BEDFORD, MA — Spire Corporation announced that its Spire Solar Chicago operation has been contracted to provide solar photovoltaic electric systems on twelve new single-family homes to be constructed in the Chicago metropolitan area. These systems will be placed on the "New Homes for South Chicago," an affordable housing development in the southeastern part of the City. Each system of 1,200 watts is expected to provide about one quarter of the electricity for each energy efficient house designed by Sam Marts Architects and Planners and developed by Claretian Associates. This will be the first single-family housing development in the Chicago/Midwest area to have photovoltaic systems.

Spire Solar Chicago has provided solar electric systems having over 600,000 peak watts on over 25 installations in Chicago, including seven of the City's major museums and eight Chicago public school buildings. Spire manufactures solar electric modules and designs systems at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, located on the City's West Side. Funding sources for these systems include the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, Chicago Department of Environment and ComEd. These organizations, along with Spire, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Community Energy Cooperative, the Chicago Public Schools and BP Solar, make up the Chicago Solar Partnership, whose mission is to remove barriers and encourage the use of solar energy in Chicago. Funding was also provided by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.