our electricity from renewable energy, but we are also partnering with a company that will expand access to solar energy to our neighbors.”
The partnership comes as a direct response to spiking energy bills throughout the U.S., and aims to provide a fully scalable blueprint to organizations across the country, looking to cut both emissions and costs.
Strengthening the Prairie State’s energy future
In addition to helping with wider sustainability goals, residential and commercial subscribers will see an estimated 50% energy cost savings on utility bills, through Illinois Solar For All and other regional programs. The state also passed a bill to expand solar programs earlier this year, further loosening restriction on the region’s solar pipeline.
“By stepping forward as an anchor tenant, The Obama Foundation helps power the Presidential Center with clean energy while actively lowering the barrier to entry for local families and small businesses to cut their energy costs,” says Reactivate CEO Utopia Hill.
“Building a stronger energy future requires leadership and collaboration that prioritizes community wealth creation, while strengthening local resiliency and advancing energy affordability for the communities that need it most.”
Tuba Avcisert, SVP of origination and contracting at Reactivate, says the collaborative nature of the project is “an honor” for her company. The two organizations share a wider commitment to strengthening solar ties in local communities, she adds.
“(The Obama Foundation’s) trust in Reactivate to serve the Obama Center’s energy needs reflect a shared belief,” Avcisert continues, “that clean energy projects should create lasting, meaningful benefits for the local communities they serve.”
