Summit Ridge Energy and Trajectory Energy Partners have broken ground on the Rock Cut Solar project in Rockford, Illinois.
The project, owned and operated by Summit Ridge, is a 6.2 MW Community-Driven Community Solar (CDCS) project developed by Trajectory Energy Partners and is expected to be operational in the second half of next year.
As a CDCS project, Rock Cut Solar plans to partner with Rockford and Winnebago County. Part of the project is the Rock Cut Solar Partnership, consisting of a team of local community members who were involved in the development of Rock Cut Solar.
The partnership includes two organizations that will work together on the project long-term: Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity and Get Connected 815, both of which address housing and employment issues in Rockford and Winnebago County. Rock Cut Solar will continue to support these two organizations once they are operational.
This collaboration marks the companies’ thirteenth project together, aimed at delivering utility savings to Illinois communities.
“We are pleased to break ground on the Rock Cut Solar project,” said Mark Raeder, president of Summit Ridge Energy.
“It is a unique project that shows how transformative sustainable energy solutions can be, especially when the community is united in a shared vision and purpose. This project is a perfect example of Summit Ridge’s commitment to community-driven solar initiatives, delivering clean energy to communities that might otherwise be left out of the clean energy revolution. Just as importantly, through projects like these we can create local jobs and reduce energy costs for residents. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.”
