Developers outline 9.2 MW 'Human/Yeoman Creek' community solar project for Waukegan; enrollment and construction plans presented

Representatives of CleanCapital and Power Market briefed the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Student Achievement Committee on March 18 about a community solar project sited at the Yeoman/Human Creek landfill. Company representatives described project size, enrollment eligibility, construction safeguards for the landfill cap and an outreach timeline aimed at enrollment this year.

Nick Bodwin of Power Market, Christian Thompson of CleanCapital and Ryan Libby (director of subscriber acquisition) presented the project as a roughly 9.2‑megawatt direct‑current community solar farm with just under 17,000 panels. The developers said roughly 50% of the project's output is targeted to residential subscribers, 40% to one or more large institutional “anchor” subscribers and 10% to critical local service providers. CleanCapital and Power Market said the project is participating in Illinois Solar For All (ILSFA), which allows eligible subscribers to receive discounts (developers described up to a 50% credit on electricity generated for qualifying participants).

Construction plans were explained in detail because the site is a closed landfill. Christian Thompson said the array will use ballasted foundations and above‑grade racking so the installation does not penetrate the landfill cap. Thompson also said the project uses specialized, low‑ground‑pressure equipment during construction to avoid damage to the cap and follows protocols to limit soil rutting and stabilize vegetation after work.

Developers outlined a schedule that includes mechanical completion by May 30, 2025, and an estimated placed‑in‑service date of June 27, 2025 for the Omen site, according to the meeting packet summary. Thompson described temporary gravel roads already being installed, racking steel arriving the next day and panel deliveries planned in the following weeks, with electrical commissioning lasting four to 12 weeks before the project is integrated with the grid.

Eligibility and enrollment: Power Market explained the ILSFA eligibility approach: roughly 90% of Waukegan falls inside census tracts that meet the program's targeted low‑income thresholds (80% of area median income), and households outside those tracts may qualify by demonstrating participation in energy‑assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid or LIHEAP. The developers are targeting roughly 1,000 residential subscribers (a rough estimate that depends on household usage) and described a phased outreach plan: kickoff/community events in spring, mailers in summer, and final enrollment drives in August–September so that credits begin appearing on ComEd bills within two billing cycles of the farm going live.

Community questions and district interest: Board members and public commenters asked whether ComEd remains the customer’s utility (developers said yes — ComEd continues to be the billing utility and the project produces a bill credit line item), whether there are upfront or monthly subscriber fees (developers said no fees or penalties and no separate dual billing for the project), and whether buildings owned by the district could be prioritized as anchor subscribers (CleanCapital said the district could be prioritized and will discuss with district representatives). A district official noted the district does receive rent for the land and could negotiate anchor‑offtake terms to reduce its energy costs.

Regulatory and oversight notes: An EPA remedial project manager introduced himself during the session and said the U.S. EPA approved the solar design package for the landfill; Bob Solak of Hard Hat Environmental said he is the operations and maintenance contractor overseeing the landfill remedy and is monitoring the project to make sure the cap and remedial systems remain protected.

Developers and several board members discussed workforce, translation and community outreach. Power Market said it will work with local partners — Community Action Partnership (CAP) of Lake County, College of Lake County workforce programs (CJA) and Spanish‑language community organizations — and provide bilingual outreach, in‑person sign‑up assistance and co‑branded mailers with trusted local partners. The presenters also said they will pursue educational partnerships with schools and suggested opportunities to create lessons and, where safe and feasible, site visits for students.

No formal vote was taken on the project at the March 18 committee meeting; the presentation was informational and committee members asked staff to continue coordinating community outreach and district discussions about potential anchor participation.