SunVest & ComEd Energize Community Solar Array at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
Unique 7.7 megawatt (DC) site delivers savings to low-income communities and significant economic value to municipal government
DeKalb, Illinois – ComEd and Chicago-based solar developer SunVest today hosted an event to celebrate the energization of a unique community solar project sited at the DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport. Constructed adjacent to the airfield, the project financially supports the community while saving area subscribers on their power bills.
With 60 percent of the subscription capacity dedicated to low-to-moderate income (LMI) customers, the nearly eight-megawatt array provides DeKalb-area homes and small businesses with access to clean, affordable energy. Subscribers are expected to save an average of more than $300 per year, with total savings across the project reaching approximately $246,000 annually and $8.61 million over its 35-year life.
“At a time when energy prices are rising nationwide, community solar projects like this one by SunVest are a quick way to bring down costs by bringing more power on to the grid,” said ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones. “Not all households and businesses have suitable structures for solar installation, and community solar solves for that problem, while also helping to reduce customer bills and expand access to clean power.”
The location of this project directly supports the Illinois Power Agency’s goal to construct community solar facilities on municipal lands. Furthermore, the economic benefits of this project extend to the local community, including $91,000 in site rent and $36,000 in property taxes paid annually to DeKalb County. The vast majority of the property taxes are dedicated to local schools under state law.
“This project provides meaningful benefits to Northern Illinois communities” said Bram Walters, CEO of SunVest Solar. “It lowers electricity costs for low- and moderate-income residents while generating new revenue for the municipal airport, local schools and other taxing jurisdictions.”
“The DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport is proud to participate in Illinois’ solar energy program. This solar farm helps reduce our carbon footprint, supports the local community, and provides an additional source of revenue for the airport,” said Ben Trompeter, Airport Manager of DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport. “Both the City of DeKalb and DeKalb-Taylor Municipal Airport are pleased to partner with SunVest and ComEd on this important project, demonstrating a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability.”
Aided by state policy, solar has more than tripled in ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory since the landmark Clean Energy and Jobs Act (CEJA) law went into effect in late 2021. Today, 2.0 gigawatts of distributed energy resources are connected to ComEd’s grid, including 85,000 solar and battery storage systems. More than 280 community sites serve over 53,000 residential customers, providing real savings on their monthly utility bills. ComEd anticipates having 420 community solar sites energized by the end of 2026 – including 16 systems developed, owned and operated by SunVest.
“Expanding clean energy production is essential to meeting our growing energy needs, and I’m proud that Illinois is helping to lead in that effort,” said Congressman Bill Foster. “This project will help local families and small businesses save on their electricity bills while ensuring more people can share in the benefits of solar power.”
About SunVest
SunVest is a leading vertically integrated developer and owner-operator of distributed energy infrastructure across North America. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chicago, SunVest has developed and built more than 600 megawatts of projects and is advancing a nearly 3-gigawatt pipeline of distributed solar and energy storage assets. The company combines deep capabilities across development, financing, construction, and operations to originate, execute, and own high-quality energy infrastructure at scale.
