An energy-saving arrangement between the Waukegan Park District and energy consultant E4 will save taxpayers money, as well as reduce the carbon footprint around the city, by utilizing renewable energy without installing solar panels on the Park District’s facilities.
Rather than install the solar panels, Jon Beckman, the Park District’s director of finance and operations, said the district will subscribe to a portion of a solar project and receive a credit on its electric bill from ComEd.
“The Park District is doing this because it’s important to protect the environment, and part of our mission of environmental stewardship,” Beckman said. “This is the right model for us.”
The Park District joined a community solar program earlier this year in an area within ComEd’s service territory in Chicagoland, both saving the community money and reducing the amount of fossil fuel burned locally.
Though it is too soon to precisely measure the environmental benefit, Beckman said he anticipates the Park District spending $27,000 less a year for electricity.
Jonathan Siegle, the founder and managing member of E4, said entities like the Park District joining a community solar program subscribe to an off-site solar array built in the ComEd service territory.
“The energy produced by the solar array goes into the grid giving (the participant) the advantage of using renewable energy,” Siegle said. “They get a credit for it on their account. E4 worked as a consultant to help them do it.”
“It goes right on our bill,” Backman added. “We have seen a reduction of energy use already.”
Beckman said he plans to reach out to other governments and governmental entities in the area to gauge their interest in participating in a community solar program. It will make everything around Waukegan a little greener.
“First, we’re going to get comfortable with the program,” Beckman said. “Then, I’m going to reach out to the city, the county, the school district (and others) and contact people I know about working with E4 so we have the whole community benefitting from this. It makes everything greener.”
Along with financial savings, the environmental benefit of reducing the carbon footprint helps everyone in the area. Kevin Quay, a partner with E4, said reducing the carbon footprint is a major advantage.
“It means (the utility companies) will burn less coal, and that means there will be less carbon in the air,” Quay said. “Less carbon means cleaner air.”
Starting to work with E4 three years ago, Beckman said it was important to take a cautious approach, ensuring the most compatible program. A number of options were considered before selecting the most compatible solar array.
In addition to cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint, the Park District shares in expanding access to clean energy, improving grid resilience and creating jobs in the renewable energy industry, according to a May press release from E4.
By engaging in the community solar program, the Park District is aligning itself with the state’s efforts to expand access to solar energy and contributing to Illinois’ renewable energy goals, according to the release.
Other towns taking advantage of existing solar arrays include Mundelein, Park Ridge, Buffalo Grove, Highland Park, Palatine and Glenview, according to Beckman.
