Illinois Deploys Solar Panels on Storage Unit Rooftops

Illinois is expanding its use of solar energy by deploying panels on the rooftops of Public Storage facilities.

A community solar array at a Public Storage location in Justice, Illinois, which went online in March, is one of 60 planned projects across the state. These projects aim to utilize otherwise unused roof space to help Illinois meet its goal of 100% clean power by 2050. The 763-kilowatt array in Justice is part of a larger portfolio that will cover 5 million square feet of roof space, provide 44 megawatts of solar capacity, deliver $36 million in total savings, and create 300 construction jobs, according to Solar Landscape.

This initiative is driven by new incentives that are encouraging developers, utilities, and building owners to consider rooftop solar installations, which are generally more expensive to build and interconnect than ground-mounted arrays. Federal data suggests that commercial, industrial, and school rooftops could host enough panels to provide 581 gigawatts of power, nearly meeting the entire country's energy demand.