Rockford’s first Community Driven Community Solar project has generated an estimated $163,000 in savings for local households and a nonprofit health system during its first year of operation, project partners said as they prepare to mark the milestone.
Summit Ridge Energy, Trajectory Energy Partners and ComEd will join local elected officials and community organizations at Rock Cut Solar on Sept. 16, according to a community announcement.
Organizers plan a ribbon-cutting ceremony and site tour at the solar facility, located at 580 N. Memorial Blvd. on Rockford’s west side.
The project operates under a Community Driven Community Solar model designed to direct benefits to the community where the facility is located, according to the announcement.
Residential subscribers collectively saved about $98,000 during the project’s first year, while OSF HealthCare saved more than $65,000 through its participation in the program, according to the announcement.
The event also will include the rededication of the facility as Mark Raeder Legacy I in honor of the late Summit Ridge Energy co-founder Mark Raeder, who helped champion the project.
Rock Cut Solar serves 690 residential customers. According to the announcement, 20% of subscribers qualify for a state-administered Illinois Shines program that provides a 50% discount on monthly electricity bills.
Remaining subscribers can save up to 20% on electricity costs through the community solar project, according to the announcement.
The solar farm spans 35 acres and includes approximately 20,000 panels with 6.2 megawatts of generation capacity. Project organizers describe it as one of the largest community solar projects connected to the ComEd system.
Scheduled speakers include Rockford Mayor Janessa Neal, Rockford Ald. Tamir Bell, Illinois State Sen. Steve Stadelman, Summit Ridge Energy Founder and CEO Steve Raeder, Trajectory Energy Partners Founder Jon Carson and ComEd Vice President Jie Chu.
Representatives from OSF HealthCare, Habitat for Humanity, JIREH Workforce Solutions and Get Connected 815 also are expected to participate.
The event begins at 11 a.m. Sept. 16. Organizers have requested media arrive by 10:45 a.m. Interviews with speakers will be available following the press conference and during the site tour.
This story was produced by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

source