A Good Deal As Group Buying Program Solar Incentives Increase
CHICAGO , Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — With energy prices and utility rates on the rise, Illinois’ consumer watchdog has given consumers until Sept. 30 to get information about a special solar program that could help them cut back on electricity. promissory notes. With the passage of the Climate and Equal Employment Act (CEJA) in Illinois last year and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in Washington this year, the benefits of going solar have become unprecedented, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Thursday.
Grow Solar Chicagoland (www.Chicagoland.GrowSolar.org) group purchasing program helps property owners take the first steps toward lowering their electricity bills. Friday, September 30 is the last day to join the program by requesting a site assessment to see if your home is eligible for solar panels.
“Now is the perfect time to consider going solar,” said Marina Minic, Solar Programs Administrator at CUB, who partnered with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) on the program. “Adding solar panels can immediately reduce your energy bills, and unlike utility companies, these panels will never increase their rates.”
In addition to cheaper energy, this year’s participants will see the benefits of a group-buy model in which rebates for a new solar system increase as more participants join and pass benchmarks. Because Windfree Solar, the program’s chosen installer, worked with interested participants, this year’s Chicagoland program surpassed its first criterion and is on its way to the second. This means that participants will get a bigger discount on solar panels on top of the already discounted price.
The recent passage of the IRA, the federal clean energy legislation, makes solar energy an even better business. “This new legislation has many great provisions that will help homeowners reduce their energy costs,” said Marta Monti, Grow Solar Program Manager at MREA. “The federal tax credit for new solar arrays has been extended to 30 percent. By combining this tax credit with our group purchase incentives and Illinois Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), property owners can save up to 70 percent on the cost of a new solar system. “.
Since going solar is a large investment and can be complicated, Grow Solar Chicagoland focuses on educating potential participants through free “Solar Hours” that provide detailed information on installation, incentives and financing options. The program has hosted 48 of these awareness sessions over the past three months, educating more than 700 participants about solar energy options. Solar Hours have ended for the year, but interested property owners can still view the program’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/growsolarchicagoland and learn more at www.Chicagoland.GrowSolar.org.
MREA was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 1990 shortly after the first Energy Fair (www.TheEnergyFair.org). MREA’s mission is to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable living through education and demonstration. For more information, call 715 – 592 – 6595 or visit www.midwestrenew.org. Additional Resource: Grow Solar Chicagoland 2022 Media Kit
CUB is Illinois’ leading nonprofit utility regulator. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small business utility customers. Since then, he has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping prevent rate hikes, roll back bills and fight for clean, affordable energy. For more information, call CUB’s Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit its website at www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.
SOURCE Citizens Communal Council