Speedway Solar Project in Joliet, Illinois.

ComEd and Summit Ridge Energy (SRE) have announced the opening of the 75th community solar development in ComEd’s service territory. The 2.5-MW Speedway Solar project 10 miles south of Joliet, Illinois, will provide more than 350 ComEd customers with access to the benefits of solar energy and savings on their energy bills.

“The completion of 75 community solar developments in our service territory is a major milestone on our path to a clean energy future,” said Scott Vogt, VP of strategy and energy policy at ComEd. “Our collaboration with Summit Ridge Energy is expanding customer access to clean and affordable renewable energy and contributing to the goal of reducing carbon emissions in our communities.”

The Speedway Solar project includes more than 2,300 solar panels and occupies 31 acres on West Sharp Road in Elwood, Illinois, about 60 miles southwest of Chicago. It will enable ComEd customers who may not have the roof space or financial means to install their own solar energy generation system to realize the benefits of solar energy. Community solar subscribers earn credits on their monthly utility bills for their portion of the energy produced by the solar project. Energy generated by community solar flows to the electric grid to become part of the overall energy supply.

“We are excited to build on our long-standing partnership with ComEd by developing its 75th community solar project in northern Illinois,” said Mark Raeder, principal at SRE. “We credit ComEd for helping to accelerate the growth of community solar in the region and establishing Illinois as a leader in the fast-growing community solar sector.”

By the end of this year, ComEd expects to have doubled the number of community solar projects interconnected to its electric grid to more than 150, serving approximately 36,000 customers.

SOURCE – Solar Power World