The Illinois Power Agency (“IPA”) is proud to announce the launch of the IPA Power Hour Webinars, featuring a wide range of clean energy topics and issues presented over the lunch hour. 

Starting Friday, October 15, 2021, the IPA will be offering a series of these educational and informative webinars to discuss how the recently enacted Climate Equitable Jobs Act (“CEJA”) revises and expands the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard, including strengthening equity, diversity, and labor standards for IPA-administered incentive programs to build a stronger, more diverse and equitable clean energy workforce. After this initial series is completed the IPA will be offering future Power Hour Webinars on other topical areas. The Power Hour Webinar Series will be recorded and available on the Agency’s website.

IPA Power Hour Webinars are 60 minutes long from 12pm-1pm CDT. Registration is required. After you register, you'll receive a confirmation email with information on how to join the webinar.

IPA Power Hour Webinar 1: Expansion of the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard Under CEJA

Date: Friday, October 15, 2021

Time: 12pm-1pm CDT

REGISTER HERE

IPA Power Hour Webinar 2: CEJA’s Impact on Adjustable Block Program

Date: Friday, October 22, 2021

Time: 12pm-1pm CDT

REGISTER HERE

 

IPA Power Hour Webinar 3: CEJA’s Impact on Illinois Solar for All

Date: Friday, November 12, 2021

Time: 12pm-1pm CDT

REGISTER HERE

 

IPA Power Hour Webinar 4: CEJA’s Impact on Utility-Scale Solar and Wind and Brownfield sites

Date: Friday, November 19, 2021

Time: 12pm-1pm CDT

REGISTER HERE

 

IPA Power Hour Webinar 5: Creating a Diverse and Equitable Energy Workforce

Date: Friday, December 3, 2021

Time: 12pm-1pm CDT

REGISTER HERE

 

IPA Power Hour Webinar 6: Decarbonization, From Coal to Renewables

Date: Friday, December 10, 2021

Time: 12pm-1pm CDT

REGISTER HERE

IPA Power Hour Webinar 7: Carbon Mitigation Credits and CEJA’s Support for At-Risk Nuclear Plants

Date: Friday, December 17, 2021

Time: 12pm-1pm CDT

REGISTER HERE

On September 15, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (Public Act 102-0662) into law. This Act includes significant changes to the Adjustable Block Program, including the opening of new blocks of Program capacity within 90 days (by December 14, 2021).

To prepare for these changes to the program, the ABP Approved Vendor Portal will close to new project submittals on November 1, 2021. All projects submitted in batches on or prior to that date will be considered waitlisted projects (pending payment of application fees within 10 business days of batch submittal). The project portal will reopen for new project applications on December 14, 2021.

The Act includes several key changes to the program that will be implemented for block reopenings:

• The size cut-off between Small and Large Distributed Generation categories has been changed from 10 kW to 25 kW.
• Three new categories have been created: (1) community-driven community solar projects, (2) projects at public schools, and (3) projects submitted by equity eligible contractors.
• The maximum size of projects in certain categories has been extended from 2 MW to 5 MW.
• Provisions have been established for the selection of waitlisted community solar projects.
• REC prices for initial opening of additional capacity have been set based on adjustments from the last open block prices.
• Prevailing wage requirements have been established, with exceptions for select project types.
• REC contract payment schedules have been revised for Large DG and Community Solar projects. (Waitlisted Large DG projects maintain the prior payment schedule).

The IPA will be seeking stakeholder feedback on certain items related to the opening of new blocks, including updated REC delivery contracts. Currently, the IPA plans to release written requests for stakeholder feedback on October 14, 2021. A stakeholder workshop will be held on October 21, 2021. Written comments and responses to the workshop topics and/or the written request for stakeholder feedback may be submitted no later than November 4, 2021. More information on the workshop and written requests for stakeholder feedback will be announced at a later date. Additionally, the Program Administrator will be releasing guidance to Approved Vendors regarding the processing of waitlisted projects in the coming weeks.

