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POWER BRIEF
Legislative Newsletter
May 2024
| A monthly roundup of news and top highlights from the Illinois Power Agency | |
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TOP INSIGHTS & HIGHLIGHTS | |
Illinois Power Agency Releases Request for Qualifications for Racial Disparity Study |  | |
On May 13, the IPA released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified and knowledgeable experts or firms to conduct a Racial Disparity and Availability Study to assess the presence and impact of racial discrimination or disparities in Illinois’ clean energy economy. The chance to serve as the Agency’s Racial Disparity Study Consultant presents a premier opportunity for the firm to contribute to our mission of enhancing equity within Illinois’ clean energy economy.
The Racial Disparity and Availability Study is required under provisions of the IPA Act enacted through the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), with that study to commence “as soon as is practicable” after the IPA’s assessment of CEJA’s equity accountability system is complete.
Responses to the RFQ are due June 21. The Agency will subsequently issue a Request for Proposals and invite responses from firms who were found qualified through the RFQ process.
| Minimum Equity Standard Year-End Report Now Open for Submissions |  | |
For the Illinois Shines 2023-24 Program Year, at least 10% of the project workforce for each entity participating in the Illinois Shines Program must be composed of EEPs in accordance with the Minimum Equity Standard (MES) enacted through CEJA. This minimum standard of equity eligible person employment is one component of CEJA’s equity accountability system intended to ensure the clean energy economy is accessible to everyone.
On May 1, the Illinois Shines Program announced that year-end MES compliance reports would begin being accepted by the program. The online submission form will remain open until July 15, 2024. The Year-End Report is a means for organizations to document their compliance with MES-mandated equity and diversity requirements. With the exception of Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs), all Approved Vendors and Designees participating in the 2023-24 Illinois Shines Program are required to comply with this requirement before the July 15 deadline.
For more information on the MES, please visit the Minimum Equity Standard page of the IPA website.
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IPA Updates the EEP Form on the Equity Portal |  | |
On May 21, the IPA updated the Equity Eligible Person (EEP) Form on the Illinois Energy Workforce Equity Portal. Individual residents may use this form to obtain certification of EEP status.
Under the IPA Act, an EEP is a person that “would most benefit from equitable investments by the State designed to combat discrimination,” and the following criteria qualify a person as an EEP:
- Graduates or current or former participants in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, or the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program, and the solar training pipeline and multicultural jobs program created by FEJA
- Persons who are graduates of or currently enrolled in the foster care system
- Persons who were formerly incarcerated
- Persons whose primary residence is in an equity eligible investment community.
The EEP form update allows third parties (such as that EEP’s employer) to complete the form on behalf of an EEP. If a third party is completing the form on behalf of an EEP, that individual EEP must first expressly grant permission for a third party to fill out the form on their behalf through an Attestation Form.
| IPA Updates Equity Investment Eligible Community Map | |
On April 29, the IPA updated its Equity Investment Eligible Community (EIEC) map to include updated R3 Areas, with R3 Area designations separately determined through a process conducted by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
For Program Year 2024-25, the EIEC map will include both the updated R3 Areas identified through new analysis and previously identified R3 Areas. This update increases EIEC map coverage across central and southern Illinois, thus allowing more residents of central and southern Illinois to qualify as Equity Eligible Persons on the basis of residency.
For more information, please read the full announcement on the Energy Workforce Equity Portal.
For questions, please contact IPA.EnergyEquity@illinois.gov.
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On May 23, the IPA hosted an educational webinar titled Prevailing Wage and Project Labor Agreements. The webinar explored statutory prevailing wage and project labor agreement requirements in Illinois and how these apply to the wages of laborers, mechanics and other workers employed in any public works. Additionally, the webinar looked at prevailing wage and project labor agreements for renewable energy projects participating in the IPA renewable energy programs and procurements.
The webinar featured a presentation from Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan and IPA Chief Legal Counsel Kelly Turner.
To view the recording and presentation slides from this webinar, please visit the IPA Events page.
