Public Storage plans to develop 60 rooftop community solar projects across northern Illinois over the next two years in partnership with Solar Landscape. The installations, located within ComEd's service territory, will collectively deliver 44 MW of power to the grid. Community solar allows residents who cannot install panels on their own properties — such as renters and apartment dwellers — to subscribe to a share of a solar installation and receive credits on their electricity bills.

"With demand for power rising faster than supply, community solar sites like this one offer a clean energy solution that can help close the supply gap and offer bill savings for customers," said ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones. "By year end, we expect to have some 400 community solar installations across ComEd's northern Illinois territory, making this region a national leader in developing a renewable resource that has a key role to play in delivering clean, affordable power over the long term."

The expansion of community solar sites is backed by Illinois' clean energy policies, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and the Clean and Renewable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act. CEJA, passed in 2021, set Illinois on a path toward 100% clean energy by 2050 and established the state's community solar program framework. Solar Landscape has been a long-standing partner of Public Storage, having previously collaborated on similar initiatives including a 2023 agreement to install community solar projects across 133 self-storage rooftops.

"Commercial rooftops represent one of the fastest, most scalable opportunities to expand the electric grid using infrastructure that already exists," said Shaun Keegan, CEO of Solar Landscape. "By partnering with ComEd and Public Storage, we're transforming underutilized real estate into energy infrastructure that lowers electricity costs for Illinois families while helping meet the region's growing demand for power. This portfolio demonstrates how utilities, property owners and private capital can work together to deploy clean energy at meaningful scale."

The projects are also expected to generate local employment. Construction will support approximately 300 jobs, while workforce partners — including STEP-UP Solar, the Chicago Urban League, the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), YouthBuild Lake County, and other Illinois YouthBuild programs — are training Illinois residents for careers in the clean energy sector. Since 2024, STEP-UP Solar and its partners have trained 139 individuals for solar industry careers. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers will also contribute to building the skilled local workforce required for the projects.

"Our facilities play an integral role in the communities we serve, and we are committed to extending the lasting benefits of our footprint through consumer affordability and green energy," said Nathan Vitan, Chief Legal Officer and executive sponsor for sustainability at Public Storage. "Public Storage maintains the largest solar energy program in our industry, expected to expand to 1,300 of our properties by the end of 2026. We're proud to partner with ComEd and Solar Landscape to demonstrate how commercial properties can deliver maximum value as community assets."

News item from ComEd.