Additional updates to the Program (and to the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard more generally) will be included in the next draft Revised Long-Term Plan that will be released for public comment no later than January 13, 2021 (120 days after the effective date of P.A. 102-0662).

For questions regarding this announcement, please reach out to the Program Administrator at admin@illinoisabp.com or at 877-783-1820.

On September 29, 2021, the Illinois Power Agency filed two procurement Plans for Illinois Commerce Commission Approval. These plans are the 2022 Electricity Procurement Plan (Docket No. 21-0717) and the Carbon Mitigation Credit Procurement Plan (Docket No. 21-0718). These Plans are also available on the Agency’s website.

Amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases spurred by the Delta variant, on August 26, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued COVID-19 Executive Order No. 87, which reinstates a statewide indoor mask mandate with an effective date of August 30. In light of the reinstated mask mandate for all Illinois residents regardless of vaccination status, the Illinois Power Agency has determined that it is appropriate to require compliance with the new reinstated mandate for the Adjustable Block Program and Illinois Solar For All for in-person marketing and solicitation.

In an effort to practice safe measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of our community, door-to-door sales permitted under the Adjustable Block Program and Illinois Solar For All must follow the mask mandate. The requirement to wear masks indoors is applicable to both vaccinated and unvaccinated agents statewide during door-to-door sales. Entities whose agents violate these guidelines may be suspended from program participation.

Any agent engaged in door-to-door marketing or solicitation must wear a mask indoors during the time of customer interaction even while maintaining social distance. While masks are not required outdoors, agents meeting with potential customers in crowded outdoor areas are strongly encouraged to wear masks and maintain appropriate social distance from customers. Furthermore, if an agent is invited inside a potential customer’s home or business, the agent shall wear his or her mask during the entire stay.

Under previous iterations of the COVID-19 marketing guidelines, the Agency permitted passive forms of in-person marketing and solicitation, such as tabling at retail stores or public events. Any of these previously permitted in-person marketing activities may continue in accordance with the new mask and social distancing requirements.

Any door-to-door distribution of marketing materials through passive forms of solicitation (i.e., distribution of door hangers without knocking on doors) may also be conducted by agents without masks. In the event that passive marketing efforts result in direct contact with potential customers, the agent is required to promptly put on a mask.

The Agency will continue to monitor public health information as part of an ongoing assessment of these guidelines. The IPA will endeavor to provide updates to these guidelines as the public health situation continues to evolve.

Should you have questions about whether specific practices are permitted, please contact IPA Chief Legal Counsel Brian Granahan at Brian.Granahan@Illinois.gov

Leading solar companies unite with state solar advocates to advance a new automated permitting process to cut the cost of solar

NREL’s SolarAPP+ online tool helps local officials expedite approval of rooftop and projects

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the launch of a new online permitting platform to accelerate the approval of solar projects while maintaining the integrity of the permitting process. SolarAPP+ was developed and built by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in consultation with a broad range of experts from businesses, trade groups, local governments, researchers, and code and safety organizations. It will cut the time and expense of going solar in the U.S., where the cost of installation is 2-3 times greater than in countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

With today’s announcement SolarAPP+ is now being made available as a solution to cities across the country, to help jurisdictions process solar installations more efficiently and with a standardized high level of quality and safety.  This efficiency gain and cost reduction is seen as critical for American energy consumers to achieve the rapid growth in solar adoption targeted by the administration.

Solar customers will save money. Solar installers will have more clarity about the process, get more projects done and contribute more to local economies. Local officials will be able to rely on quality assurance processes built into the online application tool with input from code and safety experts at organizations like Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

It is now time to support rapid adoption of SolarAPP+ by cities across the country.  To support this goal, a group of solar companies, state solar energy associations, clean energy advocates, and environmental organizations have launched The SolarAPP+ Campaign to raise awareness about SolarAPP+ and promote its adoption. The project is motivated by national data showing that local governments with instant online permitting for rooftop solar process 5-14x more volume than jurisdictions with traditional permit processing. The SolarAPP+ Campaign is supporting state solar associations’ advocacy with a goal of getting over 100 jurisdictions to adopt the new tool  by next summer.  

