Faces of Solar: Jeff Gahris, DuPage Forest Preserve District Commissioner
Key Takeaways:
Jeff Gahris is the District 4 Commissioner for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and solar ambassador for the Illinois Solar Energy Education Association (ISEA).
In his role as the District 4 Commissioner for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, he has been a passionate advocate for solar energy, installing solar arrays at their headquarters.
Jeff believes solar is an incredibly effective way to combat rising utility costs and support grid reliability.
From his decades of experience in environmental protection, to powering his own home with solar panels, supporting clean energy is both professional and personal for Jeff Gahris.
Over the years, Jeff has been deeply involved in protecting our natural resources, including roles as an environmental scientist for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, environmental engineer for the US Environmental Protection Agency, and a Commissioner for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.
"Solar can be an easy and very effective way to address climate change and to save some money to counter rising utility costs," he said.
His advocacy also extends to his work with the Illinois Solar Energy & Storage Association (ISEA), where he helps others understand the benefits of going solar.
"I have been advising people about the benefits of solar as a solar ambassador for the Illinois Solar Energy Education Association," he said. "Professionally, I have been an advocate for the installation of several solar systems."
Since 2020, he has served as District 4 Commissioner for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. He has led incorporating solar into the Forest Preserve’s operations to further its commitment to the environment.
"We have just finished a ground-mounted array for our HQ building and have recently installed more solar panels at our new wildlife center to help make it a net-zero facility,” Jeff said. "We have also installed solar panels on our fleet management building."
How Jeff Gahris Has Gone Green
He has also brought this mindset to his own life. Beyond installing solar on his home, Jeff has continued to make investments in technology that reduces his carbon footprint.
"We now have a heat pump dryer, an induction stove, and a plug-in hybrid car," he added.
Overall, Jeff’s work with solar is born of his dual-pronged desire to address climate change and help the public understand the benefits of adopting solar in their own lives. Going forward, Jeff urges Illinois to continue working toward a clean energy future by passing pro-clean energy at a state level, even when federal policies change.
"We need state legislation to create certainty regarding financial incentives to allow solar energy to compete with heavily subsidized fossil fuel energy sources," he said. "So that homeowners, businesses, and public institutions can plan accordingly."
Fortunately, Illinois lawmakers have set the state apart as one of the first to take steps toward a clean energy future while addressing the nationwide energy affordability crisis.
The passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, and more recently the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), will result in the state building 3 GW of storage and retain funding for the Illinois Solar for All program, helping expand access to solar low-income households, nonprofits, public buildings, or schools.
