Energy consultant pitches community solar to Waukegan; estimates about $50,000 annual municipal savings
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Summary
Adam Hoover, the city’s energy consultant, told the Environmental and Sustainability Committee a community-solar contract could cut the city’s power bill—he estimated roughly $50,000 in annual savings for municipal accounts and described term, termination fees, and procurement steps.
Waukegan — The Environmental and Sustainability Committee heard a presentation from Adam Hoover, the city’s energy consultant, who outlined an opportunity for Waukegan to purchase community solar through the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Collaborative (NYMEC).
Hoover said the proposal would apply to municipal accounts only and not to residents’ individual utility accounts. He presented comparative electricity rates and said the city could secure rates of about 7.5–7.6¢ per kilowatt-hour through 2028 under the cooperative bid, compared with a ComEd rate he estimated at roughly 9.6¢ per kilowatt-hour, and described an annual savings example. "You could receive about $50,000 a year in savings based on your usage," Hoover said, adding that the savings projection would be guaranteed for 15 to 20 years under a typical contract.
Hoover also said the city’s renewable purchases represent about 7,000,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy on the grid and emphasized that the physical electrons would not be moved to Waukegan specifically but that the city would receive credits for supporting renewables. He was explicit that the community-solar allocation would not come from the Waukegan solar farm: "This would not be from the solar farm in Waukegan," he said.
Hoover warned of contract trade-offs: an early-termination fee roughly equal to one year of savings (about $50,000) and billing complications tied to current billing arrangements. He said he has not yet gone to bid and requested the committee’s direction to pursue bids and present a proposed contract; he suggested the council could adopt a resolution or ordinance granting signing authority to speed execution but noted corporate counsel typically reviews contracts.
Committee members expressed interest and asked about start dates—Hoover cautioned that availability can delay start dates and said the earliest likely start would be 2027, though 2028 remains possible. No contract was presented or approved at the meeting; Hoover said he would pursue bids and return with a contract for council review and legal review as part of the process.
Next steps: consultant to pursue bidding availability and present a proposed contract to the committee and corporate counsel for legal review.
