An array of thousands of solar panels on the 45-acre former Yeoman Creek landfill and onetime U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site is scheduled to become a solar farm producing energy by the end of the year.
Along with generating energy and reducing electric bills for 1,000 low- to moderate-income residents, the solar farm switched from an expense to a revenue source for the Yeoman Creek Remediation Group (YCRG), which transitioned from maintaining to leasing the land.
Owned for more than 60 years by Waukegan Community Unit School District 60, the land had little value and was a liability. YCRG includes the school district, the City of Waukegan, and four private companies deemed responsible by the EPA for the property’s contamination.
Signing a deal with BQ Energy in 2021 — BQ was acquired by Clean Capital a year later — to lease the Yeoman Creek land for a solar farm, the company has put many of the solar panels in place. Clean Capital hired PowerMarket to find eligible customers and handle management.
LaBaron Moten, the district’s deputy superintendent for operations, support and programs, briefed the District 60 Board of Education on Tuesday at the Education Service Center in downtown Waukegan, disclosing the status of the project.
As Clean Capital completes construction of the project, PowerMarket started its effort to find 1,000 individual subscribers in March for the community solar project. Moten said the project will be operational by the end of the year.
Benefitting from the solar power generated will be 1,000 residents who meet the income requirements, according to a presentation to the board in March by Clean Capital and PowerMarket.
Waukegann Mayor Sam Cunningham said the Yeoman Creek site — roughly bounded by Lewis, Sunset, Glen Flora and Western avenues — “has been an eyesore for the City of Waukegan for years.” He is glad to see some of the residents who were victims of the pollution get a benefit.
“Residents who have had to bear the brunt of this environmental disaster are finally getting to benefit through technology,” Cunningham said. “We have turned a tragedy into triumph for (some of) our residents as we rebuild our city into what it would look like in the future.”
Half the energy will help local households, according to the presentation. Of the balance, 40% goes to an anchor subscriber — one or two large energy users like the district or the city — with 10% reserved for critical service providers. Moten said the district will not rule out being an anchor subscriber.
“No proposal is in hand to be the anchor tenant,” Moten said. “It is something we would consider if we receive one. Any contract like that must be approved by the Board of Education.”
For those individuals who want to participate, they must earn 80% of the median income for the area or live in a census tract where half the families earn 80% or below the median income, according to the presentation. Approximately 90% of people in Waukegan live in such a tract.
For those who do not live in a qualifying census tract, they must receive a form of help like Medicaid, SNAP food aid or LIHEAP utility assistance for low-income individuals, according to the presentation. All subscribers receive a 50% credit on electricity generated by the farm.
Intending to register all 1,000 subscribers by Oct. 1, Power Market is holding kickoff meetings with community groups, going to events, reaching out to food pantries, and more. Over the summer, there will be mailing campaigns and continued presence at events. Moten said the effort is ongoing.
“They have started their outreach but have not signed up any subscribers as of yet,” Moten said.
Since YCRG signed its contract with Clean Capital in the 2021-2022 school year, the company has paid the partnership $278,033.01. Of those funds, $163,162.00 was disbursed to YCRG and the balance has been retained in an operations maintenance account
