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Distributing Sun Power across the Windy City
‧1.2MW of distributed solar energy generated by 28 sites.
‧Represents over half of Illinois’ total solar power.
‧Unique partnership of municipal, utility, labor, and commercial organizations.
‧Avoids generating over 700 tons of greenhouse gasses each year.
‧Sustainable natural power for schools, museums, businesses, park structures, courthouse,
community center, 911 center, and public utility sites.
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Overview
When the city of Chicago began developing a green initiative in 1999, part of the solution came out of the blue – the blue skies of solar energy. Through a first-ever collaboration between a U.S. municipality, public utility, and solar energy firm, the Chicago Solar Partnership was born. Today, Chicago boasts 1.2 MW of distributed solar power, providing unrivaled environmental and economic benefits citywide.
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A Powerful Collaboration with ComEd.
In 1999, Mayor Richard M. Daley had a vision – to make Chicago “the most environmentally friendly city in the nation.” Leading by example, Chicago began an extraordinary program that involved everything from Clean Air Partnerships to rooftop gardens.
Key to the project was a solar initiative that united organized labor,
local government, and the private sector. Called the Chicago Solar Partnership,
it was led by the city’s privately held electricity provider, Commonwealth
Edison (ComEd), and a team from Gloria Solar (known as Spire Solar at the time). No other U.S. municipality had ever attempted such a massive project – a challenge compounded by the city’s density.
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Services for Everything under the Sun.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, generating more than $15 billion in annual revenues. Yet, to ensure quality throughout the Chicago solar implementation, ComEd relied upon Gloria Solar’s experience in Photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing and services.
The Solar Partnership’s objective was to produce 750kW of solar power within the city’s 228 tightly packed square miles. The first installation was the Frank W. Reilly Elementary School, which generated energy and knowledge thanks to an onsite kiosk that educated students, teachers, and parents about solar power.
Within five years, Chicago became the largest distributed solar generation installation in America, encompassing 28 diverse sites and generating 1.2 megawatts of solar energy – 500 kW more than planned.
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Following RPS Mandates to the Letter.
Today, Chicago residents draw upon clean, renewable solar power, while enjoying a sustainable energy source that helps reduce electricity costs.
ComEd, too, has benefited. The utility gained an ongoing (20-30 year) supply of valuable Renewable Energy Credits, enabling them to meet federal and state regulatory mandates, including Renewable Portfolio Standards.
Furthermore, ComEd has decreased demand on its infrastructure, distributing energy to ensure greater reliability during peak periods. Not to mention the initiative’s environmental and social benefits, which including reducing greenhouse gases by 700 tons per year while educating the public on the practical use of renewable energy technologies.
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Technology “Firsts” from a Premier PV Company.
Chicago’s solar panels grace everything from schools to skyscrapers, enhancing historic buildings like the Cook County Courthouse and newer commercial sites like the Chicago Center for Green Technology. Among the many innovative applications are:
‧The Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) curtain walls of the Exelon Pavilions – among the first
and largest in the U.S.
‧The solar awnings of Bethel Commercial Center, which provide shade while generating electricity
‧The Millennium Park Bicycle Station, the first site to incorporate two types of clear-backed panels,
resulting in power-generating skylights
‧The Field Museum and Art Institute installations – two of the largest in the Midwest.
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A Shining Example.
The united commitment of a PV leader, a visionary municipality, and a pioneering national utility has proven that large-scale solar power can work in a major metropolis with a cold climate.
“My goal,” Mayor Daley said, “is to make Chicago an example of how a densely populated city can live in harmony with the environment and nature.”
Daley’s goal is a reality.
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