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Illinois Gets Power From 60 Rooftop Solar Projects on Public Storage Facilities
Illinois’ community solar incentives are driving 60 rooftop projects on Public Storage facilities, with 10 already online.
Solar Landscape, partnering with Public Storage and ComEd, is deploying rooftop community solar arrays across Illinois, leveraging state incentives and utility programs to meet clean energy goals. These projects represent a structural shift in how commercial rooftop space is utilized to generate solar power and deliver economic benefits.
The panels are located on otherwise unused roof space and could provide significant savings for Illinoisans who subscribe to the project, while also helping the state meet its goal of 100% clean power by 2050.
“This creates more opportunities for people, job creation, and revenue that can be taxed by our state,” said Wasowicz, who has been mayor of Justice, home to about 12,000 people, since 2007. “This is going to be an excellent addition to this village.”
The Justice, Illinois array, online since March, is a 763-kilowatt installation among 10 currently operating rooftops. The full portfolio aims to cover 5 million square feet of roof space, generating 44 megawatts of solar capacity, yielding $36 million in savings, and creating 300 construction jobs. Illinois’ recent energy law allows rooftop projects up to 10 megawatts each and offers incentives including a $5 premium per megawatt-hour for rooftop community solar credits. ComEd plans to activate over 400 community solar arrays statewide by year-end, with about 100 on rooftops. To qualify for federal tax credits, projects must be operational by the end of 2027 or have construction started by July 4 of this year.
All 60 Public Storage rooftop projects are slated for completion within this federal tax credit window.
Montana businesses might observe parallels in scaling community solar on commercial rooftops, especially where state incentives and utility partnerships evolve. Given Montana’s vast roof space potential and interest in clean energy, similar rooftop solar initiatives could become feasible if regulatory and financial frameworks align to support rapid deployment and local workforce training.
Solar on storage units? Here’s how Illinois is making it happen.
By @CanaryMediaInc, Canary Media
