Community solar gardens in Illinois contribute to renewable energy.
Illinois, September 4, 2025
Aspen Power has acquired two community solar projects in Illinois with a total capacity of 13.9 MWdc. Located in Grafton and Mattoon, these projects are expected to generate over 19 million kWh annually, enough to power approximately 2,770 homes. This acquisition highlights Aspen Power’s commitment to expanding renewable energy initiatives, as the projects will allow subscribers to benefit from discounted electricity bills while supporting local job creation. The growing trend of community solar in Illinois is spurred by supportive state policies that facilitate access to renewable energy for lower-income households.
Aspen Power has completed the acquisition of two community solar projects in Illinois with a combined capacity of 13.9 MWdc. The solar sites are located in Grafton and Mattoon and are expected to produce over 19 million kWh annually, roughly enough energy to supply about 2,770 homes each year.
The projects were bought from Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure and will operate as community solar gardens that allow local residents and businesses to take part in off-site solar generation. Subscribers to the gardens are expected to receive a discount on their electricity bills. Based on industry estimates from the Solar Energy Industries Association, construction and related work tied to the projects would support about 265 jobs.
This transaction is part of a larger set of moves by the buyer to expand distributed solar in Illinois and other states. The company recently closed on another 14.1 MW Illinois portfolio and has announced plans to acquire up to 20 additional community solar projects totaling as much as 19 MW, primarily in Illinois. The combined activity contributes to a growing body of community solar sites in the state and a wider portfolio that includes projects in New York.
Illinois has policies that are encouraging community solar growth. The state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act has expanded pathways for low- and moderate-income households to access renewable energy. Community solar gardens let people who cannot put panels on their own roofs still get clean energy and reduce household electricity costs through subscription discounts.
The two sites will deliver clean power to the local grid and provide a direct route for customers to subscribe to off-site solar output. The projects contribute to efforts to lower carbon emissions from electricity generation and add distributed generation capacity close to demand centers. Economically, development and construction activity tied to community solar can bring short-term jobs and longer-term operations roles to the host areas.
The projects were acquired from Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure, an organization that has developed hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy projects across North America. The buyer works with partners to develop, build, own, and operate distributed renewable energy assets and has signaled goals to scale deployment to gigawatt levels by the middle of the decade.
Upcoming items to follow include progress on the additional community solar projects announced by the buyer, the timeline for bringing the Grafton and Mattoon gardens fully online, and subscription rollouts for residents and businesses. Observers will also be watching how state-level programs continue to shape access for lower-income households and how local job benefits evolve as projects move from construction into operation.
The acquisition includes two community solar projects in Illinois with a combined capacity of 13.9 MWdc, located in Grafton and Mattoon.
The sites are expected to generate over 19 million kWh annually, enough to power about 2,770 homes per year under typical assumptions.
Local residents and businesses can subscribe to the gardens and receive a discount on electricity bills, which is useful for people who cannot place solar panels on their own roofs.
Based on industry estimates, the projects are expected to support around 265 jobs during development and construction phases.
State policies, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, have increased access to renewable energy and made community solar more accessible for low- and moderate-income households.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total capacity | 13.9 MWdc |
| Locations | Grafton and Mattoon, Illinois |
| Estimated annual generation | Over 19 million kWh |
| Homes powered (approx.) | 2,770 |
| Job impact (estimate) | About 265 jobs |
| Seller | Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure |
| Project type | Community solar gardens (subscriber-based) |
| Related portfolio actions | Recent close of a 14.1 MW Illinois portfolio and planned acquisitions of up to 20 more projects totaling up to 19 MW |
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