CHICAGO Ill., July 29, 2003 — The Interstate Renewable Energy Council honored Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and its “Chicago Solar Partnership” with the 2003 “Innovation Award.”
The award, honoring creative renewable energy projects, recognized the important role of the Chicago Solar Partnership, a public/private consortium responsible for over 750 kilowatts (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) generation on the roofs of several Chicago schools, museums, and other public buildings.
ComEd, Chicago’s largest electricity provider and a unit of Exelon Corporation, accepted the award at the IREC annual conference in Austin, Texas, June 22. The conference was a joint meeting with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Millions Solar Roofs Initiative.
IREC and independent judges reviewed award applications and selected winners among education, energy policy, regulatory actions, research and development, and other related programs.
The judges determined that all three winners of the Innovation Award–the Sustainable Natural Energy Program (SNAP), the Chicago Solar Partnership, and the Utah Wind Power Campaign–demonstrated a measurable positive impact that is both replicable and innovative.
“ComEd is proud to help bring clean, renewable energy directly into Chicago schools, homes and business,” said Gabriela Martin, ComEd manager of environmental commitments. “We’re part of a team promoting sustainability, and educating future generations about the importance of protecting the environment.”
The Partnership has installed solar PV systems on eight Chicago public schools, with more on the way. Paired with a curriculum that integrates renewable energy education into math and science lessons, the Partnership is hoping its “solar schools” will become the nation’s largest school-based solar energy network. Educational resources and real-time data displays for many of the City’s solar installations are featured on the Partnership website, www.chicagosolarpartnership.org, which was recognized as a 2002 “Outstanding Website” by the Web Marketing Association.
ComEd has received several other awards for its renewable energy achievements, including the 2002 “Development of a Solar Community” award from the Solar Electric Power Association and the 2002 Million Solar Roofs Initiative “Best Progress Award.” Additionally, ComEd was awarded the Utility Photovoltaic Group and Million Solar Roofs Initiative “Challenge Award” in 2000. These honors, including the recent IREC award, stem from ComEd’s 1999 $12 million commitment to invest in and install solar generation equipment throughout Chicago.
About Commonwealth Edison
Commonwealth Edison is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one the nation’s largest electric utilities with more than $15 billion in revenues and a customer base of five million. ComEd provides service to more than 3.4 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.
About the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
The Interstate Renewable Energy is a non-profit association with a mission to accelerate the sustainable utilization of renewable energy sources and technologies in and through state and local government and community activities. IREC supports market-oriented services targeted at education, coordination, procurement, the adoption and implementation of uniform guidelines and standards, and consumer protection.
