Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) is seeking qualified firms to submit proposals for the design, procurement, and installation of new, residential, direct-owned and power purchase agreement photovoltaic systems at a per-watt price lower than the prevailing single system market rate.

The group buys are being led by Midwest Renewable Energy Association. The goal of the group buys is to increase solar education and installations in Cook, Will, Kane, and DuPage Counties through group purchases involving free information sessions and a competitive selection process. To serve Chicagoland, MREA and Citizens Utility Board of Illinois (CUB) are conducting four separate group buys, one each in Cook County, DuPage County, Kane County, and Will County, throughout the Summer of 2019.

Between 2013 and 2018, the MREA facilitated twenty-two Solar Group Buy programs around the Midwest, reaching over 6,000 individuals with our Solar Power Hour information sessions, and leading to more than 7,400 kW on over 1,000 properties. Among those property owners who received proposals from partnering contractors, an average 42% purchased a PV system. To date, the average system size is 7.5 kW.

The group buys are conducted by MREA and CUB, with the support of Cook County, Will County, Kane County, and the DuPage Clean Energy Coalition with wide publicity and awareness in the area. MREA and CUB will coordinate and deliver free, public Solar Power Hour information sessions and market them widely with physical posters, email blasts, paid social media promotion, yard signs, and in the press.