Courts Plus has officially gone solar! On July 9, the Elmhurst Park District and Courts Plus celebrated this exciting milestone with a special “Solarbration” themed Party in the Park. Community members enjoyed games and music before gathering for the ceremonial flipping of a light switch—symbolizing the start of solar energy at the Park District’s fitness facility.
This achievement is a signal of the Park District’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.
“This project is a great example of how investing in solar can really enhance public spaces and sustainability can be woven into the community’s everyday life,” said Tony Jaswal, Vice President of General Energy.
Due to a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) approved by the Elmhurst Park Board in March 2024, solar panels were installed across all roof surfaces at Courts Plus.
The PPA allowed the Park District to avoid the upfront costs of solar PV implementation. Instead, its solar investment partner, DSD Renewables in partnership with General Energy Corporation, owns and operates the system, while selling the clean electricity back to the Park District at a fixed rate. This agreement locks in energy costs on half of Courts Plus’ electricity usage for the next 20 years, providing long-term savings and predictability.
With electricity rates expected to increase with inflation over time, locking in pricing now positions the Park District to reduce operational costs—a projected net positive financial impact of $307,000 over the life of the agreement.
The solar array has a capacity of 674.96 kilowatts and will generate approximately 754 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually. That’s the equivalent of removing 118 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road each year.
“This solar project represents an investment in our parks, people, and planet, and was more than just an infrastructure upgrade,” said Angela M. Ferrentino, Director of Referendum Project Construction for Elmhurst Park District.
“We’re confident it will deliver a positive impact to the Elmhurst community for a long time to come.”