Solar Power Demonstration Project Completed At Chicago Area Shopping Plaza

Chicago TREND and TREND Community Development Corporation have completed a solar panel installation at Butterfield Plaza Shopping Center in Olympia Fields, IL. This area is about 34 miles south and a little west of the city of Chicago. These small solar power projects matter locally and overall because they are providing needed benefits, though they may not get much press. The national press may overlook them, which is why it is a privilege to cover them for CleanTechnica.

Lyneir Richardson, the CEO of Chicago TREND and TREND CDC, answered some questions for us.

How many shops are at the Butterfield Plaza Shopping Center?

There are 10 stores operating at Butterfield Plaza Shopping Center. The businesses include restaurants, healthcare services, an ice cream store, a nail salon, and a real estate office. 

How will the shopping center’s tenants benefit from the new solar power system? 

The system lowers CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges shared by tenants. This reduces operating expenses for the small businesses at the center.

What makes the new solar power system innovative?

It’s a demonstration project for neighborhood retail shopping centers across the country. We plan to make similar climate-positive improvements to the five shopping centers that we co-own along with 385 community investors.  For most of these local investors, it marks their first time investing in commercial property. We’re excited that they will also become climate-positive investors.

What is the capacity of the system and how long did it take to install?

It is a 15 kW system. We researched and found a State of Illinois incentive program designed to improve the economics of small commercial projects.  The panel installation only took about 10 days from procurement to final inspection.

What was the system’s cost?

The material and labor cost for the solar system portion of the project was $49 K. The shopping center roof needed replacement to allow for the installation of the solar.  The total project cost, including the initial solar assessment and roof replacement, resulted in over $200K capital improvement. TREND was awarded a grant from NICI, which subsidized a portion of the project.

What will the solar power be used for?

The electricity generated will power owner-controlled common-area operations, such as exterior lighting, signage, and other shared infrastructure. By offsetting these loads, the system reduces overall operating expenses and lowers the CAM charges passed on to tenants.

Is there any energy storage paired with the solar power system?

This phase of work includes solar panels only; no battery storage is integrated at this time.

Will more solar power be installed at the same site?

Possibly.  Our initial feasibility studies show options for larger rooftop arrays and carports (up to ~184 kW) in future phases as funding allows. We’re also actively researching programs and seeking to find grants and subsidies that will enable us to make more climate-positive improvements, including energy-efficient HVAC systems, plantings, and EV charging stations.  This work aligns with our mission of strengthening neighborhoods and generating positive investment returns.