We look forward to welcoming everyone to the 2024 Solar Conference and Expo. View the full agenda below. For breakout sessions, please click the appropriate tabs for more details.
• Welcome Remarks
Candice King, Chief Meteorologist, WTVO 17 and WQRF Fox 39
• The Big Picture – Solar in the United States
Mark Pruitt, Former Director, Illinois Power Agency
• Nation-Leading Legislation – The Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act
Samira Hanessian, Energy Policy Director, Illinois Environmental Council
Dany Robles, Legislative Relations Director, Illinois Environmental Council
• Powerful Tools – Financial Incentives for Solar in Illinois
Kelly Turner, Legal Counsel, Illinois Power Agency
~ 15 Minute Stretch Break ~
• Getting Solar to Everyone – Illinois Solar for All
Delmar Gillus, Chief Operating Officer, Elevate Energy
• A Holistic Approach – Solar and Resiliency in the Rockford Region
Michael Dunn, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Region 1 Planning Council
• This is Just the Beginning – The GoSolar 815 Campaign
Brad Roos, President, Sustain Rockford
A big picture look at residential solar which includes rooftop solar, ground-mounted solar and community solar. You will hear, in non-scientific terms, how solar panels produce electricity, how that electricity feeds into your home. You will also learn various methods by which solar panels can be mounted on your roof, your yard – or even far away.
Learning Objectives:
• How solar panels produce electricity
• Ways you can go solar for your home
• The difference between rooftop solar, ground-mounted solar and community solar
• Why going solar can save you money on your electric bill
Presenters:
• Jared Cacciatore, Chief Revenue Officer, Greenlink Energy Solutions
• Kyle Marcussen, Arklight
• Hal Sprague, Community Engagement, Trajectory Energy Partners
Decision considerations on where to locate solar on your commercial property. Options are rooftop, ground-mounts, parking shelters and others. Presenters will discuss the construction-related issues, permitting, supply-chain status and necessary general conditions building owners and those leasing may need to face. Case studies will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
• Approved Vendors and how to find them
• What approved vendors must tell customers – The Affadavit
• Panel mounting system options and maintenance
• The permitting process, City of Rockford, Winnebago County, other municipalities
Presenters:
• Dan Puckett, Senior VP, Iconic Energy
• Nelson Sjostrom, Director, City of Rockford Building Dept.
• Katie Davis, Sr. Business Program Manager, ComEd Green Power Connection
The State of Illinois through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) has named Rockford as one of only 13 Jobs Hubs. CEJA legislation further authorizes millions of dollars statewide to fund the Jobs Hubs whose purposes are to train people for clean energy jobs including solar jobs at all levels of the solar industry. Participants in the Jobs Hubs programs will also be afforded ‘wraparound services’ to help them overcome barriers to their successful training.
Learning Objectives:
• Who is eligible for Jobs Hubs training
• What types of jobs are people trained for
• When training begins and how to sign up for training
• Who is doing the training
• Who is doing the hiring and when
Presenters:
• Jurea Crudup, Regional Director of CEJA Initiatives
• Dr. Sheila Hill, Executive Director, Think Big
• Dr. Erica Saccucci, Academic Program Specialist, Rock Valley College
• Tamika Brown, Zion West Enterprises
• Laura Howell, Clean Energy Pre-Apprenticeship Program Manager
This session will cover the advantages and disadvantages of ground-mounted- vs rooftop solar and related siting considerations such as grid access, seasonal variations in electrical load and safety.
Learning Objectives:
• Site designing, permitting and zoning considerations.
• Achieving sustainable energy and food production balance.
• Solutions to site challenges and energy independence opportunities.
Presenters:
• Patrick Weller, LEED AP – President, Sol Power Midwest, LLC
• Aaron Phillips
• Alysa Layden
• Callie Heidbreder, USDA, Rural Energy Coordinator
Many healthcare institutions, senior housing and residential facilities have large campuses which can be ideal for locating large ground-mounted solar arrays. They also often have large, flat roof areas which can work very well for rooftop solar. Hear some real case studies of such solar projects – the good, the bad but hopefully not the ugly.
Learning Objectives:
• State and federal financial incentives
• Defining charitable activities
• What the financial ‘stack’ looks like for institutional solar
• Case studies of institutional solar
Presenters:
• Tim Montague, Clean Power Consulting Group
Having solar can save you money on your monthly electric bill – short term and long term. Learn your options for paying for solar and how they compare with each other in terms of initial costs and monthly costs. Consumer costs and savings will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
• Money savings for owning panels versus leasing them
• Financial benefits of community solar
• Common terms for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
• Factors effecting how long it will take for my panels to pay for themselves
• Considerations for roof condition and home electrical system capacity
Presenters:
• Jared Cacciatore, Chief Revenue Officer, Greenlink Energy Solutions
• Hal Sprague, Community Engagement, Trajectory Energy Partners
• Steve Hall, Solar Ambassador, Illinois Solar Education Association
How much money will it cost and when will you need to pay it. What is the payback period? What lenders are interested in financing solar projects. Illinois remains one of the best states in the US for getting solar. Learn about the federal and state financial incentives and what else may be coming down the pike. Presenters will offer spreadsheet examples and case studies.
