Standard Solar Expands In Illinois With 9MW Community Solar Acquisition, Enhancing Reliability And Supporting Local Communities

Standard Solar, a leading developer and owner of commercial and community solar projects, has expanded its footprint in Illinois by acquiring two community solar farms from Cenergy Power. The newly acquired projects, located in the City of Zion and Kankakee County, have a combined capacity of over 9 megawatts (MW) and will supply clean, affordable energy to local homes and businesses. This acquisition aligns with Illinois’ ambitious clean energy targets, which aim for 40% renewable energy by 2030, 50% by 2040, and 100% clean energy by 2050.

The Zion solar farm, with a capacity of 2.53 MW, utilizes fixed-tilt technology and is expected to generate approximately 3,705 megawatt hours (MWh) of clean electricity in its first year. The larger Kankakee County installation, at 6.65 MW, is projected to produce around 10,507 MWh in its first year. Both projects are currently in development and are scheduled for completion in early 2026.

Megan Byrn, Vice President of Business Development, Standard Solar, said in a statement, “Illinois is an exciting and growing market for community solar, and we are pleased to expand our footprint in the state with the acquisition of these projects. Mid-sized distributed generation (DG) solar arrays like these are critical for balancing the grid, improving land management and strengthening U.S. energy dominance. These projects will not only provide local communities with lower energy costs but also put more clean power on the grid, helping to meet increasing electricity demand.”

Cenergy Power was responsible for developing these projects, while Standard Solar will now take ownership and manage operations to ensure long-term reliability and energy cost savings for subscribers. With this acquisition, Standard Solar’s total portfolio in Illinois—including operational, under-construction, and contracted projects—has grown to more than 150 MW, reinforcing its commitment to advancing renewable energy adoption in the state.

Chad Chahbazi, Senior Vice President, Project Development at Cenergy Power, stated, “The successful development of these community solar projects reflects our commitment to expanding renewable energy solutions in Illinois and to our local community partners in Illinois. We are excited to work with Standard Solar to bring these projects to completion and deliver economic and environmental benefits to local communities.”