Morton Arboretum to go solar

LISLE - The Morton Arboretum said Wednesday it has entered into a 30-year power purchase agreement with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC to install a two-megawatt, on-site solar array anticipated to meet 100% of the organization's annual electricity needs beginning in 2023.

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023 and will be completed next fall.

NextEra Energy is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida.

"As one of the world's leading tree conservation organizations, the Morton Arboretum is actively pursuing transformative, environmental sustainability throughout its operations," said James S. Fawley, the arboretum's interim president and CEO. "Just as trees capture and convert their own energy using the sunlight that strikes their leaves, the arboretum will do the same by sourcing its electricity from the sun."

The array will produce about three million kilowatt-hours annually, Morton Arboretum said.

"On-site solar generation provides institutions like the Morton Arboretum both environmental benefits and price stability over the long term and we applaud the Morton Arboretum's leadership in taking this step," said Matt Ulman, NextEra Energy Resources vice president of distributed generation.