Space Squeeze Forces Solar Developers To Get Creative

Solar developers are running out of easy sites, especially near cities, so some are packing panels more tightly onto small or awkward pieces of land. One example: a new 11-megawatt solar array in Elgin, Illinois, built on just 22 acres squeezed between two neighborhoods, power lines, train tracks, and a wetland. The developer, Cultivate Power, split the project into two arrays and used a high-density racking system from Planted Solar that needs only about 2 acres per megawatt, versus the usual 5-7 acres. The panels also sit low to the ground and are hidden behind fencing, so they are not visible from outside the site.

This is a community solar project, meaning nearby residents can subscribe to get a cut of the savings without installing anything on their own roof. Subscribers, including 580 lower-income households, are expected to save 20 percent on their electricity charges through the utility Commonwealth Edison, adding up to $13.9 million in savings over 40 years. The project is also projected to generate $2.1 million in property tax revenue for local schools and agencies over that span, plus donations to a community college, a food bank, and other local groups.

The same company has built a similar project in rural Mercer County, Illinois, showing this approach works on farmland too, giving landowners extra income while offering electricity savings to renters and lower-income households nearby. If a community solar project shows up in your area, it may be worth checking whether you can subscribe for a discount on your electric bill, since availability and savings vary by state and utility.