Illinois Solar for All Kicks Off the New Year with Exciting News

Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) is entering the new year excited to share the latest updates about the program! At the close of 2023, Illinois Solar for All continued its path toward making the program more accessible for all participants with the following updates:

• Illinois Solar for All developed detailed explanations called Disclosure Form Deep Dives, which provide greater context about the Disclosure Forms that participants sign when enrolling in the program. Visit Disclosure Form Resources to take a deep dive into your Illinois Solar for All Disclosure Form.
• In November, Illinois Solar for All announced a new cohort of Grassroots Educators for the 2023-2024 program year. Grassroots Education campaigns will be conducted across Illinois to reach income-eligible communities. Congratulations to the new cohort!
• Illinois Solar for All launched the Home Repairs & Upgrades initiative to help alleviate the costs of home repairs and enable participants to move forward with residential solar. These funds can assist participants in covering costs to complete electrical work and roof repairs.

U.S. Department of Energy Named Illinois Solar for All a Sunny Awards Grand Prize Winner

The Illinois Solar for All: Community Solar sub-program has been named as one of five grand prize winners of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) American-Made 2023 Sunny Awards. Five teams were selected by the DOE’s National Community Solar Partnership to receive a $10,000 Grand Prize for their community solar projects or programs. Of the five teams selected, ILSFA was the only state program winner!

ILSFA was recognized for serving as a blueprint for community solar programs that increase low-to-moderate-income households’ access to community solar subscriptions while providing electricity bill savings. Read more about ILSFA’s win in the Illinois Power Agency’s press release.

Bright Neighborhoods Extension Supports Expanding Solar in Income-Eligible Communities

The Illinois Solar for All: Bright Neighborhoods initiative has extended its sign-up period until March 31, 2024, to accommodate increased interest! By bringing the benefits of residential solar to income-eligible households across West Garfield Park, Chicago; Waukegan; and the Carbondale-Marion area, including Jackson, Williamson, and Johnson counties, Bright Neighborhoods ensures income-eligible participants see savings on their electric bills, no upfront costs, and a safe and transparent experience.

Does Bright Neighborhoods sound like the perfect opportunity for your household to get in on the solar action? Act fast and sign up for Bright Neighborhoods by March 31, 2024. To get started with Bright Neighborhoods, visit IllinoisSFA.com/Bright.

Illinois Solar for All in the News

Brighten up your day by catching up on stories that feature the impact and reach that Illinois Solar for All has had on residents and non-profit and public facilities across Illinois.

A recent Chicago Tribune article focuses on Dwight D. Eisenhower High School in Blue Island and Delta Learning Center in Crestwood’s transitions to solar energy through Illinois Solar for All: Non-Profit and Public Facilities sub-program. Through the state program, the schools installed solar panels to meet the energy needs of their combined 2,000 students. This investment in solar through ILSFA has the potential to reduce the schools’ energy bills by 90%, amounting to savings of over $300,000 for Dwight D. Eisenhower High School alone.

In case you missed it, the Illinois Solar for All: Community Solar’s Sunny Award win was covered by WAND-TV, in their article, Illinois Power Agency wins DOE Award. The article featured ILSFA’s Senior Program Manager, Jennifer Schmidt, who shared that “Winning a Grand Prize Sunny Award this year, as well as a Meaningful Benefit Award last year, reflects the tireless efforts of those who work on the Illinois Solar for All program. This includes our Agency and Program Administrator’s staff, Grassroots Educators, evaluators, and our program stakeholders.” The article goes on to note that since the inception of the ILSFA, the program has supported 22 community solar projects totaling over 29 MW of new solar capacity through incentives totaling over $79 million.

Open Positions within Illinois Solar for All

Do you believe in a future powered by affordable and accessible solar? If you do, consider joining the Illinois Solar for All team!

The Program Administrator is excited to share the following opportunities:

• The Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships supports the implementation of the Illinois Solar for All program with a focus on ensuring that the program’s strategic initiatives and community engagement goals are met. This position is in Chicago, Illinois and is remote with occasional travel and in-person meetings statewide required.
• The Associate Director, Solar Vendor Technical Services works closely with Elevate’s Director, Engineering, in the administration of program functions, supporting the management of solar vendors, project submittal processes, and communication. This position is in Chicago, IL and currently remote.