Illinois community solar project pilots Planted high-density solar racking

A new community solar project in Collinsville Township, Illinois, called Armoracia, has been bought by Aligned Climate Capital. The 7.3-megawatt project will use a new racking system from a company called Planted that tilts panels at an angle without needing to grade or level the land first. This lets the project fit on 16 acres instead of the larger footprint traditional ground-mounted solar usually needs, and it leaves the land usable after the panels are eventually taken down.

Community solar projects like this let people subscribe to a share of a solar array's output, usually getting credits on their electric bill, without installing anything on their own property. Armoracia will sell subscriptions through Illinois's Adjustable Block Program and connect to the Ameren Illinois grid. It's expected to start operating later this year.

For homeowners, this isn't about rooftop panels or home upgrades directly. But if you live in Ameren Illinois territory, it could be worth watching for subscription openings once the project comes online, since community solar can offer a way to get solar savings without the upfront cost or roof space a home system requires. Availability and terms for programs like this vary, so it's worth checking Illinois's Adjustable Block Program directly if you're interested in signing up once Armoracia is active.