KANE COUNTY, Ill. — The County Board on Aug. 6 approved a resolution authorizing the county to sign community solar subscription agreements to offset electric use at county facilities.

Board member Roth moved the resolution authorizing community solar subscriptions, and county staff explained the mechanics and potential savings. A county official said the county could buy solar-produced power via subscription “and signing on to this subscription will give the county 90¢ on the dollar.” The presenter clarified that the county anticipates a roughly 10% discount on electricity through a specific subscription that could supply 70–80% of the Judicial Center’s power.

Staff said the arrangement would not mean the county owns panels; rather, community-scale solar arrays feed power into the grid and subscribers receive credit on their utility bills. County staff is working with an electric consultant to finalize a potential subscription that could cover a large share of the Judicial Center’s usage and produce budget savings on the county’s electric bill. The board voted to authorize the chair, with the state’s attorney’s review, to enter subscription agreements as they become available.

A handful of board members raised operational questions during the discussion — for example, who insures and owns panels and whether grazing animals (goats vs. sheep) are acceptable for vegetation management — and staff said those are commercially negotiated matters the subscription vendor will clarify.

Ending: County staff said they would pursue a subscription opportunity and return with contract terms; the board’s authorization allows staff and the chair to execute subscriptions reviewed by the state’s attorney.