Reactivate, an Invenergy company, has partnered with Walmart and US Bancorp, a US Bank subsidiary, on a new portfolio of seven community solar projects in Illinois and New York.
The projects will help serve nearly 5,000 low-to-moderate-income residents as well as area public schools, non-profit organizations, affordable housing providers, religious institutions, community recreational centers, and other businesses.
“Serving our customers and communities is core to our purpose at Walmart, and our support of this high-impact portfolio demonstrates our continued commitment to that purpose. These projects will assist in building a stronger and cleaner grid, expand access to clean energy for underserved communities, and help people save money on their utility bills,” said Frank Palladino, VP of Renewable Energy Strategy at Walmart.
The seven community solar projects boast a combined capacity of 14.4 MW, which are estimated to avoid more than 667,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions – equivalent to eliminating 748 million pounds of coal burned over the projects’ lifespans.
Six of the projects will be located throughout Illinois, including Chicago Heights, Ford Heights, Granite City, and Rockford. The New York solar project will be located in Oswego County.
Low-to-moderate-income customers in Illinois and New York will receive a minimum 20% reduction on their retail electricity costs, and total customer savings from the projects are projected to exceed $17 million over the projects’ lifespans.
