Illinois Community Solar Energy Sovereignty
Building Community-Driven Energy Across the Heartland
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Groundswell’s community engagement and pre-development work in partnership with Supreme Solutions, LLC., under the Community Solar Energy Sovereignty grant program will utilize a community-based community solar development framework that goes beyond traditional energy metrics. Focusing on Ford Heights, Illinois, and Champaign, Illinois, Groundswell’s approach to expanding clean energy across Illinois and the Heartland begins with community participation and collaboration. Community residents are an important stakeholder who inform the ways that clean energy projects can best serve those who need it most in our communities, giving us place-based insights on where community solar can and should be replicated across the country.
This project is possible thanks to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCOE)’s Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program and partnership with Supreme Solutions, LLC.
As the technical advisor organization for this project, Groundswell is convening local officials, community leaders, decision-makers, and residents to participate in a series of focus group meetings, making up our Resilience Councils for Ford Heights and Champaign, IL. These conversations will focus on individual community needs and the potential for program replicability to ensure future community solar projects will serve high-priority community needs sustainably for years to come.
WHAT IS COMMUNITY SOLAR?
Community solar enables you and your neighbors to receive the benefits of solar energy from locally produced solar electricity, often in the form of clean energy credits applied directly to your monthly energy bill. The solar energy for your subscription is generated at a local solar project location like a school or church in your community, so you don’t have to install anything at your home or apartment in order to save money while supporting a cleaner environment. The community solar subscription model provides an accessible, easy way for everyone in your community to enjoy the benefits of solar energy, regardless of financial means or ability to install solar panels.
INFORMATIONAL VIDEO
JOIN NOW
Join Groundswell’s Ford Heights Resiliency Council and make a difference for your community by learning about clean energy and energy resilience, sharing how your community is impacted by high energy burdens and climate change, and shaping strategies to build awareness in your community of the benefits community solar can offer everyone. The council will be made up of community members and will meet for two-hour sessions for two consecutive days in June 2025. Meetings will be held in person and time and location details will be shared with each participant once registered.
Resiliency Council members will receive compensation in recognition of their time and contributions
If you are interested in joining the Ford Heights Resiliency Council, click below.
PARTNERS
