Summit Ridge Energy, recognized as the nation’s leading commercial solar and energy storage company, marked an important milestone with the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a 1.62 MW rooftop community solar project in Melrose Park, Illinois. The project was developed in partnership with LBA Logistics, a full-service real estate investment and management company, and Black Bear Energy, a commercial buyer’s representative focused on onsite renewable energy and cleantech solutions.
Together, these organizations have delivered a project that strengthens access to equitable clean energy within the state.Installed on an industrial facility owned by LBA, the Melrose Park solar array is expected to produce more than 2 million kWh of renewable energy every year. This output is comparable to the annual electricity usage of approximately 200 homes.
The project was made possible through the Illinois Shines Adjustable Block Program and participates under the Traditional Community Solar category, helping distribute renewable power directly to the grid. Subscribers—including low-to-moderate income households—receive utility bill credits that typically reduce their electricity costs by 10 to 20 percent, without requiring any installation on their own rooftops.
The location of this project adds to its significance. It is situated within both an Illinois Environmental Justice Community and a federally recognized Energy Community. These are areas that have historically faced higher environmental risks due to industrial activity, pollution, and limited infrastructure investment.
Illinois Shines prioritizes such communities, aiming to extend clean energy access and distribute the economic benefits of solar development more fairly. By being sited in these designated zones, the project directly supports the state’s broader goals of environmental equity and community upliftment.Beyond energy savings, the rooftop installation contributes to local employment through construction and ongoing maintenance activities and enhances grid stability by adding distributed generation capacity.
The project also qualifies for a Rooftop Adder incentive under Illinois Shines, which encourages the use of existing rooftop space rather than undeveloped land—supporting sustainability without impacting natural landscapes.Summit Ridge Energy continues to cement its leadership in the Illinois solar market, with more than 553 MW of community solar projects in the state and a nationwide pipeline exceeding 3 GW.
The Melrose Park project is also a result of the long-standing collaboration between LBA and Black Bear Energy, a partnership that began in 2015. Over the past decade, they have jointly advanced a wide portfolio of community solar projects, including 17.5 MW across four industrial properties in Maryland, all of which were developed, owned, and operated by Summit Ridge Energy under Maryland’s Community Solar Program.
More recently, LBA brought two additional Illinois community solar sites online, totaling 5.5 MW and including the newly completed Melrose Park system.The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together local officials and representatives from Summit Ridge Energy, LBA, Black Bear Energy, and ComEd, underscoring their collective commitment to Illinois’ clean energy growth and the long-term savings these projects deliver to residents.
During the event, Michelle German, Vice President of Portfolio Operations and Sustainability at LBA, highlighted the company’s philosophy of thoughtful, long-term asset management. She noted that hosting community solar aligns with LBA’s responsibility to support surrounding neighborhoods, expand energy access for LMI households, and generate local employment.
Victoria Stulgis, President of Black Bear Energy, emphasized the importance of trust and shared values in bringing a project like this to life. She reflected on the decade-long partnership with LBA, noting that such deep collaboration enables both organizations to advance complex projects with confidence and speed, ultimately benefiting families who will now save on their energy bills.
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