F&A Committee approves $758,101 contract for solar array at Waukegan campus

The Lake County F&A Committee approved a $758,101 contract with Verde Solutions of Chicago to install photovoltaic arrays on buildings at the Waukegan campus.

Carl Carr, director of facilities and construction services, told the committee the project was budgeted in the FY25 capital program and will install electrical infrastructure and solar panels to support two 220-kilowatt photovoltaic systems across Center Court buildings. The panels will be fixed-angle and sit on ballast skids on rooftops. Carr said the county will own the equipment and contract for qualified vendors to provide maintenance and any required reinstallation tied to future construction.

"The system's gonna be rated about 220 kilowatts," Carr said, and staff will provide the committee with estimated percentage of campus energy use covered by the array at a later time; Carr said the installation "is not very high" as a share of total campus demand and will not make the campus net-zero.

Carr outlined a schedule: design and permitting through about March, material procurement in the following 2–4 months, and construction and commissioning June through October, with visible work expected by late summer. The procurement used a two-step prequalification and pricing process, with the county soliciting bids from prequalified firms.

Members spoke in favor of the project for its potential long-term savings and local environmental benefits. The motion to authorize the contract was approved by voice vote.