Carle Health has completed its first year as the anchor subscriber for two community solar farms in central Illinois, delivering financial and environmental benefits across the region.
The Knox 3A/3B projects were developed by ENGIE North America in collaboration with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), bringing locally produced clean energy to households and businesses that previously lacked access to such programs.
As anchor subscriber, Carle Health provided the financial stability needed to transform the solar projects from plans into fully operational farms serving residents and local businesses.
Over the past year, Carle Health reduced its electricity expenses by more than $34,000, with those savings being reinvested directly into patient care and community initiatives across central and southeastern Illinois.
The anchor role opened participation for hundreds of residents and small businesses, with subscribers on Knox 3A/3B collectively saving hundreds of thousands of dollars that have gone toward groceries, home repairs, and business reinvestment.
Anthony Corso, Sustainability and Energy Manager at Carle Health, said: “We were excited to join as the anchor subscriber for these community solar farms because our support helped build stronger communities and create local jobs while the farms were taking shape.”
Corso added: “Now, a year later, the farms are generating clean and renewable energy, and families and small businesses are seeing real savings on their electricity bills.”
Kristen Fornes, Head of Distributed Solar and Storage at ENGIE, stated: “ENGIE is incredibly proud to work with Solstice and Microsoft to expand access to reliable and affordable energy solutions.”
Fornes continued: “This initiative is a clear reflection of the deep-seated commitment ENGIE and Microsoft share in advancing sustainable energy solutions that consistently deliver meaningful benefits for customers and communities.”
Solstice, a wholly owned subsidiary of Perch Energy, manages enrollment for the solar farms and has kept the subscription process simple and accessible for all participants.
Sandhya Murali, newly appointed Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Perch Energy, noted that anchor subscribers like Carle Health send a signal to the broader community that these programs are durable and built to deliver real savings.
Murali said: “When a trusted local organization like Carle Health steps in to take on the bulk of the energy generated, it makes it possible for more people in the community to participate.”
Solstice and Carle Health view the Knox 3A/3B projects as a replicable model showing that sustainability goals and meaningful social impact can advance together within a single program structure.
ENGIE North America, based in Houston, has more than 11 gigawatts of power generation in operation or under construction across North America, representing $11 billion of capital employed in the region.
Enrollment remains open for households and businesses in central and southern Illinois, with Solstice continuing to connect subscribers to community solar farms that reduce electric bills with no upfront cost or installation requirements.
