Illinois Solar Tour - Southern Sites

The 2022 Solar Tour was available in a hybrid format, offering both in-person and video tours. Please check individual sites to see which types of tours were offered.

Types of Tours:

In-Person: The home or business owner will be there to talk about their installation and answer questions; may or may not include going inside to see equipment
Video: The home or business owner filmed a video tour of their system, which is viewable online
Outside Viewing: The home or business owner may or may not be available to visitors; visitors can view the system from outside

Carbondale

City of Carbondale

Site Type: Governmental

Tour Type: In-Person

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System:

System #1 - 216.4 kW, 577 Panels, Roof Mounted

System #2 - 324.0 kW, 864 Panels, Ground Mounted

System #3 - 823.5 kW, 2,196 Panels, Ground Mounted

Annual Production: ~1846 MWh collectively

Why I went solar: It was a way that the City could help the environment, support renewable energy and gain some of the rewards of having solar energy produced on our properties.

Carbondale

Church of the Good Shepherd UCC

Site Type: Non-Profit

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

Link to Video

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System: 24 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 8100 kWh

Why I went solar: To help fulfill two of the missions of the church, Whole Earth and Peace and Justice. To set an example for other churches to follow. To reduce electric cost to zero (we average paying $54/year electricity).

Carbondale

First Christian Church

Site Type: Non-Profit

Tour Type: In-Person

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System: 84 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 19.8 MWh

Why I went solar: Our congregation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) wanted do our part to be good stewards of God's creation by using sustainable energy. We also saw that we might be able to plan our budgeting because we could anticipate our energy costs for many years to come. For example we have only paid $18.93 on electricity since installing the panels in August of 2018.

Carbondale

Mulberry Hill Farm

Site Type: Business

Tour Type: In-Person

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System: 64 ground-mounted panels

Annual Production: 19.98 MWh

Why I went solar: We must convert our energy use away from fossil fuels and to renewable non-polluting energy sources or we lose the planet.

Carbondale

Judy Ashby

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System: 12 roof-mounted panels, backup batteries, geothermal

Annual Production: ~4000 kWh

Why I went solar: We have always been environmentally conscious and concerned and wanted to do what was best for the earth as well as set an example for the community.

Carbondale

Charlie Howe

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System: 17 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: ~5000 kWh

Why I went solar: I bought this house and property because of its good orientation for having solar on the roof. Too, I'm a believer in getting away from using fossil fuels that are hastening the demise of life on Earth. Lastly, from the sale of 16 acres of Makanda woods to an equally environmentally conscious neighbor, I had the funds available to do this "toute de suite." That's French for IMMEDIATELY! So, I made it happen.

Carbondale

Vogler Motor Company

Site Type: Business

Tour Type: In-Person

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System: 640 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: Unknown

Why I went solar: We felt like it would pay for itself over time. Tax incentives and energy savings were very attractive from a business standpoint. We also wanted to do our part in protecting the environment by utilizing the energy available to us from the sun.

Carbondale

Chuck Litecky

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Outside Viewing

Part of Carbondale Community Tour!

System: 38 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 9380 kWh

Why I went solar: Wanted to do something about energy production and seemed like a good investment.

Carterville

AES Solar

Site Type: Solar Energy Business

Tour Type: In-Person

System:

System #1 - 35 roof-mounted panels

System #2 - 35 roof-mounted panels

System #3 - 9 awning-mounted panels, with backup battery

System #4 - 8 ground-mounted panels, with EV charger

Annual Production:

System #1 - 11.8 MWh

System #2 - 11.9 MWh

System #3 - 3345 kWh

System #4 - 5250 kWh

Why I went solar: AES Solar has an unparalleled educational showroom with 4 functioning systems including roof, awning and ground mounts. Three inverter brands represented. Battery back up and EV charging.

Murphysboro

Dale and Jan Ritzel

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 34 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 10.8 MWh

Why I went solar: It was the correct thing to do at the time (and still is). Reducing our costs for energy (save on average $1,500.00/year in electricity cost).