The State of Community Solar: Illinois, the Midwest, and the Road to Community Energy

llinois has established itself as one of the nation’s strongest community solar markets, and the landscape is evolving rapidly. From Illinois’ Adjustable Block to Minnesota’s Solar Gardens, this panel will examine what drives project success across siting, permitting, subscriber acquisition, and financing; how neighboring Midwest states are building their own programs; and who benefits from community solar across the value chain. Panelists will represent various perspectives from offtakers, developers, consultants, and policy experts. We will also explore how the newly signed CRGA Act is reshaping the market and accelerating the transition from community “solar” to community “energy” through distributed storage and virtual power plant programs. Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of what separates successful projects from stalled ones and where the new opportunities lie.