The Solar Express program in Chicago, Illinois—funded through a SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge (RSC) I award of $750,000—is making it faster, easier, and cheaper for residents to go solar by cutting long wait times and fees for solar permits. Residents of Chicago can now acquire permits for their residential solar installations in one day, compared to 30 days or more previously, and pay about 25% less for their permit fees from $375 to $275.

In 2012, the City of Chicago and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) received a SunShot award to support solar photovoltaic (PV) installations by reducing market barriers and soft costs. The city partnered with ComEd to facilitate the interconnection needed for residential solar has also helped residents connect to Integrys Energy Services Inc.—the company supplying Chicago’s power under municipal aggregation—to apply for net metering, so electricity from residential panels can be sold back to the grid.

Positive Impact

Solar Express program makes it faster and cheaper for Chicago residents to receive solar permits.

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Partner

City of Chicago and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd)

EERE Investment

$750,000

Clean Energy Sector

Renewable Electricity Generation

The Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) focuses on achieving the goals of the SunShot Initiative, which seeks to make solar energy cost-competitive with other forms of electricity by the end of the decade.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) success stories highlight the positive impact of its work with businesses, industry partners, universities, research labs, and other entities.