Aurora panel backs proposal for solar installation rebates

An Aurora City Council committee this week backed a program proposed by Ald. John Laesch to subsidize people looking to add solar panels to their houses.

Laesch, at large, told members of the Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee on Tuesday he wants to put $15,000 of his yearly $20,000 allotment of ward funds towards the program.

The program would provide a subsidy of up to $1,000 for an installation of five solar panels or more, and up to $3,000 for multiroof townhomes. It also would provide up to $500 for an EV charging station install.

Laesch said he would review all the applicants, looking to see if a proposal is a good candidate for solar or not — for instance, if the applicant has a roof shielded by heavy tree growth, or one that is not positioned correctly.

“Otherwise, it would be on a first-come, first-serve basis,” he said.

He said because the program “is more of a pilot program,” he will see what kind of interest he gets.

The applicant would have to be a resident in good standing with the city, or a city-based business. All permits would have to be acquired through the city, and if necessary, Historic District approval would be needed.

A licensed Illinois electrician would be needed, one that has an apprenticeship program, as required by state law.

Laesch added he intends to work with the statewide Citizens Utility Board, or CUB, to do the program, although any homeowner who goes on their own would be eligible to apply, too.

Marina Minic, solar program coordinator for CUB, said the organization that advocates for citizen utility customers has been running a program since 2019.

With CUB, residents have a chance to do a solar group buy in which participants pool their buying power to secure discounts to make installing solar more affordable, Minic said.

Laesch pointed out that State Solar Renewable Energy Credits can cover

as much as 30% to 40% of the installation cost of solar, and there is a 30% federal tax credit.

Utility Net Metering credits help pay back a system faster, he said. Also, in Illinois, homeowners associations

cannot block solar installations.

TRENT SPRAGUE/CHICAGO TRIBUNE Jared Salvatore, left, prepares a bracket for installation as Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar positions a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg last November. An Aurora City Council member has proposed a program to offer a subsidy to encourage solar panel installation in the city.