Governor Quinn Announces Solar Panels to be Installed at Illinois Executive Mansion

SPRINGFIELD – October 10, 2010. Governor Quinn today announced plans to install solar panels at the executive mansion in Springfield as part of the 10/10/10 Global Work Party. The Global Work Party, which takes place on Oct. 10, is a day of action to fight climate change. Established by 350.org, the celebration unites more than 7,000 events in 183 different countries to help find solutions to climate change.

“I am pleased to announce plans to bring the Illinois Governor’s Mansion into the 21st century with a new set of solar panels”, said Governor Quinn. “We must do everything we can to increase our use of solar energy, which will help us protect natural resources and reduce our reliance on traditional energy sources.”

The solar panels to be installed were donated by WindFree Energy Company in Chicago and BYD America in Arlington Heights. The racking and bracketing was provided by B. Weinstein Engineering in Highland Park. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 193 is donating the labor to install this project.

It is estimated that the new, one kilowatt solar array will reduce green house gas emissions by 30 tons of CO2 over the next 25 years, which is equivalent to approximately 100,000 car miles or the planting of 1,100 trees.

Much of the equipment for the solar panels will be manufactured in the U.S. with many of the components manufactured in Illinois. Today’s news follows the recent announcement that a solar array will be installed on the White House in Washington, DC.

Governor Quinn previously installed energy efficient LED lighting, rain barrels, and most recently a community vegetable garden to make the executive mansion greener and more sustainable.

For more information about Governor Quinn’s sustainability initiatives, please visit Green.Illinois.gov. For more information and photos of the Global Work Party, visit www.350.org.