Construction begins on 20,000-panel community solar project in west Rockford

ROCKFORD — Developers broke ground Tuesday on a 35-acre solar farm that promises to offer significant savings on utility bills to businesses and residents who subscribe to the community solar project.

Trajectory Energy Partners and Summit Ridge Energy, which will operate the solar farm, are bringing a 20,000-panel solar array to farmland near the corner of Mila Avenue and North Memorial Boulevard on the city’s far west side. The project, called Rock Cut Solar, represents a $10 million investment, about 60% of which is local labor handling construction, company representatives said.

“Not only is this good for the environment and consumers, but obviously this is about economic development and boosting the economy,” said state Rep. Steve Stadelman. “This is the future … So many jobs will be available in the clean energy sector and this is just another example of more good things to come in the future.”

The 6.2-megawatt project has been in the works for about two years. It’s expected to go online in June 2025.

Community solar projects allow anyone to subscribe to benefit from energy savings generated by the solar array, which is connected to the ComEd energy grid. ComEd pays for the energy generated in the solar field and subscribers receive a portion of the dollar value generated as a credit. It’s free to subscribe.

The project is spurred by state incentives meant to drive investment in renewable energy sources. Gov. JB Priztker signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in September 2021, which, among other energy measures, created grants ranging from $50,000 to $1 million for community solar projects such as this one.

“We spent a lot of time in the legislature the past couple years incentivizing projects like this and making sure that we transition as a state to cleaner energy sources,” Stadelman said. “Obviously we need to do that for the enviroment and reduce our carbon footprint – this is what it’s all about – but also the great thing about community solar is that the residents are able to take advantage of it as well.”

Jon Carson, managing partner for Trajectory Energy Partners, said the public investment will pay off many times over in the form of property taxes, salaries for local union labor and savings on utility bills over the 35-year life of the project.

“Solar is happening here in Winnebago County and Rockford because of the tremendous support that we have from community leaders that see this as a path forward for their community,” Carson said. “Rockford is the No. 1 city on supporting renewable energy in the state right now.”

Carson said OSF HealthCare will be the anchor subscriber to Rock Cut Solar. It will also be open to other businesses and residents in Winnebago County.

Trajectory Energy Partners and Summit Ridge Energy are also providing support to Get Connected 815, Sustain Rockford and Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity through the project.

For Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that builds affordable homes and helps provide critical repairs, a $100,000 grant will allow it build an additional house, said Keri Asevedo, executive director of Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity. Its homeowners will also benefit from energy savings.

“Not only will this project fund a legacy for a family in Rockford, but it will also ensure that many of our low-income families will get to subscribe to this community solar project,” Keri Asevedo said.

Learn more
To learn more about becoming a subscriber to the Rock Cut Solar project, which goes online in June 2025, reach out to Carrie Willis of Get Connected 815 at Carrie@getconnected815.org or 779-513-2565.

Source: Rock River Current