“By adopting SolarAPP+, cities can ramp up more solar in their communities, while improving the quality and safety of their permitting process. It will lead to more happy solar customers, less pollution, more jobs, and more local economic benefits,” said Andrew Birch and Anne Hoskins, Co-Chairs of the SolarAPP+ Campaign.  “We’re excited to work with local officials and other stakeholders to advance the benefits of this new tool.”

For more information on the campaign and its partners, go to SolarAPPCampaign.org

Info for state and local officials- SolarAPP+ for Jurisdictions

Info for installers - SolarAPP+ - Installers

Media Contacts

John Ordona, OpenSolar, john@opensolar.com

Bartlett Jackson, Sunrun, bartlett.jackson@sunrun.com

Anson Moran

IL SolarAPP Outreach Coordinator

M (714) 331-2280

On March 20, 2020, in light of the growing COVID-19 pandemic and its expected impacts in Illinois, the Illinois Power Agency adopted the following emergency amendment to its Adjustable Block Program and Illinois Solar for All Program Marketing Guidelines:

In-person marketing and solicitation: Given the public health emergency posed by the COVID-19 virus, in-person marketing or solicitation of photovoltaic system sales, installations, or financing; in-person marketing or solicitation of community solar subscriptions; or similar in-person solar marketing or solicitation activity are prohibited.

Clarifications to this prohibition were offered on May 19, 2020, along with additional guidance and updates on June 4, 2020, June 30, 2020, and August 5, 2020.

This update confirms that the IPA’s prohibition of door-to-door sales and solicitation remains in place while offering additional clarifications regarding the scope of this prohibition.

Regarding the basis for the IPA’s door-to-door sales prohibition, the statewide COVID-19 positivity rate (the percentage of positive tests across total tests given) remains in the range of 3.5%. That positivity rate remains well above its lowest points from June and has showed little decline across the summer months, and the daily totals for both confirmed cases and fatalities in Illinois remain a significant public health concern. As Illinois moves into cooler fall weather with more time spent indoors, efforts should be made to protect against a recurrent spike in COVID-19 transmission through curbing unnecessary—and especially unwanted—person-to-person contact.

The IPA believes that transactions benefitting from public funding should operate in the public interest. Thus, in the interest of protecting public health, door-to-door sales remains a prohibited sales channel under solar incentive programs administered by the IPA (the Adjustable Block Program and Illinois Solar for All Program) and entities found violating this prohibition may be suspended from program participation.

CLARIFICATIONS

A reiteration of prior-offered clarification is provided below:

Passive forms of in-person marketing and solicitation – such as tabling at retail stores or events, or door-to-door distribution of marketing materials such as advertising flyers – are no longer prohibited. While these activities could increase the likelihood of unnecessary person-to-person interactions, such an increase would be small or already agreed-to through participation in existing commercial channels. Any permitted door-to-door distribution of marketing materials must consist only of distribution of materials (with no notification—such as door knocking or ringing of a doorbell—allowed as part of that distribution) and not include any other marketing or solicitation activities, including in-person sales or solicitation, until such time as the potential customer has received and read those materials and initiated an entirely separate follow-up conversation.

Additionally, in-person meetings with prospective or existing customers (such as a follow-up to an online or phone discussion) are not prohibited so long as expressly agreed to by that customer. The IPA strongly discourages any high-pressure tactics used to secure such meetings, however, and requests that all Approved Vendors, designees, agents, and subcontractors strongly consider whether virtual meetings, e-signatures, or other telecommunication practices can instead be utilized. Approved Vendors, designees, agents, and subcontractors must respect the wishes of existing or prospective customers who do not wish to meet in-person.

