Solar Energy Program Designed To Save Homer Glen Residents Money

HOMER GLEN, IL — Homer Glen residents looking to save money on their electric bill each month have the opportunity to participate in a local initiative that is also designed to support clean energy in Illinois.

Village officials announced Tuesday that it has partnered with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Chicago-based MC-Squared Energy in the Community Solar Program. The initiative is designed to help local residents and qualifying small businesses save money while helping the development of renewable energy.

The Community Solar programs are large-scale community solar gardens that are developed at an off-site location by private companies. No roof-top solar panels are required for residents to participate in the program, the village said.

The solar gardens generate clean, carbon-free electricity, which is then supplied to the village’s power grid for residential use, officials announced.

Residents and small-business owners who participate in the subscription-based program receive a net metering credit which is applied to their monthly Com-Ed electric bill. The credit is based on the amount of energy generated at the local garden site.

MC-Square bills subscribers for that credit from Com-Ed at a 20 percent discounted rate. No upfront costs are billed to customers and participating residents are not locked into a long-term contract, the village said.

The subscription program is first-come, first-served. Once customers or small business owners join a waitlist, they will be contacted by the MC-Squared company to enroll when solar garden space becomes available. The project is expected to be available to local residents by late summer or early fall, officials said.

Residents and interested small business owners can visit the Village of Homer Glen website and sign up here.