about.html

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title: About
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<h1>About Illinois Solar Map</h1>

<p>
  With the passage of the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/bio/jc-kibbey/illinois-passes-nation-leading-equitable-climate-bill">Climate and Equitable Jobs Act</a> (CEJA) in 2021, Illinois is on a path to 100% carbon-free energy by 2050 and has enabled the rapid expansion of clean energy installations. This map is a first pass at creating a statewide aggregate tracking the status of the <strong>state’s rapid expansion of solar projects</strong>. 
</p>
<p>
  As of {{ site.last_updated }}, over <strong>{{ site.total_mw }} megawatts</strong> of operating solar capacity have been installed in the State of Illinois, with <strong>{{site.planned_mw}} megawatts planned</strong> or under construction. For comparison, <a href="https://prairiestateenergycampus.com/">Prairie State</a>, the State’s largest coal power plant, is 1,630 megawatts, illustrating just how far we've come in a few years, but still how far we have to go to reach 100% renewable energy in Illinois.
</p>

<p>There are {{site.total_count}} solar projects throughout the state, ranging in size from a single 0.6 kW solar panel to the 200 megawatt <a href='https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/12/17/prairie-wolf-solar-project-begins-operation-in-illinois/'>Prairie Wolf Solar project</a> in Coles County.</p>

<p class="text-center">
  <img src="/images/prarie-wolf-solar.jpg" class="img-fluid img-thumbnail" alt="The Prarie Wolf Solar Project in Coles County">
  <br /><em>The Prarie Wolf Solar Project in Coles County</em>
</p>
<hr/>

<p>
  <strong>Table of contents</strong>
</p>

<ul>
  <li><a href="#categories-of-solar-projects">Categories of solar projects</a></li>
  <li><a href="#projects-by-category">Projects by category</a></li>
  <li><a href="#solar-installations-over-time">Solar installations over time</a></li>
  <li><a href="#planned">Planned projects</a></li>
  <li><a href="#data-sources">Data sources</a></li>
  <li><a href="#missing-data">Missing data</a></li>
  <li><a href="#team-and-collaborators">Team and collaborators</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 id="categories-of-solar-projects" class="mt-4">Categories of solar projects</h2>

<p>
All units of power measurement are in megawatts (MW), specifically alternating current (MWAC).
</p>
<p>
Solar installations are divided up into 4 categories:
</p>
<ul>
  <li><strong>Utility</strong>: Utility Scale Solar projects built by energy utilities</li>
  <li><strong>Community Solar (CS)</strong>: Community Solar projects whose electricity is shared by more than a single property</li>
  <li><strong>Large Distributed Generation (Large DG)</strong>: Large Distributed Generation (DG) systems above 25 kW up to 2,000 kW in size</li>
  <li><strong>Small Distributed Generation (Small DG)</strong>: Small Distributed Generation (DG) for systems 25 kW and below</li>
</ul>

<h2 id="projects-by-category" class="mt-4">Energized projects by category</h2>
<div class="row">
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    <div id="table-summary"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-md-5">
    <figure class="highcharts-figure">
      <div id="projects-chart"></div>
    </figure>
  </div>
</div>

<h2 id="solar-installations-over-time" class="mt-4">Solar installations over time</h2>

<p>Our data covers utility solar projects starting in December 2009. Data from the Adjustable Block Program and Illinois Solar for All start in 2019.</p>

<p>Planned projects are based on scheduled energization dates, which can be delayed. All planned projects have recieved official approval and, based on our research, have a >95% chance of being built.</p>

<figure class="highcharts-figure">
  <div id="timeseries-chart"></div>
  <p class="highcharts-description"><strong>Description:</strong> Area chart showing the cumulative megawatts of Utility, Small Distributed Generation, Large Distributed Generation and Community solar energized and planned in Illinois. There is a notable increase in megawatts installed starting in late 2019.</p>

</figure>

<h2 id="planned" class="mt-4">Planned projects</h2>

<p>An additional <strong>{{site.planned_mw}} megawatts</strong> of solar is planned or under construction in Illinois, over double what is currently energized.
</p>

<div class="row">
  <div class="col-md-7">
    <div id="table-summary-planned"></div>
  </div>
  <div class="col-md-5">
    <figure class="highcharts-figure">
      <div id="projects-chart-planned"></div>
    </figure>
  </div>
</div>
  
