The City has announced the installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Robert Crown Community Center, a major step forward in our efforts to expand renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-September and is expected to be complete in early 2026. Once operational, the system will generate clean, renewable energy to help power the facility, lowering both energy costs and the building’s environmental footprint.

The solar panels will provide a substantial “consumption offset,” meaning that a portion of the building’s electricity will come directly from the rooftop system instead of the power grid. Over its 30-year lifespan, the system will deliver significant environmental and financial benefits:

System Size: 965.7 kW-DC
Annual Output: 1,245,298 kWh
Consumption Offset: 34%
Lifecycle Savings: $3,171,655

During installation, every effort will be made to minimize disruptions. The Robert Crown Community Center will remain open throughout the project, with one exception: a temporary power shutdown on December 22 lasting several hours. Construction activities and material storage will be confined to the northeast corner of the building. At one point, a crane will be used to lift materials onto the roof from the loading zone near the main entrance.

Please note: the compost drop-off site at Robert Crown will be temporarily closed during this period to accommodate material staging. Community members can use the alternate collection site at Gibbs-Morrison.

Contractor
The project’s general contractor is Verde Solutions, 2211 N Elston Ave., Suite 208, Chicago, IL.

Project Monitoring
The project is monitored by the City’s Capital Planning & Engineering Bureau. For questions or concerns during construction, contact Project Manager Tim Kirkby at 847-448-4311 or 3-1-1.

View Construction Bulletin.