Illinois Moves Toward Solar Energy In ComEd Student Competition

NAPERVILLE, IL — ComEd has put out a call to college students to help Illinois pivot toward solar energy. The business recently launched a Student Innovation Contest to encourage students to design a solar dashboard that will help promote the valuable benefits of solar power to its customers.

Currently, there is no simple, catch-all way for solar customers to see their production and how it directly affects their energy bills. Commonwealth Edison Company, an Exelon Corporation, services about 4 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. At first, the contest was just going to be limited to students residing in the state.

“We received quite a bit of feedback from students outside of Illinois that were interested, so we’ve expanded it to all colleges and universities beyond just Illinois,” said C.J. Hundt, ComEd’s strategy and support manager. Any grad student, undergrad, part time, community college or private college students, or teams, can submit a concept for an engaging dashboard or application for customers. The top half of all entries will receive a share of a $1,600 pot.

The top five teams or individuals will advance the next round, where they’ll present their ideas to a panel of judges at the Solar Idea Summit. More cash will be awarded to those finalists, with amounts ranging from $500 for fifth place, to the grand prize of $5,000.

Submissions are due by 4 p.m. Dec. 29, and students must register through MindSumo. Finalists will be announced the second week of January.

“We are excited to tap into the creative minds of talented college students who have fresh and innovative ideas to promote the value of solar energy to our customers,” said Val Jensen, senior vice president of customer operations.

The contest helps carry out duties set from the Future Energy Jobs Act, which creates clean energy jobs and helps the Prairie State move toward a clean energy economy.

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