<p><em>** Note: our source data does not show planned community solar projects. They are likely grouped with Large DG.</em></p>

<p>You can view where and what kind of projects are planned by clicking the 'Planned' selector on the map:</p>

<p class="text-center">
  <a href="/index.html#/?status=planned&geography=counties">
    <img src="/images/energized-vs-planned.jpg" class="img-fluid img-thumbnail" alt="Energized vs planned solar projects by County" title="Energized vs planned solar projects by County">
  </a>
  <br /><em>Energized (blue) vs Planned (purple) kW of solar in Illinois</em>
</p>
<p class="text-center my-4">
  <a href="/index.html#/?status=planned&geography=counties" class="btn btn-primary btn-lg px-4">View planned projects</a>
</p>

<h2 id="data-sources" class="mt-4">Data sources</h2>
<p>The raw data for this map is available to <a href="https://github.com/chihacknight/il-solar-map/tree/main/data/final">view and download here</a>. The code for this website and to categorize and aggregate the project data by category and geography are open source at <a href="https://github.com/chihacknight/il-solar-map">github.com/chihacknight/il-solar-map</a>.</p>

<p>Solar project sources</p>
<ul>
  <li><a href="https://illinoisabp.com/project-application-reports/">Illinois Adjustable Block Program Project Applications published by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA)</a> (May 2019 - {{ site.ilabp_updated }})</li>
  <li><a href="https://www.illinoissfa.com/resource-library/">Illinois Solar for All Projects administered by Elevate and IPA</a> (May 2019 - {{ site.ilsfa_updated }})</li>
  <li><a href="https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia860m/">Utility solar projects (US EIA-860M)</a> (Dec 2009 - {{ site.eia860_updated }})</li>
</ul>

<p>Boundary sources</p>
<ul>
  <li><a href="https://clearinghouse.isgs.illinois.edu/data/reference/illinois-county-boundaries-polygons-and-lines">Illinois Counties</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://www.elections.il.gov/shape/">Illinois State Senate Districts (2023)</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://www.elections.il.gov/shape/">Illinois State House Districts (2023)</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://www2.census.gov/geo/tiger/TIGER2020PL/STATE/17_ILLINOIS/17/">Illinois Census Tracts (2020)</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Legislator info</p>
<ul>
  <li><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois_State_Senate">Illinois State Senate Members</a></li>
  <li><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Illinois_House_of_Representatives">Illinois State House Members</a></li>
</ul>

<h2 id="missing-data" class="mt-4">Missing data</h2>

<p>This map does not represent every single solar project in Illinois. Our data does not include:</p>

<ul>
  <li>solar project that came online after {{ site.last_updated }}</li>
  <li>small-scale solar projects that were funded before Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) programs were implemented (before 2018)</li>
  <li>solar projects that did not get funding from the Adjustable Block or Illinois Solar for All programs</li>
</ul>

<div class="row">
  <div class="col-md-9">
    <h2 id="team-and-collaborators" class="mt-4">Team and collaborators</h2>
    <p>
      This map and the data were created in collaboration with the <a href="https://ilcleanjobs.org/">Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition</a> Renewables Subcommittee and civic tech volunteers at <a href="https://chihacknight.org/">Chi Hack Night</a>.
      </p>
      <ul>
        <li><a href="https://derekeder.com/">Derek Eder</a> - Project and development lead
        <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/surag-nuthulapaty-a72822254/">Surag Nuthulapaty</a> - Data aggregation
          <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/forest-gregg-8a5b8a60/">Forest Gregg</a> - Data aggregation
        <li><a href="https://chihacknight.org/board-of-directors/eric-sherman.html">Eric Sherman</a> - Mapping and consulting</li>
      </ul>
      <p>Questions? Email Derek at <a href="mailto:derek@derekeder.com">derek@derekeder.com</a> 

      <p>Check out some of the other climate related projects from Chi Hack Night: <a href="https://decarbmystate.com/">Decarb My State</a> and <a href="https://electrifychicago.net/">Electrify Chicago</a></p>
    </p>
  </div>
  <div class="col-md-3">
    <img src="/images/il_clean_jobs_logo.svg" class="img-fluid" alt="Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition" title="Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition">
    <img src="/images/chn-logo.png" class="img-fluid" alt="Chi Hack Night" title="Chi Hack Night">
  </div>
</div>

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