Illinois Shines (statutorily often called the Adjustable Block Program) opened immediately for the 2025-26 Program Yr, providing 800 MW of capability throughout its six venture classes. The state-administered photo voltaic incentive program, carried out by the Illinois Energy Company (IPA), helps improvement of recent distributed technology and neighborhood photo voltaic tasks throughout Illinois, with a give attention to fairness provisions and shopper protections.
Key highlights of the 2025-26 Program Yr embrace the continued rollout of Consumer Protection Initiatives detailed within the 2024 Lengthy-Time period Plan, enlargement of the Mentorship Program, sources supporting the expansion of the Public Faculties class, and streamlined varieties and a Secure Harbor Strategy for the Minimum Equity Standard (MES), which requires that the venture workforce of every taking part entity meet a required minimal share of Fairness Eligible Individuals (EEPs).
“The IPA is extremely excited to announce the beginning of the seventh yr of Illinois Shines, one in every of our flagship photo voltaic incentive applications. Photo voltaic power in Illinois has meaningfully grown year-over-year because the Program’s inception in 2019, and this yr isn’t any exception,” mentioned Planning and Procurement Bureau Chief Jim Rouland. “With the Program’s fairness initiatives persevering with to blossom, the Company is proud to have a good time one other yr of supporting new renewable power that advantages all Illinoisians.”
In response to a Local weather and Equitable Jobs Act directive, the IPA established an Fairness Accountability System (EAS) which launched the Minimal Fairness Normal, the Fairness Eligible Contractor Class, the Mentorship Program and extra. Particulars and progress embrace:
- In Program Yr 2025-26, the MES requires a minimum of 14% of the venture workforce for every entity taking part in Illinois Shines be composed of Fairness Eligible Individuals (EEPs). The Company’s Equity Accountability System Assessment – Part II discovered a excessive compliance charge of 78%, indicating sturdy engagement and dedication to fairness requirements amongst taking part AVs, Designees, and Subcontractors in Illinois Shines.
- The Company celebrates the continued progress of the Fairness Eligible Contractor (EEC) class, which rose to 114 taking part distributors in 2024-25. The class now represents 11% of the whole community since its 2022 launch, and continues help for EEC AVs, Designees and Subcontractors.
- The Mentorship Program is obtainable to corporations which might be thought-about a small enterprise or are minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, or disability-owned. The Program piloted in 2023, totally launched in 2024, and in Program Yr 2025-26 will broaden to a number of periods to help extra mentee cohorts.
“Getting into our fourth yr of partnership with the IPA, it’s inspiring to see the Company’s imaginative and prescient for Illinois Shines frequently broaden to fulfill stakeholder wants,” mentioned Patrice Flynn, Senior Director Distributed Vitality Sources for Vitality Options. “Because the Program Administrator, we’re proud to proceed strengthening shopper protections via new initiatives and to help present and new photo voltaic distributors via the mentorship program, as we assist additional the IPA’s mission to make the advantages of renewable power accessible for all Illinois residents and companies.”
In Program Yr 2025-26 the Program’s Public Faculties class will introduce new sources to extend consciousness, training and help for college decision-makers contemplating going photo voltaic with Illinois Shines. The Program will promote a recorded webinar offered to varsities that accomplished the Public Faculties Carbon-Free Evaluation, supply tailor-made 1:1 workshops for faculties and districts looking for individualized discussions and help, and share its lately printed Public School Case Study and different faculty success tales.
Information merchandise from the Illinois Energy Company
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