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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Alison Lindburg, Director of Sustainability
DATE: November 9, 2026
SUBJECT:
Requesting approval of a Community Solar Subscriber Agreement between the City of Aurora and Aurora Solar CS 2, LLC for participation in a community solar project through a solar facility located at the Aurora Airport.
PURPOSE:
Subscription to the community solar project will provide utility bill credits to the City at a discounted rate and will utilize local renewable energy resources, helping meet objectives of the 2019 Sustainability Plan and reduce municipal operating expenses.
BACKGROUND:
Under this agreement, the City of Aurora will subscribe to a portion of a community solar project owned and operated by Aurora Solar CS 2, LLC. The solar facility is a 6.46 MWdc project located at 1300 Dugan Road in Sugar Grove, Illinois, and participates in the Illinois Shines/Adjustable Block Program. The City’s subscription is targeted at 2.59 MWdc, representing approximately 40% of the project’s capacity. Utility bill credits generated by the project will be allocated to four municipal water utility accounts serving Well 20, Well 21, Well 25, and Well 28.
The City will pay the developer an amount equal to 90% of the value of the utility bill credits received, creating an estimated 10% savings on participating electricity costs. Payments are only made after credits are received, and the agreement requires no upfront capital investment, ownership interest, or maintenance responsibility by the City. The developer retains ownership and operational responsibility for the solar facility throughout the agreement term.
The agreement has an initial term of 20 years from the project’s commercial operation date, with options for up to three additional five-year extensions upon mutual agreement. The City may terminate the agreement without cause with 365 days' notice, subject to the agreement's termination provisions.
DISCUSSION:
Participation in this community solar project supports implementation of the City of Aurora's 2019 Sustainability Plan, which includes a goal of transitioning municipal energy use to 100% renewable energy. The agreement allows the City to increase the proportion of renewable energy supporting municipal operations without the capital costs associated with constructing or owning renewable energy infrastructure.
Additionally, the subscription model provides an opportunity to reduce municipal electricity expenditures through discounted utility bill credits, advancing the City's ongoing efforts to identify cost-saving measures while supporting local clean energy development. The credits may save the City up to 10% on participating electricity costs.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Purchasing the solar credits may save the City up to 10% on participating electricity costs.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I recommendation adoption of a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the Community Solar Subscriber Agreement with Aurora Solar CS 2, LLC for participation in the Aurora 2 community solar project.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution enacting a Community Solar Subscriber Agreement between the City of Aurora and Aurora Solar CS 2, LLC for participation in a community solar project through a solar facility located at the Aurora Airport.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora adopted the 2019 Sustainability Plan, which establishes goals and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition municipal operations toward the use of 100% renewable energy sources; and
WHEREAS, community solar projects provide subscribers with access to renewable energy generation through utility bill credits without requiring the construction, ownership, or maintenance of on-site solar facilities; and
WHEREAS, Aurora Solar CS 2, LLC is developing a community solar facility located at 1300 Dugan Road in Sugar Grove, Illinois, and has offered the City of Aurora the opportunity to subscribe to a portion of the facility's generating capacity; and
WHEREAS, under the proposed Community Solar Subscriber Agreement, the City of Aurora will receive utility bill credits associated with a 2.59 MWdc community solar subscription serving multiple municipal water utility facilities, including Well 20, Well 21, Well 25, and Well 28; and
WHEREAS, the proposed subscription is expected to reduce municipal electricity costs by allowing the City to purchase solar-generated bill credits at a discount to their value, resulting in long-term savings for taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, participation in the community solar program advances the City's sustainability objectives while supporting continued efforts to reduce operating expenses and improve the efficiency of municipal operations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to execute the Community Solar Subscriber Agreement with Aurora Solar CS 2, LLC and any ancillary documents necessary to implement the City's participation in the Aurora 2 Community Solar Project.