Evanston locals adopt solar power, undeterred by federal cuts

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Despite federal support for renewable energy waning under the Trump administration, Evanston resident Libby Hill has successfully utilised solar power in her home for over a year. Her solar system has generated 6.18 megawatt hours of power since installation, and she pays around $19.54 a month, the minimum charge for connecting to the grid. However, tax credits for solar power will cease at the end of this year following the Trump administration’s budget bill, despite solar energy proving a successful hedge against rising utility rates.

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Rooftop Solar Panels Continue to Shine in Evanston Despite Cut in Federal Support

As the US government withdraws support for renewable energy, the future of solar power in the country is unpredictable. However, the sun hasn’t stopped shining, and residents of Evanston are still enthusiastic about installing rooftop solar panels for electricity production.

A year ago, Libby Hill added 12 rooftop solar panels to her home in northwest Evanston. In late August, we asked her about their performance. Hill shared with us that her solar system has produced 6.18 megawatt-hours of power since the installation. Except for once, when she needed extra electricity for air conditioning during a heat wave, she’s been required to pay only the minimum ComEd grid connection fee of $19.54 monthly.

According to Hill, she enjoys monitoring the electricity production on her SolarEdge app, particularly on sunny days when the panels are most efficient. Regardless of her location, she always checks if it’s sunny enough at home to power her solar system.

Importantly, Hill emphasized that she is not the only one utilizing solar power. She pointed out several houses in her vicinity with solar installations and discovered even more upon further investigation. In her Evanston neighborhood, she found 12 other homes with solar installations on roofs of varying ages and styles. Roof panels have been successfully installed in a variety of locations, from house roofs to garages, and even within tree-shaded areas that receive enough sunlight.

City of Evanston permit applications reveal a larger trend mirroring what Hill has observed in her neighborhood. The city issued 409 permits for residential solar installations from January 2019 through August of this year. The average yearly application rate for the five-year period starting in January 2019 was 60. This figure rose to 70 in 2022, the year the Inflation Reduction Act came into effect and introduced federal tax credits for solar power.

Importance of Acting Fast to Benefit from Federal Tax Savings

With the recent demolition of much of the Inflation Reduction Act in the Trump administration’s budget bill, tax credits for rooftop solar power will end this year instead of in 2035. Organizations such as Rewiring America have urged people to quickly take advantage of these credits, providing a guide to help them do so. To qualify, rooftop solar installations must be completed and connected to the grid by December 31. Other available incentives can be found on EnergySage.

Despite the expiration of these credits, solar energy continues to be a safeguard against rising utility rates. As Dan McCarthy writes for Canary Media, “Most households that install rooftop solar see their energy bills decrease.”

Though saving money is a factor, Hill asserts that those who can afford the initial cost have other motivations to go solar. People do it “because it’s a good thing to do,” she explained.

‘Benign and Beautiful Way to Produce Energy’

Bill McKibben, the author of a 1989 book that brought public attention to the dangers of climate change caused by human activity, is leading plans for a Sun Day event on September 21. This event is reminiscent of the first Sun Day in 1978, which Hill recalls fondly. The event will be locally celebrated at Wilmette and Montrose Beach in Chicago. More details can be found here.

In a recent interview, McKibben stated, “The sudden explosion of solar and wind energy over the last three years is the first time we’ve had anything that’s really started to scale in a way that might make a difference in how hot the planet eventually gets. … We have a benign, indeed, a beautiful way to produce energy, energy from heaven, not from hell.”

Join the Sun Day celebration at Montrose Beach on September 21. More than 30 groups, including solar installers, nonprofits, justice organizations, and houses of worship, will provide fun and easy ways to switch to solar power, with options for community solar that could lower your electric bill by 15-20%.

For more quick tips on getting started, check out Michael Drennan’s December 2024 RoundTable article “holiday recipe for solar panels”.

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