POWERHOME Solar, a company specializing in solar energy and roofing services, is expanding in the Midwest with the opening of a new operations center, 40 miles west of Chicago, in St. Charles, Illinois.

POWERHOME designs, permits, sells, finances, installs, maintains and monitors solar energy systems and panels for residential and commercial applications.

The company works with homeowners and business owners to create custom rooftop or ground-mounted solar systems that generate renewable energy, lower electric bills and reduce carbon footprints.

"Illinois ranks 34th in the U.S. in megawatts of solar installed, and POWERHOME aims on raising the state's rank," said Jayson Waller, CEO of POWERHOME Solar. "A basic home installation will reduce grid energy consumption by an average of 60-80 percent, saving the average Illinois residential customer approximately $65 per month. Installing solar panels costs roughly the same amount as an electric bill but once the financing term ends, the solar energy is completely free."

The firm said it plans to hire up to 100 people in the coming months in the areas of sales, installation and administrative functions for its new office, located at 505 S. Tyler Rd., in St. Charles.According to company officials, Illinois is the third Midwestern state POWERHOME has entered in 2019, joining Indiana and Missouri on that list. In August, POWERHOME was ranked No. 100 on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America, marking the second time in three years that the company has made the top 100 on this prestigious list.

POWERHOME said current tax credits reinforce that solar energy is a sound decision. Through 2019, the U.S. federal government offers a 30 percent tax incentive on newly installed solar systems.

The company launched in 2015 in Mooresville, N.C., and today has more than 650 employees. The company said it is one of the top residential rooftop providers of solar energy solutions in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, western Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.