With federal Inflation Reduction Tax Credits being phased out on on July 4, 2026, SGA in collaboration with the Urban Efficiency Group (UEG) through the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4) has been working with a host of institutions across Chicago to support on-site solar including no-capital, zero-cost opportunities that take advantage of tax credits. The project accesses private capital to install and maintain the solar arrays, and institutions purchase the power back at a reduced rate (see details below).
SGA , UEG, and partners NeRD (Net-Zero Energy Restoration & Development) and Inbalance2030 have been meeting with Chicago Public Schools, Brookfield Zoo, Forest Preserves of Cook County, Dominican University, Trinity High School, Fenwick High School, the Village of Oak Park, Oak Park Apartments, the Village of Broadview, a multi-family building in Maywood, and others to model financial savings and solar array capacity.
For more details see below, and to arrange a brief call contact [email protected].
How It Works
Simply stated, the investors secured through partner NeRD pay for everything (solar panels, electrical connections, installations, operations and maintenance, licensing, etc.). They own the assets, and the institutions purchase electricity from the installations at a reduced rate through a Power Purchase Agreement. The investors make their money through the tax credits and institutions benefit from reduced electricity rates and achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions as stewards of the environment.
The project uses all vetted local vendors/contractors – which includes minority and women-owned businesses – who do the installations and who monitor and conduct operations and maintenance. This project model enables park districts and other institutions who don’t have available capital to participate in clean energy and have solar panels on their buildings or land, and it supports community interest in taking action with respect to the climate crisis.
Timeline
Through the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill (now Act), the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits are phasing out. Solar projects that begin before July 5, 2026 will be eligible for the tax credits in full and will have 4 years to complete the project. The urgency of acting now cannot be overstated given the data and processes needed to get projects like these off the ground.
If You Are Interested
If you are interested in exploring this option, contact Seven Generations Ahead ([email protected]) and we will schedule an initial brief chat and provide you with more information on the project. If you wish to move forward, we will arrange a virtual meeting with the NeRD team and all of the project partners listed above to run through a slide deck, clarify your interests and goals, and discuss next steps. These partners have agreed to do an analysis and review completely free of charge to see if your building is a candidate for the program. Those that are good candidates will get their projects paid for and have reduced energy costs for decades.
