BOW Renewables Developing 5.54-MW Community Solar Project at Harlem, Illinois School District

A school district in northern Illinois is connecting into a 5.54-MW on-site community solar project that will help it cut electricity costs.

New Energy Equity (NEE) is partnering with the Harlem Consolidated School District to finance the project. The community solar project, which is being developed by BOW Renewables and later will be acquired by NEE, will be located on land owned by Harlem Consolidated Schools in Winnebago County.

Harlem Consolidated Schools will benefit through discounted electricity and offsetting of its energy demand by utility Commonwealth Edison.

"This community solar endeavor serves as a further milestone in BOW's commitment to providing local community benefits and advancing Illinois' clean energy objectives," said Bryan Segarra, Director of Development, BOW Renewables.

This collaboration highlights one of the NEE's initiative in Illinois' Public Schools Program, which is part of the state's Adjustable Block Program (ABP), which drives renewable energy growth across Illinois. The solar project will harness renewable power to offset the district's energy requirements and support over 39,000 students across 11 schools.

The shared clean energy initiative will help the district and participating residents to join Illinois' transition to renewable energy sources and benefit both financially and environmentally. The Harlem Consolidated School District project is expected to set a model for sustainable, community-driven energy solutions creating lasting benefits for both public institutions and residents.

The Harlem schools project is at least the second solar farm in Winnebago County. The 6.2-MW Rock Cut community solar farm, which is being developed by Trajectory Energy Partners and Summit Ridge Energy, is underway and expected to be completed later this year.