Welcome to the Illinois Solar Energy Association!
The Illinois Solar Energy Association is a non-profit organization that promotes the widespread application of renewable energy through education and advocacy. As the Illinois chapter of the American Solar Energy Society, we are the local resource for educational classes, events, renewable energy related policy developments, local news and access to local renewable energy vendors.
Visit the Events page to register for our next class or event.
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Visit our ISEA Blog and join our RSS to stay informed on renewable energy news and policy.
Environmental Lobby Day in Springfield - March 10th On March 10th, environmental advocates from across the state of Illinois will come together in Springfield to encourae their legislators to pass critical environmental legislation currently moving through the legislature. Lobby Day 2010 is sponsored by Illinois Environmental Council, Faith in Place, Environment Illinois, Sierra Club, and Protestants for the Common Good. SB 3686 & HB 6013 would extend the in-state preference for renewable energy and gradually ramp up the use of solar energy as a portion of the RES requirement between now and 2010, creating jobs immediately. ( more ) SB 3426 HB 6202 would increase the size of renewable energy systems eligible for net metering at the retail rate up to 2MW, allowing commercial, industrial, and institutional players to receive full retail rate credit for the renewable energy they export to the grid. ( more ) Cast your Vote - Voting ends March 12, 2010
Should Illinois Solar Energy Association change its name to reflect its support of all types of renewable energy? (online surveys )
Should Illinois Solar Energy Association change its name to reflect its support of all types of renewable energy? (online surveys )
IL DCEO Solar and Wind Rebate Program - Out of Funding This program offered incentives up to 30% of total project costs for residential and business applicants, and 50% for public sector and non-profit entities with a maximum rebate of $50,000.DCEO is no longer accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2010. Please check this website in July, 2010 for information about the program for Fiscal Year 2011.Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) to learn of other available state and federal incentives. Heliographs - New issue The January 2010 edition of Heliographs is now available to members by visiting the Member Communications area. Sun Ovens for Haiti - An opportunity to give Sun Ovens International has been working in Haiti for the past 11 years. During that time the deforestation has increased and the need for an alternative to cooking with wood and charcoal has increased. The recent earthquake has intensified the need for solar cooking and water purification.January 28, 2010 , Friends of Haiti Organization in partnership with Feed My Starving Children will be sending a shipping container with Sun Ovens and 270,000 meals to Port au Prince Haiti. There is room for additional Sun Ovens to be included with this shipment and additional shipments are being planned.Please send donation checks made payable to: Friends of Haiti Organization (Include a note that the donation is for the Sun Oven Project.) Friends of Haiti Organization (FOHO) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization so all donations are tax deductible. 100% of the donation will go directly to sending Sun Ovens to Haiti - no administrative expenses will be deducted. FOHO has been working in Haiti for 45 years and has sent over 1,400 Global Sun Ovens and 12 Village Sun Ovens to Haiti. Edward F Anixter Family Foundation Awards ISEA Grant The Illinois Solar Energy Association is pleased to receive a grant from the Edward F Anixter Family Foundation. This grant will be used to assist ISEA's mission of eduating and advocating solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy to the people of Illinois by helping to expand the Heliographs to bi-monthly (six issues a year) coverage as well as improve our education program. We thank Steven Anixter and JoAnn Anixter Silva for the generosity and also the ISEA Board for facilitating this assistance.
ICC Approves IPA Procurement Plan with Modifications Impacting Renewable Electricity The Illinois Commerce Commission today approved, with
modifications, the Illinois Power Agency’s (IPA) plan to purchase electricity
supply for residential and small commercial customers of ComEd and Ameren
Illinois utilities.
The IPA is responsible for oversight of the purchase of
electric power supply including renewable resources. The ICC’s decision
complies with the 2007 law that created the Illinois Power Agency which allows
the Commission to review and modify the IPA plan, if necessary. According to the law, the ICC must approve the
plan “if the Commission determines that it will ensure adequate, reliable,
affordable, efficient and environmentally sustainable electric service at the
lowest total cost.”
The IPA filed its plan on September 30, outlining plans to purchase
electricity for a five-year period beginning in June 2010. The plan includes
purchase of supplies of renewable energy resources in order to meet the law’s
requirement that five percent of the supply portfolio reflect renewable
resources in 2010. On November 9, the
IPA proposed supplemental recommendations, including plans to purchase a
portion of renewable energy through long term contracts.
The Commission’s order allowed for the purchase of a portion of
renewable energy through long term contracts, but called for the IPA to meet
with all other interested parties, before the next procurement plan is filed, to
work out concerns about a number of issues including the impact of long term
renewable energy contracts on customer bills and on the continuing development
of competitive markets for electricity in the state.
The price of electricity purchased through the IPA’s
procurement in 2010 would be incorporated in rates beginning in June. ( Contact: Beth Bosch 217-782-5793 or Brian Sterling 312-814-6653) (From Illinois Commerce Commission Release December 28, 2009)
It Ain't Necessarily So - National Lab study finds no pattern of negative impact on residential property values by wind farms A report issued by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that residential property values are not negatively impacted by being located near wind farms. The study, released on December 2, 2009, looked at the sale of 7,500 residential properties over an 11 year period located from 800 feet to 10 miles at 24 wind farms in nine states, including one Illinois location in Lee County . The media release, link to the report and powerpoint presentation can be found here .
Committed ISEA Members Thank you to the ISEA members who attended the Membership Meeting on Saturday (Dec. 12th )
for showing your support and dedication to the Association by signing
up to volunteer your time and talents to ISEA committees. For members
interested in learning about or joining a committee, please contact Michelle Hickey . State of Illinois Announces New Rebate Program for Solar and Wind! The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (ILDCEO) announced today
the opening of the Solar & Wind Energy Rebate Program. The rebates
can total 30% for residential and business applicants and 50% for public sector
and non-profit entities with a maximum of $50,000. Applications will be
due April 30, 2010. For more information, go to the
ILDCEO website .
Big PV System Going Up on Chicago's West Side While awaiting the installation of a 10 Megawatt system in Chicago's Pullman community on the Far South Side,
a 725 kW system is going in on the West Side's South Austin community just south of the Eisenhower Expressway.
This will be about seven times larger than the present largest PV system location in Illinois at the Chicago
Center for Green Technology. The modules and racks are expected to be installed by the end of the year, with
inverters delivered and interconnection completed by the Spring of 2010. The designer of the system is long
time Solar Tour Guide advertiser and ISEA business supporter Greeley Hansen, Inc. (photos supplied by
Stephen Palac, PE)
Congrats to "Smart" City of Naperville, Awarded US DOE Grant Update: The City of Naperville Council voted on December 7th , 2009 to accept and match the $11 million IL Department of Energy Smart Grid grant. Visit Naperville for more information.
ISEA Announces New Solicitation for Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Credits! The Illinois Solar Energy Association, in partnership with Community Energy Inc (CEI), is pleased to
announce a request for 2009 generated renewable energy certificates from photovoltaic systems (PV RECs). Please visit the Resources page to learn more.
Thank You for participating in the 2009 Solar Tour Saturday, October 3! It was our biggest tour yet with over 140 sites across Illinois. For details including tour news, locations,
maps and Guidebook for download, explore the Solar Tour website .
Governor Quinn Signs School Wind and Solar Generator Financing Bill Into Law Governor Pat Quinn has signed the School Wind/Solar Generator Act, Senate Bill (SB) 1570 ,
sponsored by Senator Carole Pankau of Roselle (R-23). The legislation, now Public Act 96-0725, has
authorization for low interest loans that could be used to finance studies and installations of solar
and wind power systems on school district facilities and land. This authority permits the Illinois Finance
Authority to facilitate loans for elementary, secondary and community college districts. PA 96-0275 was
signed by the Governor on August 25, 2009. The legislation can be found at the Illinois General Assembly
website at www.ilga.gov , keyword, "SB 1570".
Future Solar Set Aside in Illinois RPS Signed Into Law! Governor Pat Quinn signed Illinois Senate Bill 2150 into law on August 10, 2009. The law, Public Act 096-0159,
will enable solar photovoltaic electricity to be a 6% portion of the non-wind production of the Renewable Portfolio
Standard in June, 2015. To read the act online, go to the Illinois General Assembly Website at
SB 2150 .
Plans are underway by various advocacy groups to provide a more immediate ramp up to develop the market and include
other renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal and small-scale wind. For more information on this and
related actions, contact Jeremy Jones of ISEA's Policy Committee at
jjones@socoreenergy.com .
Recovery Act Announcement: Energy, Treasury Now Accepting (From US Dept of Energy website)
Said Secretary Chu: "This program will play a major role in
encouraging private sector capital to invest in clean energy
development, creating new jobs that can't be outsourced. It is an
investment that will continue to help our economy grow and ensure
advancement in clean and renewable energy development."
"As we move quickly to get our economy back on track and to repair the financial system, we must make investments that
lay the foundation for a stronger economic future," said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. "Too many renewable energy
projects have stalled due to a lack of financing. The Recovery Act program will lead to investment in our long-term energy
needs, move us towards energy independence, increase jobs at energy-specific businesses, and protect our environment."
The Recovery Act authorized Treasury to make direct payments to
companies that create and place in service renewable energy facilities beginning January 1, 2009. Previously, these companies
could file for a tax credit to cover a portion of the renewable energy project's cost; under the new program, applicants would
agree to forgo future tax credits in favor of an immediate reimbursement of a portion of the property expense. The Energy
Department will assist Treasury in implementing this program by reviewing the technical merits of the applications.
In previous years, the tax credit has been widely used. The rate of new renewable energy installations has fallen since the
economic downturn began, as projects had a more difficult time obtaining financing. The Departments of the Treasury and Energy
expect a fast acceleration of businesses applying for the direct cash payment in lieu of the tax credit, allowing for an
immediate stimulus in local economies.
Earlier this year, Energy and Treasury held a stakeholder outreach conference call to assist companies in applying for the
program. They also made available in advance the program's terms and conditions, guidance, and a sample application so that
companies could prepare applications in advance of the launch of the web-based application, aimed at expediting the
distribution of program funds to eligible
businesses.
Companies interested in applying for the program can visit application submission page for more information.