Renewable energy developer New Energy and community leaders, along with officials and students from the Harlem School District, gathered in March Snyder Park, Illinois, on Wednesday to celebrate the grid connection of a new 5.5-megawatt community solar project.

This community solar project, operated on land owned by New Energy Equity within the school district, will generate 8.3 million kWh of clean energy annually—enough to power 1,002 homes in Illinois. Local ComEd customers can also participate in the community solar initiative and receive credits on their utility bills for their share of the project's output, thereby reducing their electricity costs.

By leasing state-owned land and participating as a subscriber in the community solar project, the Harlem School District will receive annual lease payments and electricity discounts over 25 years to help offset the energy costs of its nine schools.

"We are extremely proud of this project because it has brought many positive effects," said Kyle Marchesseault, marketing vice president of New Energy Equity. "It has provided the school district with rental income and electricity cost savings. It has also helped four deserving, accomplished students through scholarships. Moreover, it supplies more energy to the local community during periods of increased electricity demand."

In addition to the environmental impact, the event also celebrated a new scholarship program funded by New Energy Equity, which will award $10,000 annually to students in the Harlem School District over the 25-year lifespan of the solar project.

"Today, we celebrate not only the completion of the project but also the beginning of a transformative partnership between our school district and New Energy Equity," said Principal Terrell Yarbrough. "This collaboration represents what happens when organizations come together with a shared vision for the future. It will be a partnership that has a lasting impact not only on our school but also on our students, our community, and future generations."