On August 8, the city of Chicago signed a five-year deal with Constellation Electricity to buy all energy from renewable sources for all city-owned buildings and operations by the year 2025. Chicago will start using a new 593 MW solar facility that Constellation partner Swift Current Electricity will build in central Illinois as a source of energy in 2025. In the beginning, it will partially power energy-intensive buildings, including airports, the city library, and a water purifying facility. The city will also buy renewable energy credits from other sources to offset part of its energy use, such as for streetlights and small and medium-sized buildings. Since then, we have seen a major increase in solar companies in Chicago.
In accordance with Chicago’s most recent climate action plan, this step will assist the city in lowering its carbon footprint. By 2040, the strategy seeks to reduce carbon emissions by 62%, among other things, by expanding access to and use of renewable energy. The city committed to switching to only renewable energy by 2035 three years ago.
Chicago uses a significant amount of carbon-free nuclear energy. More nuclear electricity can be generated in Illinois than in any other state. All six nuclear power reactors, which together produced 58% of the state’s electricity in 2020, are owned and operated by Exelon.
In the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, approved last year, which intends to transition the state to 50% clean energy by 2040 and 100% clean energy by 2050, nuclear power was included in Illinois’ definition of “clean energy” – at least 90% free of carbon dioxide emissions. The city and state are unlikely to totally abandon nuclear power anytime soon, despite the recent advancements in renewable energy.
If this has convinced you to go solar in Chicago any time soon, let’s take a look at some of the best solar companies in Chicago and the state.
Sun Badger Solar
Sun Badger Solar
The number one Chicago solar company, Sun Badger Solar, offers residential and commercial solar energy services in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Florida. Their top focuses are providing the best possible client experience and high-quality solar panel installations. This includes educating the customer, creating the design, and applying for state and federal rebates. All of our work is performed by a licensed electrical contractor. Their solar power experts will design the most efficient and compatible system for your home and budget while also outlining the financial benefits and financing options for you.
Best Company created a submission-based Sustainability Award to recognize and reward companies that go above and beyond for sustainability. One of the eleven companies to get this award is Sun Badger. They provide solar electrical systems but use paperless billing procedures and electric vehicles across the entire company. Their solar panels are produced in the US using sustainably sourced materials. It’s a great pleasure to get this recognition for Best Company.
Solarwerks
Since 2008, Solarwerks has dominated the market as the Chicago solar panel provider that provides more. You can rely on in-depth knowledge of both residential and commercial applications with a team of specialists in solar design, solar panel installation, and solar roofing in Chicago. It provides a comprehensive selection of solar panel installations. As it determines how many solar panels are required for your Chicago house, the experts can provide you with the guidance you require. And it will take the same steps to ensure that your commercial property’s solar panel installation operates well so you can save as much money as possible.
You can anticipate a thorough explanation of the whole procedure, including planning, price, and how your solar panel installation will be carried out. Additionally, it will go through every detail of your solar panels for your Chicago house or company, so you know how they work and what maintenance is necessary.
You are welcome to read our evaluations, and Solarwerks has the necessary licenses and insurance. Learn more about the crew of solar installers in Chicago by speaking with them. They are certain that you can depend on us to be your go-to source for solar panels and the best solar roofing for your home.
Blue Raven Solar
In just eight years, Blue Raven Solar, a top Chicago solar company, went from having three employees to having over 2,200. They set out with one goal in mind: to make it simple and affordable for American homeowners to utilize the newest solar technology. In order to help consumers save their power expenses, the firm offers straightforward solar installation options.
An experienced Blue Raven Solar Representative will visit your home to go over the benefits and financial savings of switching to solar. A survey team will come to your house to gather data in order to design a special solar panel system. The process will be finished by the installation team, giving your home the most modern solar panel technology. You can rest certain that Blue Raven Solar has your back.
Going solar in Illinois must be done right away! Illinois is one of the states with the highest potential for rooftop solar in the nation due to its more than 300 days of sunlight per year. The time to go solar in Illinois has never been greater, and Blue Raven can help you make the most of your solar panel purchase there.
GRNE Solar
Since 2012, GRNE Solar has established a strong presence in Chicago and educated staff to operate in two very different settings: commercial and residential. Full-service of solar panel home installations are offered by a team of solar installers, project managers, engineers, consultants, and engineers. They have twenty years of experience in renewable energy and green building.
Due to their experience, this top local solar panel company has knowledge of the residential, commercial, government, agricultural, and utility scales. A variety of solar energy systems, including ground-, rooftop-, and carport layouts, are offered in the portfolio.
Windfree Solar
One of the leading solar companies in Chicago is Windfree Solar. They promise to apply the most advanced design principles and effective solar panels on the market while offering educational services to the Chicagoland area.
The organization believes there must be a more cost-effective way to power our homes and companies in order to build a healthier planet. Windfree was established in 2009 by pioneers and early adopters of sustainable technologies. They employ skilled sales and project managers in addition to installers with more than 40 years of expertise in the installation of solar, wind, and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Each project gains from the substantial commercial, sustainability, and environmental management knowledge that the team members possess. The business partners include LEED-certified architectural design firms, qualified and bonded electrical contractors, NABCEP-accredited installers, local and state-approved suppliers, and suppliers owned by persons of color.
Cost of Solar Energy in Chicago
Find out how much installing solar panels may cost in Chicago.
While solar panel prices nationwide average $2.66 per watt, they are $3 per watt in Chicago. A solar installation in Chicago will cost around $12,345 or $9,135 once the 30% federal solar tax credit is taken into account due to the typical solar panel system size in the city being around 6.5 kilowatts.
Remember that the numbers above are simply projections based on the typical energy use of Chicago homeowners. Depending on circumstances specific to you, such as your household’s energy usage and solar contractor, the cost of a solar system for your home may vary. However, after paying the installation’s upfront cost, most homeowners find that the payback is well worth it, with an average net savings of roughly $13,000 in electricity costs over a 20-year period.
You may connect with a leading solar provider in Chicago by clicking the button below, which will enable you to acquire a more precise cost estimate for your home.
