Powered by the Sun: Illinois Solar Homes Open Their Doors

(Undated) -- Illinoisans had an opportunity this weekend to check out what it was like to live in a home powered by the sun. Home and business owners with solar and other renewable-energy installations invited the public inside as part of the Illinois Solar Tour. Leslie McCain with the Illinois Solar Energy Association says solar power has grown quite a bit, and there’s a lot of availability in the state. She says the decline in the cost of hard goods has made a difference. McCain says there are currently about 47 megawatts of solar installed in Illinois, and about 14 megawatts comes from these smaller installations. There were more than 60 sites around the state that participated in the tour which was held on Saturday.