Trajectory Energy Partners
Chicago-based community solar developer that builds PV solar farms on public school properties in Illinois and enrolls local residents through the Illinois Shines Program via Ameren, delivering utility-bill savings to subscribers and energy-cost savings to host school districts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Trajectory Energy Partners does
Trajectory Energy Partners is a Chicago-based, private community solar developer founded in 2017 that brings together public school districts, local communities, and landowners to develop utility-scale photovoltaic solar projects in Illinois. The company's core product is community solar farms built on institutional land — most notably the Jubilee Solar Project in Brimfield, Illinois, a 5,400-panel, nine-acre installation on public school property that was the first of its kind in the state.
The underlying technology is conventional PV solar panel infrastructure sited on partner-owned land, paired with a subscription-based delivery model administered through the Illinois Shines Program in partnership with Ameren. Subscribers receive up to 15% in utility bill credits while the host school district retains over $22,000 in annual energy cost savings, and the company earns recurring subscription revenue and potentially Renewable Energy Certificate income. The company employs 11–50 people, has raised $1.84M in disclosed funding to date, and was founded by David Lipowicz, Jon Carson, Josh Bushinsky, and Megan Strand.
The go-to-market is community-led: Trajectory recruits host sites through relationships with school districts, then enrolls residential subscribers via the state-administered Illinois Shines Program on Ameren's billing platform. Customer segments are split between public school districts (vertical host partners) and local community residents (subscription buyers), making the business model a hybrid of long-term PPA-style site-host revenue and distributed residential subscription revenue.
Trajectory Energy Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trajectory Energy Partners
- Website
- https://trajectoryenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chicago-based community solar developer that builds PV solar farms on public school properties in Illinois and enrolls local residents through the Illinois Shines Program via Ameren, delivering utility-bill savings to subscribers and energy-cost savings to host school districts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trajectory Energy Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Solar Development
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD), Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)
Keywords
Where Trajectory Energy Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Trajectory Energy Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Community Solar Subscriptions: Revenue generated through community solar subscriptions where local residents subscribe to the Illinois Shines Program through utility partner Ameren. Subscribers receive credits on their utility bills for solar energy generated, while Trajectory earns subscription fees and potential REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Community Solar Subscription for Residents |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Trajectory Energy Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Trajectory Energy Partners develops community solar farms in partnership with public institutions (primarily school districts) and distributes the generated energy to local residents through subscription programs. Its core project, the Jubilee Solar Project in Brimfield, Illinois, consists of 5,400 photovoltaic solar panels on nine acres of school district land, enabling residents to subscribe via the Illinois Shines Program through Ameren for utility bill savings.
Product overview
Trajectory Energy Partners develops community solar projects in partnership with educational institutions and local communities. The company's primary offering is community solar farm development, exemplified by the Jubilee Solar Project in partnership with the Brimfield Community Unit School District. These projects enable both institutional and residential participants to access renewable energy benefits through subscription programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Jubilee Solar Project A community solar farm developed by Trajectory Energy Partners on public school property in Brimfield, Illinois. The 5,400-panel, nine-acre installation provides energy cost savings to the Brimfield Community Unit School District (over $22,000 annually) and enables local residents to subscribe via the Illinois Shines Program through Ameren for up to 15% in utility bill savings.
- Community Solar Subscription Program (Illinois Shines via Ameren) Subscription service enabling local Illinois residents served by Ameren to subscribe to Trajectory Energy Partners' community solar projects and receive credits on their utility bills (up to 15% savings). Managed through the state-administered Illinois Shines Program in partnership with Ameren as billing intermediary.
Quantifiable outcome
- School districts save over $22,000 annually on energy costs from a single 5,400-panel installation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Trajectory Energy Partners
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Trajectory Energy Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Trajectory Energy Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Brimfield Community Unit School DistrictcoreStrategic partnership for the Jubilee Solar Project - the first community solar farm on public school property in Illinois. The school district hosts 5,400 solar panels on nine acres of land and receives over $22,000 in annual energy cost savings. The partnership enables the district to demonstrate environmental leadership while achieving significant cost reductions.
