Illinois Offers Community Solar Option
When the utility, state, regulatory and consumer protection agencies, and environmental groups all agree… well then, you can move forward in a big way.
Like in a 50-megawatt way… enough for about 45,000 homes.
The issue that was preventing the solar system from getting a quick permit was capacity constraints. That is, on the two or three times a year when power demand is very low (no A/C or heat is needed or running), they wanted the ability to curtail (turn off) the solar supply in favor of the must-run nuclear power.
NO PROBLEM was the answer.
With that solution agreed upon, ComEd was able to use technology to solve the complex issue of capacity constraints. Having too much power can be as difficult as having too little!
The community solar system being constructed benefits many people, as they can buy from the community solar system, and ComEd agrees to deliver that energy at the cost you purchase it from the community solar developer.
It can be very similar to the solar PV systems we install. The difference is that Realgy installs them for the use of one larger customer, whereas community solar installs larger PV systems and allows many (think hundreds) to buy some or all of their energy.
Coming to this understanding was not simple or easy. Utilities and solar developers have been at odds for years. State agencies did not always want additional power supplies in their state, and regulatory/consumer protection agencies took a skeptical view of the technology and developers. However, with the demand for power increasing and solar PV now a proven and reliable supply, most of these issues have been overcome.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Now 12 with the inclusion of Highland Park newest recreation center West Ridge Center – New Community Recreation Facility Coming in 2026 | Park District of Highland Park
Additional Information:
How a community solar breakthrough took shape in… | Canary Media
MidAmerican Energy Illinois Electric Rate Update (PDF)Will NYMEX Natural Gas War Premium Evaporate?
- The NYMEX front-month natural gas contract is up 23.6¢ (+8%) through Friday—but the rally is driven more by geopolitical headlines than by domestic fundamentals. With recent shifts in the Iran conflict, natural gas faces mounting bearish risks over the next 30–45 days.
- Fundamentally, U.S. LNG exports are already operating at or near effective maximum capacity. With no room to increase exports, there is no short-term structural link between global headlines and domestic demand. Instead, the mildest March in 14 years has reduced late-winter demand for gas, flipping a 130-Bcf deficit versus five-year norms in February into a nearly 150-Bcf projected surplus by mid-April.
- In the longer term, U.S. natural gas storage is on pace to exceed 4.0+ Tcf—a trajectory that historically triggers a bearish correction.
- Today’s announcement by President Trump, signaling a pause in threats to Iranian energy infrastructure, has weakened the primary pillar of recent price support. As the “war premium” erodes, bearish fundamentals may regain control of the NYMEX gas curve. The disconnect between financial inflows and physical oversupply has widened in recent weeks, raising downside risks heading into the shoulder season.
- Counter to all fundamentals, however, energy prices historically do not decline rapidly.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered retail energy marketer serving commercial customers in Illinois and Indiana. We offer service plans that provide electricity and natural gas at wholesale pricing directly to customers—without any utility markup. Our service plans work alongside the local utility to deliver seamless energy service and annual cost savings. Offerings include Guaranteed Savings™, ManagedPrice™, ManagedGreen™ Index, Fixed, and PriceAssurance™ plans.
Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Soon to be 12 with the inclusion of Highland Park newest recreation center West Ridge Center – New Community Recreation Facility Coming in 2026 | Park District of Highland Park
Additional Information: