Solar Energy Helps Power On-the-go Residents Across Northern Illinois Communities

Picnic tables, benches and playground equipment are all familiar sights in local parks and community spaces, but people who live in Rockford and in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood have recently spotted some curious new structures taking shape across their urban landscape.

These are solar-powered workstations, quietly capturing energy from the sun, turning it into a resource residents can use in real time to sit down, plug in and commune with an electronic device while enjoying some fresh air.

Rockford and Bronzeville were chosen because each has been chosen as a Community of the Future (CoF) by ComEd. Through the initiative, 12 solar-powered workstations were installed in parks, schools, and community spaces where people already live, learn and connect.

The stations provide convenient charging for devices on-the-go, while enhancing outdoor spaces in local communities. Each workstation operates independently from the electric grid, generating enough solar energy to power dozens of devices each day.

The CoF initiative was first launched in Bronzeville in 2016, with the aim of developing projects that support more sustainable, resilient and connected communities. Community advisory councils and local organizations help identify and implement solutions that reflect neighborhood priorities, with a focus on clean energy, innovation and improved quality of life.

“The installation has already added visible value to the Boxville campus by increasing accessibility, supporting our small business ecosystem, and creating an added community amenity for visitors, entrepreneurs and residents alike,” said Sheree Steward, Director of Engagement & Partnerships for Build Bronzeville, a multi-pronged community revitalization initiative designed to restore commercial activity, job opportunities, and neighborhood pride to Bronzeville. “These types of infrastructure investments help strengthen the overall visitor experience while also reinforcing Boxville’s role as a hub for culture, commerce, innovation and community on Chicago’s South Side.”

The initiative expanded to Rockford in 2022, allowing learnings to be applied in different settings, while continuing to seek input from residents on projects that make energy more accessible and visible in everyday life.

“The workstation provides a safe, welcoming space where students can work, connect and charge devices while outside before or after school,” said Jessica Powell, Principal of Thurgood Marshall Middle School, one of several locations in Rockford hosting a solar workstation. “This year we have also had staff take advantage of the power supply as they have conducted their grade level meetings around the table while notetaking and charging laptops.”

Each solar-powered workstation location was selected in collaboration with leaders from both communities, with model types and quantities determined by the needs of each location. In addition to Marshall Middle School, stations can be found in Bronzeville at XS Tennis Village and at Boxville, a vibrant outdoor marketplace. There, the addition of built-in WiFi at select units helps local vendors stay connected while they run their businesses, offering flexibility that supports day-to-day operations. At Rockford’s Rock Valley College, the workstations also offer students a variety of educational and outreach opportunities focused on renewable energy, STEM learning and sustainability practices.

“At ComEd, we are proud to support the communities we serve by helping bring new energy solutions into everyday spaces,” said Andy Plenge, Vice President of Strategy and Energy Policy for ComEd. “It is an opportunity to make clean energy more visible, more approachable and more connected to people’s daily lives.”