Solar Landscape, Public Storage Bring 60 Rooftop Solar Sites to Illinois
Solar Power World reports that Public Storage and Solar Landscape plan to build 60 rooftop community solar projects across 60 sites in northern Illinois over the next two years. The installations, located within ComEd territory, will deliver 44 MW of power to the grid and are part of a broader push under Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and Clean and Renewable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act. ComEd expects roughly 400 community solar installations across its northern Illinois territory by year end. Construction on the Public Storage portfolio is expected to support approximately 300 jobs, with workforce training handled through groups including STEP-UP Solar, the Chicago Urban League, HACIA, and Illinois YouthBuild programs. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers will also play a role in staffing the projects. Solar Landscape is a long-time rooftop partner of Public Storage, which says it plans to expand its solar program to 1,300 properties nationwide by the end of 2026.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Electrical contractors and IBEW-affiliated crews in the Chicago area have a two-year pipeline of 60 rooftop installation jobs to bid into as Solar Landscape rolls out the Public Storage portfolio across ComEd territory.
- Workforce-ready electricians trained through STEP-UP Solar, HACIA, or YouthBuild Lake County programs (139 trained since 2024) are positioned to fill the estimated 300 construction jobs tied to this rollout.
- Rooftop solar installers and racking subcontractors should watch for Solar Landscape’s site-by-site release schedule, since the 44 MW portfolio spans dozens of individual Public Storage facilities rather than one large build.
