Ameresco Connects 1.5-MW Rooftop Solar at Cook County's Skokie Courthouse
Key Highlights
- The solar arrays are designed to generate approximately 1,737 MWh of carbon-free electricity annually, offsetting half of the courthouse's energy consumption.
- Ameresco is working on eight more solar projects with Cook County, totaling around 3.3 MW, to further expand the county’s renewable energy portfolio.
- The installation leverages underutilized space on the courthouse roof and parking structures, ensuring no disruption to daily operations.
Ameresco has completed a 1.5-MW rooftop solar installation at the 46-year-old Skokie Courthouse building in Cook County, Illinois.
The courthouse solar capacity is generated from two new arrays. One is on the courthouse rooftop and the other on the parking garage, together designed to generate about 1,737 MWh of carbon-free electricity annually.
Unlocking Revenue Steams with Rooftop Solar
The distributed energy system is expected to offset half of the Skokie Courthouse’s annual electricity consumption. This helps the government entity achieve sustainability goals while also improving energy decarbonization and reducing long-term operating costs.
“This project demonstrates Cook County’s commitment to leading by example when it comes to clean energy and responsible stewardship of public facilities,” said President Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County board president, in a statement. “By investing in on‑site renewable energy at the Skokie Courthouse, we are reducing emissions, lowering energy costs, and creating long‑term value for residents.”
Eventually, the rooftop solar arrays are projected to reduce the courthouse greenhouse gas emissions by about 722 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. The carbon-free electricity output is equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 150 homes, according to Ameresco.
“Projects like the Skokie Courthouse solar installation highlight how public sector facilities can play a meaningful role in the energy transition,” said Lou Maltezos, co-president of Ameresco. “We’re proud to collaborate with Cook County to deliver a solution that supports resilience, sustainability, and fiscal responsibility while producing measurable environmental benefits for the community.”
The project was developed in collaboration with Cook County’s Bureau of Asset Management, with leadership and support from the County’s energy and facilities teams. The installation takes full advantage of clean energy generation without affecting daily courthouse operations by leveraging underutilized space on the courthouse roof and parking structures.
Ameresco has also been awarded eight additional solar projects with Cook County to expand the County’s on‑site renewable energy portfolio. The projects, currently in the design phase, represent approximately 3.3 MW of new solar capacity and are expected to be completed by November 2027. The systems will be important in supporting Cook County’s 2030 sustainability and emissions‑reduction goals.
Skokie is named as the 2nd Municipal District in the Circuit Court of Cook County system. The current three-floor masonry courthouse was built in 1980 and has installed new heat pumps, control systems and LED lighting among various energy efficiency upgrades in recent years.