Illinois Renewable Energy Policy

The Illinois Solar Energy Association advocates for the protection and expansion of solar and other renewable energy in Illinois. ISEA educates and mobilizes our members and the general public on renewable energy policies that affect clean energy development in the State.

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Downloadable 2021 Bill Fact Sheet

The Path to 100 Act (SB 1781, HB 2966) will ensure a continued stable renewable energy market in Illinois

Click here to see a map of all solar projects in Illinois approved during 2019, sorted both by legislative districts and by zip code.

Supporters include:

Bills
2020-2021, 102nd Legislative Session

Legislation	Outcome	Chief Sponsor	Title/Description
SB1781/HB2966		Sen. Bill Cunningham, Rep. Will Davis	Amends the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act. Provides that a business that intends to establish a new utility-scale solar power facility may apply for a high impact business designation. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Increases the long-term renewable procurement plan goals after the 2025 delivery year. Requires the long-term renewable procurement plan to include the procurement of new renewable energy credits. Provides that the Adjustable Block program shall be designed to be continuously open. Authorizes utilities to recover certain costs related to the Adjustable Block program. Excludes certain costs from a limitation on the costs of the Adjustable Block program. Makes other changes concerning the Adjustable Block program. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to open a proceeding to update the interconnection standards and applicable utility tariffs. Requires the Commission to revise certain standards for interconnection based on specified criteria. Establishes an interconnection working group. Makes changes to provisions concerning net metering and the distributed generation rebate. Requires the Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, to study and produce a report analyzing the potential for and barriers to the implementation of energy storage in Illinois. Requires the Agency to include a plan to procure energy from energy storage resources as part of its procurement plan for 2021. Extends a provision concerning a review, reconciliation, and true-up associated with renewable energy resources' collections and costs. Makes other changes. Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to authorize emergency rulemaking. Effective immediately

Additional Resources

Illinois General Assembly - Read legislation, find bill sponsors and status of bill

Illinois Board of Elections - Learn who your legislators are.

Environmental Law & Policy Center - The Midwest’s public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization.

The Vote Solar Initiative - Learn about state policies and initiatives, including lobby days.

Illinois Environmental Council - Stay informed on environmental legislation with IEC's bill tracker and
legislative updates.

Sierra Club Illinois - Follow Sierra Clubs environmental legislative goals and activities

Wind on the Wires (FKA Illinois Wind Energy Association) - Dedicated to expanding wind power in Illinois

Illinois Solar Rights Act
Learn some important legislation in this Act from 2011. The Illinois Solar Rights Act is intended "to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by encouraging the development and use of solar energy systems in order to conserve and protect the value of land, buildings, and resources by preventing the adoption of measures which will have the ultimate effect, however unintended, of preventing the use of solar energy systems on any home that is subject to a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association."

Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act

An amendment of this act passed in July 2021 makes it easier for people in HOAs to go solar. Changes the definition of "solar storage mechanism" to include batteries. Provides that the entity may determine the specific configuration of the elements of a solar energy system on a given roof face, provided that it may not prohibit elements of the system from being installed on any roof face and that any such determination may not reduce the production of the solar energy system by more than 10% (rather than specific location where a solar energy system may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 degrees east or west of due south provided that the determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar energy system). Provides that within 90 (rather than 120) days after a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association receives a request for a policy statement or an application from an association member, the association shall adopt an energy policy statement. Provides that whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a solar energy system, the application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate approving entity of the association within 75 (rather than 90) days of (rather than after) the submission of the application. Provides that the Act shall not apply to any building that is greater than 60 (rather than 30) feet high, or to any building that has a shared roof and is subject to a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association.