- AmerencoreRegional utility company serving as the program administrator for the Illinois Shines Program in the Trajectory Energy service territory. Ameren handles billing, subscription management, and utility bill credits for community solar subscribers. Enables residents to subscribe to Trajectory's solar projects through Ameren's program platform.
- Illinois Shines ProgramcoreState-administered community solar incentive program that enables Trajectory Energy Partners to sell solar subscriptions to utility customers. The program provides the regulatory framework and consumer confidence mechanism for community solar development in Illinois.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Trajectory Energy Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nexamp: One of the largest US community solar developers and subscription operators with significant Illinois footprint. Closely comparable business model — develops community solar projects, manages subscriber acquisition through utility programs, and operates a recurring subscription revenue platform.
- Soltage: Independent community solar and distributed generation developer operating across multiple US states including Illinois. Comparable model — develops, owns, and operates community solar assets with subscription-based subscriber relationships.
- SunShare: Community solar developer and subscription management company focused on multi-state community solar programs. Direct comparability in subscriber acquisition, utility bill credit delivery, and recurring subscription economics.
- Cypress Creek Renewables: Large-scale solar developer with community solar and utility-scale projects across multiple US states. Comparable in developing community solar subscription assets, though larger and more diversified across project types and geographies.
- U.S. Light Energy: Community solar and distributed generation developer with active projects in Illinois and other Northeast/Midwest states. Comparable in developing utility-billed solar subscriptions and partnering with municipal/institutional hosts.
- Clean Energy Collective (now Clean Energy Credit Union / CEC): Pioneer in community solar subscription model with utility partnerships and subscriber-managed solar farms. Direct historical comparability in developing community solar projects and managing resident subscribers through utility programs.
Broad incumbents
- NextEra Energy Resources: Largest US renewable energy developer with substantial solar and community solar presence. Comparable technology and regulatory engagement in Illinois but with vastly greater scale, capital access, and project pipeline.
- ENGIE North America: Major global renewable energy developer with community solar and distributed generation operations in the US including Illinois. Overlaps on community solar development and utility partnerships but operates as a broad incumbent with significantly larger portfolio and balance sheet.
- Engie / MN8 Energy / bp Pulse community solar arms: Large integrated energy companies developing community solar programs in multiple states including Illinois-adjacent markets. Comparable in deploying community solar subscription models but with corporate balance sheet and broader energy portfolio.
Emerging players
- Arcadia: Clean energy data and community solar subscription platform connecting developers, utilities, and subscribers. Overlaps with Trajectory on the community solar subscriber/utility billing layer but operates more as a platform/aggregator than asset developer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Trajectory Energy Partners social profiles
Digital presenceTrajectory Energy Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trajectory Energy Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Trajectory Energy Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Trajectory Energy Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Trajectory Energy Partners
What does Trajectory Energy Partners do?
Trajectory Energy Partners develops community solar farms in partnership with public institutions (primarily school districts) and distributes the generated energy to local residents through subscription programs. Its core project, the Jubilee Solar Project in Brimfield, Illinois, consists of 5,400 photovoltaic solar panels on nine acres of school district land, enabling residents to subscribe via the Illinois Shines Program through Ameren for utility bill savings.
When was Trajectory Energy Partners founded?
Trajectory Energy Partners was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Trajectory Energy Partners based?
Trajectory Energy Partners is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Trajectory Energy Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: community Solar Subscriptions.
Who are Trajectory Energy Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nexamp, Soltage, SunShare, Cypress Creek Renewables, U.S. Light Energy and Clean Energy Collective (now Clean Energy Credit Union / CEC). Broad incumbents are NextEra Energy Resources, ENGIE North America and Engie / MN8 Energy / bp Pulse community solar arms. Arcadia is listed as an emerging player.
Does Trajectory Energy Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trajectory Energy Partners.
What industry is Trajectory Energy Partners in?
Trajectory Energy Partners's product category is Community Solar Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAA, Community Solar Development & Subscription Management, with a secondary code of EUAMAJAD, Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind. Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.