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IPA Staff and Illinois Shines Program Administrator Present at Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools | |
IPA Director Brian Granahan Joins 2024 Midwest Solar Expo Fireside Chat | |
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On May 21, IPA Director Brian Granahan joined Vote Solar Senior Midwest Director John Delurey for a fireside chat at the Midwest Solar Expo 2024. The discussion included key updates on the Agency’s renewable energy efforts, consumer protection issues, and key challenges for the Agency and the state in the years to come. The Agency thanks the organizers of the Midwest Solar Expo for facilitating this important discussion.
For more information, please visit the Midwest Solar Expo 2024 website.
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IPA Presents at Great Plains Institute Virtual Workshop | |
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On May 23, the Great Plains Institute (GPI) – a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that accelerates the transition to net-zero carbon emissions – hosted its third virtual workshop on navigating the Low-Impact Solar Development Process in Illinois. ‘Workshop 3: Community Solar: Accessing Incentives and Tax Credits; Community Solar Development’ explored the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), relevant tax credits, and renewable project eligibility.
Attendees gained key insights about tax credit opportunities under the IRA, direct-pay opportunities with local governments, community solar development opportunities, and more.
This workshop was facilitated by GPI Senior Program Manager of Renewable Energy, Monika Vadali, and featured a presentation from IPA Senior Advisor and Planning & Procurement Bureau Chief Anthony Star.
For more information, please visit the Workshops page on the GPI website.
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Illinois Shines Hosts 2024-2025 Program Year Welcome Webinar | |
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On May 23, Illinois Shines Program Administrator Energy Solutions hosted an informational welcome webinar to support and alert stakeholders of the important changes for the upcoming 2024-25 Program Year. Set to open on June 3, the new program year provides new opportunities for solar projects to take advantage of state-administered solar incentive funding.
The new program year brings some exciting opportunities for the Illinois Shines Program. Key highlights include:
Increased program size and capacity:
The new Program Year includes an increase in Program size to 800 MW from 667 MW annually, including capacity increases in each of the Program’s six project categories, allowing the IPA to support thousands more new solar projects across the coming year.
Development of several new consumer protection initiatives, including;
- An escrow process for solar companies that do pass through REC incentive payments to customers.
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A restitution fund to provide economic assistance to customers who have been financially harmed by a solar company’s violation of Program requirements, and where there is no reasonable likelihood that the company will make the customer whole.
Expansion of equity initiatives, including:
- Development of a Mentorship program- Following a successful Mentorship Pilot program in the 2023-24 Program Year that included 12 participants and eight workshops, Illinois Shines will launch an annual mentorship program starting this Program year.
- Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) Subcontractor Registration- The Illinois Shines Program Administrator will establish a process for the certification of EEC Subcontractors, held to the same ownership requirements and limitations of Equity Eligible Contractors detailed in the Long-Term Plan. This equity initiative is designed to overcome barriers and help expand access to the clean energy economy.
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Small and Emerging Business Hub- To further support small business participation, the IPA published a Small and Emerging Business Guide to help both prospective and current small and emerging businesses navigate the solar landscape and learn about the IPA-administered solar incentive programs. The IPA intends to use the guide as a foundation to build a hub in the new program year to support small and emerging businesses.
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Continued refinements to the Energy Workforce Equity Portal- The IPA launched the Energy Workforce Equity Portal in 2023 to help connect clean energy companies with Equity Eligible Persons looking to work in the clean energy sector in Illinois. In the new program year, the IPA continues to make refinements and improvements to the portal to aid job seekers in building their knowledge and skillset to get them ready to enter the clean energy workforce.
The Illinois Shines 2024-2025 Program Year commences on June 3, 2024. For more information, visit the Illinois Shines website.
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Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All Hosts ‘Bring Home Solar Power’ Presentation | |
On May 16, Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) and Illinois Shines Program Administrators held the ‘Bring Home Solar Power’ Program Presentation at Chicago’s Harold Washington Library. The informational presentation explored how customers can take advantage of the IPA’s ILSFA and Illinois Shines programs and make the switch to solar. ILSFA Associate Director Jan Gudell and Illinois Shines Program Associate Ola Tomaszewski answered questions on how the IPA’s solar incentive programs can help residents bring solar into their homes, save money on energy, and support the environment. | | | | |
