Gov. Pritzker Joins ComEd to Present G&W Electric with Record High $2.6 Million Rebate for Largest Commercial Solar/Storage Installation in Illinois

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker today joined ComEd to present G&W Electric of Bolingbrook, Ill., with a record high Distributed Generation (DG) Rebate of $2.6 million for the construction of a massive solar-plus-storage project at its global headquarters and manufacturing center southwest of Chicago. Created by the Future Energy Jobs Act in 2017 and expanded by the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in 2021, ComEd’s DG Rebate program has awarded $130 million in rebates since inception. It is available to commercial, industrial, and residential customers that install an eligible distributed electric renewable generation system. Distributed generation refers to a variety of technologies that generate electricity at or near where it will be used.

“Since I became Governor, I’ve been focused on propelling Illinois forward into a clean energy future — ushering in a new era of environmental justice and sustainability for every community,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “That’s why, in 2021, I worked with the General Assembly and signed the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act — solidifying Illinois’ status as the first state in the Midwest to commit to 100% clean energy by 2050. In addition to investing over $80 million annually to develop a renewable energy workforce, this nation-leading legislation has so far created nearly 9,800 megawatts of new solar capacity and increased funding for the Distributed Generation Rebate Program. CEJA paved the way for companies to join the fight against climate change by investing in solar power projects just like this one. Congratulations to the ComEd and G&W Electric teams!”

G&W Electric, a 119-year-old manufacturer of medium and high voltage power equipment, received a DG Rebate of $600,000 for its investments in rooftop solar and a rebate of $2 million for a battery energy storage system. The solar and battery storage- the largest such installation in a commercial and industrial setting in Illinois - support G&W Electric’s microgrid, a small power grid that can operate connected to, or independently from, the ComEd electric grid to meet demand within a defined electrical boundary. The microgrid’s priority is to enhance the resiliency of the G&W Electric’s power system, while reducing its energy costs and carbon emissions. It can also provide backup power in the event of an interruption to the grid.