New Lenox Approves Solar Subscription, Projects Over $100,000 in Annual Savings

New Lenox Village Board Meeting | October 27, 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox Village Board has approved an agreement to subscribe to the Illinois Shines Community Solar program, a move expected to save the village more than $100,000 annually on its electricity costs. The long-term commitment guarantees a 20% discount on the electric supply portion of the village’s utility bills.

Illinois Shines Program Key Points:

• The village entered into a subscription with Sun Central, LLC, as part of the state-run Illinois Shines program.

• The agreement guarantees a 20% savings on the ComEd supply rate for approximately 70% of the village’s electric accounts.

• The subscription is for an initial 10-year term, with two automatic 5-year renewals, but will not begin until a new solar facility is built in late 2027.

The Village of New Lenox on Monday, October 27, 2025, approved a subscription to a community solar program projected to save taxpayers between $100,000 and $190,000 per year on electricity.

The board authorized an agreement with Sun Central, LLC, to participate in Illinois Shines, a state program designed to promote clean energy. The program allows municipalities and residents to subscribe to a solar farm and receive credits on their electricity bills without installing their own solar panels.

Under the terms of the agreement, the village is guaranteed a 20% savings on the supply portion of its ComEd bill for about 70% of its municipal electric accounts. Village staff noted that this rate was double the 10% savings recently secured by a local school district and offered by other providers.

“I contacted the village of LaSalle because they just entered it,” a village official explained. “It was simply that we sign up to subscribe to a solar farm and get our power off of that, and we save 20%. It was that simple.”

The initial term of the subscription is 10 years, with two automatic five-year renewals. The savings will not begin until late 2027, after the solar facility is constructed. Despite the long-term commitment, the village can exit the contract without penalty, provided another subscriber can be found to take its place, which village staff said should not be a problem. The electricity will continue to be delivered through the existing ComEd infrastructure.