Can the Obama Presidential Center help Chicago embrace community solar?

The Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, which opened in June, runs on clean energy from rooftop solar, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and mostly community solar. Community solar lets people who can't put panels on their own roof — renters, apartment dwellers, or anyone who can't afford installation — subscribe to a shared solar array elsewhere and get credit on their electric bill. The center is the "anchor tenant" for several community solar projects being built by the Chicago company Reactivate, set to open in 2027. As anchor tenant, the center commits to buying a large share of the power those projects produce, which helps developers get financing.

In Illinois, state law guarantees community solar subscribers savings, with especially strong benefits for low-income residents and those in environmental justice communities, who are promised savings worth at least half the value of the power their subscription generates. Existing projects show real results: one Chicago-suburb array run by Reactivate saved its 650 subscribers a combined $186,000 last year, and nearly half of those subscribers earn under $20,000 annually.

If you're a Chicago-area renter or homeowner who can't install solar, this is a reminder that community solar subscriptions exist and may offer guaranteed bill savings, particularly if you qualify as low-income. The article suggests many eligible residents don't sign up, partly out of distrust after experiences with predatory electric suppliers. Availability and savings rules vary by state, so it's worth checking what your own state offers.