Summit Ridge, Trajectory Energy Break Ground on Illinois Community Solar Project

Summit Ridge Energy and Trajectory Energy Partners have broken ground at the Rock Cut Solar project in Rockford, Ill. 

The project, owned and operated by Summit Ridge, is a 6.2 MW community-driven community solar (CDCS) project developed by Trajectory Energy Partners and expected to be operational by the second half of next year.

As a CDCS project, Rock Cut Solar aims to establish a partnership with Rockford and Winnebago County. Part of the project is the Rock Cut Solar Partnership, made up of a team of local community members who were engaged in the development of Rock Cut Solar.  

Included in the partnership are two organizations slated to act as long-term collaborators on the project: Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity and Get Connected 815, both of which address housing and employment issues in Rockford and Winnebago County. Rock Cut Solar will continue to support these two organizations once in operation. 

This collaboration marks the companies’ thirteenth project together aimed at delivering utility savings to Illinois communities. 

“We’re thrilled to break ground on the Rock Cut Solar project,” says Mark Raeder, Summit Ridge Energy principal.  

“It’s a unique project that shows how transformative sustainable energy solutions can be, especially when its community is united in a shared vision and goal. This project is a perfect example of Summit Ridge’s commitment to community-driven solar initiatives, which provide clean energy to communities that could otherwise be left out of the clean energy revolution. Equally important, we’re able to create local jobs and reduce utility costs for residents through projects like these. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”