Learning Objectives:
• Project cost estimates, cost factors and payback periods
• Owning versus leasing
• Federal and state financial incentives
• Accounting: how to treat depreciation
• Financing options
Presenters:
• Dan Puckett, Senior VP, Iconic Energy
How the Illinois Solar for All program can make solar available to almost anyone in IL and all with the requirement that there will be no upfront cost to the consumer and a guaranteed savings of 50% of their energy costs. Learn about the extra financial incentives for those with lower incomes, those living in areas of lower income and those living in Environmental Justice communities.
Learning Objectives:
• The purpose of the Illinois Solar for All program – ILSFA
• Am I eligible for ILSFA
• How might the ILSFA program benefit me
• Who can help people me figure all this out
• What challenges might I face getting solar through ILSFA
Presenters:
• Delmar Gillus, Chief Operating Officer, Elevate Energy
• John Delurey, Senior Regional Director, Vote Solar
In addition to federal and state financial incentives, the USDA has financial incentives for rural solar. There are unique challenges to rural solar. The presenters will provide specific case studies to show examples of combining funding sources.
Learning Objectives:
• The available tax credits, grants, and loan program financing options.
• Financing opportunities to advance greater energy independence.
• Links to resources for rural energy development cost-saving investments.
Presenters:
• Patrick Weller, LEED AP – President, Sol Power Midwest, LLC
• Aaron Phillips
• Alysa Layden
• Callie Heidbreder, USDA, Rural Energy Coordinator
The State of Illinois is offering special incentives for solar for schools. In addition, thanks to the IRA, there are several financing structures that Schools can explore to go solar and realize savings. Adding to the financial benefits, solar is visible science for students. Knowing that their school is keeping up with technology is a lesson in itself and there are plenty of ways for school solar to be a learning opportunity. It seems there has never been a better time for schools to ‘go solar.’
Learning Objectives:
• How schools can determine the best financing structure to go solar
• How schools can use Illinois solar incentives
• How schools can use solar as a teaching tool for students (and faculty/staff)
• How school solar can help address student climate anxiety.
Presenters:
• Ana Diaz-Puskar, Sales Manager, Forefront Power
• Michael Phillips, Chief Operating Officer, Rockford Public Schools, District #205
Deciding what ‘kind’ of solar is right for you – rooftop, ground-mounted or community solar. Who can help you decide what’s right for you. What about consumer protections. How long will it take from signing a contract to getting solar and then to saving money? What happens if I move?
Learning Objectives:
• Finding solar installers
• Approved Vendors and how to find them
• What approved vendors must tell customers – The Affadavit
• State of Illinois consumer protections – if things go wrong
• Typical timeline from signing a contract to installation to realizing solar savings
Presenters:
• Kelly Turner, Chief Legal Counsel, Illinois Power Agency
• Jared Cacciatore, Chief Revenue Officer, Greenlink Energy Solutions
• Nelson Sjostrom, Director, City of Rockford Building Dept.
• Marina Minic, Solar Programs Coordinator, Citizens Utility Board
What are businesses really doing and how long are they doing it. How long are solar systems supposed to last and then what? What are the problems? Three real-life case studies will be presented for businesses in the Rockford region.
Learning Objectives:
• What kinds of businesses in the Rockford region are getting solar
• Customer experiences – the nitty gritty
Presenters:
• Dan Puckett, Senior VP, Iconic Energy
After many years experience now with homes and businesses which have solar, what do we know about solar’s impact on real estate value, taxes and property resale-ability? Statistics and case studies will be presented.
Learning Objectives:
• Incremental value of a home with solar
• Assessments and appraisals
• Impact on insurance costs
• Market data – national and local
Presenters:
• Pamela Brookstein, Program Manager, High Performing Buildings, Elevate Energy
• Jamie Gesner, Rockford Township Deputy Assessor
A panel will feature a selection of rural solar customers paired with their solar installers to discuss experiences in developing solar energy coverage and its impact on their operations and annual cash flow. Hear about what went well and what would they do differently.
Learning Objectives:
• Rural real-world examples of effective solar energy applications.
• Benefits and challenges from their solar installations and lessons learned.
• Best practices for keeping rural solar systems running efficiently.
Presenters:
• Patrick Weller, LEED AP – President, Sol Power Midwest, LLC
• Dan Kelly, River City Rentals
The rules for financial incentives for nonprofits and churches have changed – in a good way! Nonprofits and churches can now take advantage of the 30% federal investment tax credit through a new ruling by the Internal Revenue Service – Direct Pay. In addition, Illinois solar incentives may give some nonprofits and churches extra financial incentives if they are involved in charitable activities.
Learning Objectives:
• How nonprofits and churches can use the federal investment tax credit
• What it means to have ‘charitable activities’
• How location can increase the financial incentives available to them
• Examples of local nonprofits and churches which have taken advantage of solar
Presenters:
• Austin Carr, Owner, Greenlink Energy Solutions
• Jim Keeling, Atty with Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Join your neighbors, solar experts, and government representatives as we explore options for going solar. This is an all-day event open to the public.
The Solar Expo and Conference will kick off a year-long campaign to help Rockford region residents, businesses and institutions go solar and save money.
2024 Solar Conference and Expo
When: Thursday, July 18
Where: Embassy Suites Conference Center
Address: 416 S. Main St. Rockford, IL 61101
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