Renewable energy developer New Energy Equity along with community leaders and Harlem School District officials and students gathered in Machesney Park, Illinois, on Wednesday to celebrate the energization of a new 5.5-MW community solar project.
Superintendent Terrell Yarbrough flips the ceremonial switch on the Harlem School District Community Solar Project. Credit: New Energy Equity
Operated by New Energy Equity on land owned by the school district, this community solar project will generate 8.3 million kWh of clean energy annually — enough to power 1,002 Illinois homes. Local ComEd customers can also enroll in community solar and receive credits on their electricity bill generated by their share of a community solar project, reducing their electricity costs.
By leasing district-owned land and enrolling in community solar as a subscriber, Harlem School District will receive annual lease payments and utility bill credits for 25 years that help offset energy costs across its nine schools.
“We’re very proud of this project at New Energy Equity because of all the positive benefits it delivers,” said Kyle Marchesseault, VP of marketing, New Energy Equity. “It delivers benefits for the school district in the form of lease revenue and electricity bill savings. It benefits four deserving, accomplished students through scholarships. And it provides more energy for the local community at a time of rising electricity demand.”
In addition to the environmental impact, the event also celebrated a new scholarship program funded by New Energy Equity which will award $10,000 annually in scholarships to Harlem School District students for the 25-year life of the solar project.
“Today we celebrate more than the completion of a project, we celebrate the beginning of a transformative partnership between our school district and New Energy Equity,” said Superintendent Terrell Yarbrough. “This collaboration represents what can happen when organizations come together with a shared vision for the future. It is a partnership that will have a lasting impact, not only on our schools but also on our students, our community and future generations.”
News item from New Energy Equity
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