The Community Solar Agreement between Nexamp and Starbucks allows for the addition of more solar farms in Illinois, like this Nexamp project already operating in Kingston.
Nexamp has announced a new solar community partnership with Starbucks. By committing to being a long-term purchaser of renewable electricity, Starbucks will anchor the deployment of more than 40 MW of solar energy in Illinois communities. The six new community solar projects added to Nexamp’s growing portfolio in Illinois will deliver significant electricity savings to more than 1,100 local residents who subscribe within the ComEd and Ameren utility districts.
In addition to the clean energy benefits and savings for communities, these solar farms also represent impactful employment opportunities and will accelerate Nexamp’s workforce development initiatives in the state. The construction and operation of these six projects will help create several hundred new jobs, including positions for participants in Nexamp’s new fellowship programs. Through partnerships with organizations such as City Colleges of Chicago, the Chicago Urban League, Uplift Community High School, 22C and other Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) job training organizations, Nexamp leads workforce development programs aimed at a broader range of communities.
“Starbucks is committed to our environmental promise of giving more than we take, and we have a long history of sustainable energy projects that bring clean energy to more communities,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks Chief Sustainability Officer. “We are proud to support Nexamp’s efforts to bring community solar to areas where it can have the most impact and make savings opportunities available to community members.”
Starbucks will receive only a portion of the renewable electricity credits for its support of Nexamp’s operations in Illinois. The remaining capacity of each project will be allocated to area residents and businesses through the Nexamp community solar program. Nexamp and Starbucks hope to expand this program to additional locations across the country in the future.
Construction of Nexamp’s solar projects has begun and is expected to come online in 2025.
News item from Nexamp
