The breakout success of home solar can keep delivering equitable clean energy solutions for Illinois
With the #REPlusMW event taking place this week in Illinois, it is a good time to reflect on the record-breaking growth of solar in the state. A recent piece from the Chicago Sun-Times and Inside Climate News suggests Illinois’ clean energy future is delayed, particularly due to bottlenecks in rollout of Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). From where I sit as CEO of the largest home solar and battery storage company in the US, I respectfully disagree. Home solar is deploying at a record pace in all corners of the state, much to the benefit of households looking to manage or reduce energy bills, skilled workers looking for sustainable, family-supporting careers, and our entire energy ecosystem.?
Since Governor Pritzker signed the landmark climate legislation CEJA into law we’re sure working hard to meet increasing interest and demand. Just last year, we opened Sunrun’s third Illinois branch to expand options throughout Illinois. We’ve been able to bring home solar solutions to tens of thousands of families statewide, including every Chicago zip code. CEJA has also allowed us to continue our proud participation in the Illinois Solar for All low-income solar program, bringing home solar to those who stand to benefit most.?
We are excited to be part of a growing home solar industry, with hundreds of solar companies providing home solar solutions to over 60,000 families across the state so far. We’re just getting started!?
CEJA has also been critical in ensuring strong connections between job seekers in disadvantaged communities and career opportunities. At Sunrun, we provide full-time career opportunities to over 500 hundred Illinoisans and are already eclipsing CEJA diversity and local workforce goals, while we always strive to improve. Sunrun is proud to have an over 50% racially and ethnically diverse workforce.?
CEJA is the catalyst for Sunrun to continue to invest in our employees and our communities, deepening our training partnerships with groups like Chicago Urban League and attending solar job fairs with groups like the Illinois Solar Education Association. We support increasing job training and workforce development to build on these efforts. Our industry will succeed based on the diversity and inclusion of our growing workforce, and thanks to the positive impact of CEJA, we can increase these opportunities.
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There is no time to slow this momentum and benefits. With the state solar program, Illinois Shines , families are installing home solar much faster than state leaders even expected.?
I’m thrilled to see what comes next for Illinois homegrown clean energy. Home solar and storage is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s proving to be a larger piece than anyone expected. With networked home solar and storage systems, Illinois can fully realize the many benefits of these distributed power plants, lowering costs for all users of our grid by mitigating the need for utilities to invest in additional infrastructure.?
Public and private investment in this crucial tool is paying off across the state. But the impact of this law is bigger than industry growth and employment. The ripple effects of CEJA are being felt by all in Illinois, with a more reliable, affordable and flexible grid for all. Let’s keep powering forward!
-Mary Powell
Remote LTM Technologist
5 个月THE REALITY OF SUNRUN. I am waiting """7 MONTHS"""now for Sunrun to reinstall my panels after a roof replacement. THE Worst customer service. Weekly calls and emails and no panels on my roof yet. CASE MANAGER KEEPS COMING UP WITH EXCUSES AS TO WHY IT'S NOT DONE YET. SOMEONE NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ASAP.
Senior Electrical Engineer @ Raytheon
9 个月Hi, my solar system has been down since 2022. I,ve gotten to the escalation department but I emailed them yesterday with NO REPLY. Apparently they are both on vacation. I,m telling EVERYONE NOT TO USE SUNRUN. I even made a sign...
Consultant; Private Investor; Freelance Equity and Debt Research
10 个月Why is SunRun unable to respond with action to multiple inquiries regarding my solar-panel-covered roof leaking? I have spent hours on the phone with customer service people who have no information, no knowledge, no authority and no way to assist. I have been told for more than a week that my issue has been 'escalated." To whom? Someone named Benjamin Durbin, who I am starting to think is a fictional person that has an email inbox that never gets checked. Meanwhile, the roof keeps leaking. Silence from SunRun. Call again. Send another email. Silence from SunRun. I have not even asked SunRun to pay for anything. I just need to know how to get the panels removed and where the panels need to go. If no response this week, I am going up on the roof myself, removing the panels and having the roof repaired ASAP. Then I will see SunRun in New Jersey special claims court for cases between $5,000 and $25,000.