ComEd, SunVest Celebrate Energization of Near-8 Megawatt DC Community Solar Array at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport

Expanding community solar in northern Illinois helps increase energy on the grid while helping customers save on electricity costs

CHICAGO, October 02, 2026--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 subscriptions to clean, affordable energy. Average customer savings are more than $300 per year, or nearly $11,000 over the 35-year lifetime of the project. Across all subscribers, the cost savings amount to $246,000 annually — amounting to $8.61 million over the next three decades.

"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 supply solves for that problem, while also helping to reduce customer bills and expand access to clean power."

The siting of this project helps fulfill the Illinois Power Agency's goal to construct community solar facilities on municipal lands. The cost benefits of this project extend beyond subscribing customers, generating $91,000 and in site rent and $36,000 in property taxes to DeKalb County each year. 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. "Not only does this project save lower-income residents on their power bills, the rent paid to the municipal airport and property taxes paid to local jurisdictions provide new revenue for the community."

"The DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport is proud to participate in the solar energy program. The solar farm helps reduce the carbon footprint, supports the use of renewable energy, and provides an additional source of revenue for the airport," said Ben Trompeter, Airport Manager of DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport. "The City of DeKalb and DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport are pleased to partner with SunVest and ComEd on this project, demonstrating a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability."