Overview
Iluminar is the City of Longmont’s first community solar program, allowing participating homes to enjoy the advantages of local renewable power without having to install rooftop solar panels. This is an option that has been growing in popularity across the U.S. – as of 2025, 44 states had community solar projects, including about 180 projects in Colorado alone.
Iluminar Production
About Iluminar
What does “Iluminar” mean? The Spanish word “iluminar” means “to illuminate” in English, as in making something brighter … quite appropriate for a solar project! As a word that’s meaningful in two languages, it also fits Longmont’s diverse community.
What is community solar? A community solar program lets participants subscribe to a share of the electricity generated by a solar power site. This means that some or all of the power they use each month will come from the program, offsetting their electric usage with clean, renewable energy.
Where does Iluminar’s solar energy come from? The first Iluminar site, Martin St. Solar, uses a 200-kilowatt solar panel system on the roof of Longmont’s Waste Services building at 110 S. Martin St.
How many LPC customers are part of Iluminar? About 30 households. Half of them pay a premium each month to be part of the program. The other half are customers who also qualify for Longmont CAReS, the City’s bill assistance program to help households in need.
What benefits do the Longmont CAReS customers get from Iluminar? In addition to taking part in local renewable energy, the Longmont CAReS participants get a 20% discount on their electric bill. This is paid for by the premium from the other Iluminar participants.
How much is the premium? Premium-paying customers add 20% to their electric bill to take part in the program. By taking part, the customers have the opportunity to help a neighbor and support renewable energy, while still paying less than it would have cost to have solar panels installed at their home.
I’m interested in participating – will there be options to do so in the future? The City is considering additional Iluminar sites and will announce them as they become available. A second Iluminar site will launch in early 2026, providing power to residents of the Ascent at Hover Crossing affordable housing development.
