Garrison Riegel, left, and Jared Salvatore of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023.

Garrison Riegel, left, and Jared Salvatore of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

Photos: Illinois homeowners turning to solar power

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Concern over climate change has been a major motivation for many Illinoisians turning to solar energy more than ever before, industry experts say. A record 12,800 residential rooftop solar systems were connected to the grid in Northern Illinois in the first 10 months of 2023, up from 10,500 in all of 2022, and just 110 in 2013, according to ComEd. State and federal governments are encouraging homeowners with incentives for rooftop solar installations at a time when the world is struggling to stay on track to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Garrison Riegel, left, and Jared Salvatore of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023.

Garrison Riegel, left, and Jared Salvatore of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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A crew from Celestar Solar prepare a roof in Schaumburg for solar panel installation on Nov. 30, 2023.

A crew from Celestar Solar prepare a roof in Schaumburg for solar panel installation on Nov. 30, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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Jared Salvatore, right, and Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof on Nov. 30, 2023.

Jared Salvatore, right, and Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof on Nov. 30, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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Jared Salvatore, of Celestar Solar, carries a solar panel to be lifted onto a roof during an installation in Schaumburg.

Jared Salvatore, of Celestar Solar, carries a solar panel to be lifted onto a roof during an installation in Schaumburg. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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Nathan Gorr, standing outside his Schaumburg home, said his concerns about climate change and what that will mean for his children motivated him to have solar panels installed.

Nathan Gorr, standing outside his Schaumburg home, said his concerns about climate change and what that will mean for his children motivated him to have solar panels installed. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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Jared Salvatore, right, and Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023.

Jared Salvatore, right, and Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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Jared Salvatore, left, prepares a bracket for installation as Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar positions a solar panel onto a roof.

Jared Salvatore, left, prepares a bracket for installation as Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar positions a solar panel onto a roof. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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Jared Salvatore, left, and Garrison Riegel carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg.

Jared Salvatore, left, and Garrison Riegel carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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A crew from Celestar Solar prepare a roof in Schaumburg for solar panel installation on Nov. 30, 2023.

A crew from Celestar Solar prepare a roof in Schaumburg for solar panel installation on Nov. 30, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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Jared Salvatore, right, and Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar, carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023.

Jared Salvatore, right, and Garrison Riegel of Celestar Solar, carry a solar panel onto a roof in Schaumburg, Nov. 30, 2023. (Trent Sprague/Chicago Tribune)

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