In addition to this prior-issued guidance the IPA offers the following additional clarifications:

• This prohibition applies both to business-to-business sales in addition to sales to Illinois residents.
• This prohibition applies to any size of system or subscription for photovoltaic systems benefitting from incentive funding through program participation.
• While the term “door-to-door” is used in describing this prohibition, this prohibition applies to any attempts to initiate person-to-person contact without that person’s or business’s prior acquiescence, unless part of the tabling exception outlined above. Thus, approaching an individual on their property, on the street, or otherwise without their prior express consent to such person-to-person contact may constitute a violation.
• Guidance offered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (“DCEO”) regarding the permissibility of door-to-door sales during Phase 4 of the state’s Restore Illinois Plan addresses only whether such practices would run afoul of the Restore Illinois Plan, and does not address the requirements applicable to qualifying for state-administered incentive funding under the IPA’s programs.
• Likewise, the removal of prohibitions on door-to-door solicitations by local governments does not impact program permissibility of door-to-door marketing for transactions funded through the IPA’s solar incentive programs in those areas.

For the foregoing reasons and those offered in its prior updates, the Agency believes this would be an inappropriate time to start permitting in-person interactions initiated without a customer, homeowner, or business owner’s express permission. This prohibition will remain in effect until lifted by the IPA through a formal announcement, although the IPA will endeavor to continue providing updates. Additionally, prior-issued guidance regarding best practices remains in effect.

Should you have questions about whether specific practices are permitted, please contact IPA Chief Legal Counsel Brian Granahan at Brian.Granahan@Illinois.gov.

Annual event adapts, showcasing 30 solar homes and businesses across Illinois through socially distant, digital format

10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26

Thousands of Illinois residents will get an up-close virtual look at the world’s fastest growing source of energy with over 30 solar homes and businesses across the state participating in this year’s Illinois Solar Tour. The Solar Tour, hosted by the Illinois Solar Education Association (ISEA), is a free experience, including live virtual events on Saturday, Sept. 26. The Tour allows the public to view real-life examples of nearby businesses and residents who have decided to cut their utility bills by going solar.

Structured in past years as a statewide series of open houses, the Tour has been reimagined for a socially distanced, all-digital audience. Photos and videos of solar homes and businesses in communities throughout the state are available now on the Tour website, where visitors can also sign up for the live Zoom tours scheduled for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. With 10 options available, the tours will offer the public a chance to engage and ask questions of solar owners and other enthusiasts.

The virtual tours are expected to give thousands of people across Illinois a better understanding of renewable energy. Participants will gain valuable insight on the costs, processes, as well as the economic and environmental benefits of going solar. Illinois is in the middle of a solar energy boom thanks to the implementation of new legislation, making the Tour a great way to learn about the opportunities the technology affords.

Please visit the Tour’s website to find sites to explore near you: www.illinoissolar.org/Illinois-Solar-Tour

Participating Towns and Cities in the Tour include but are not limited to:

Arlington Heights, Batavia, Brookfield, Buffalo Grove, Carol Stream, Cary, Caseyville, Champaign, Chicago, Deer Park, Elmhurst, Evanston, Forest Park, Glen Carbon, Glen Ellyn, Goreville, Grayslake, Highland Park, Naperville, Northbrook, Palatine, Plainfield, Riverside, Schaumburg, Troy, West Chicago, Wheaton, Wilmette, Woodridge, Woodstock

About the Illinois Solar Education Association (ISEA)

ISEA is two sister non-profit organizations - the Illinois Solar Energy Association and the Illinois Solar Education Association - that promote the widespread application of solar and other forms of renewable energy through our mission of advocacy and education.

Founded in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the organization was focused on public education for the majority of its history. In the last decade, ISEA expanded its efforts to include working to ensure stable policies and regulations for solar development in Illinois. In order to do this work, ISEA founded its sister 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade organization.

The Illinois Solar Education Association is the Illinois chapter of the American Solar Energy Society, and is the state resource for renewable energy-related policy developments, educational classes, events, news, and access to local renewable energy businesses. www.illinoissolar.org

 

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The IPA’s Revised Long-Term Plan, published by the IPA on April 20, 2020, contains several changes to Part I and Part II of the ABP project application. The Program Administrator has implemented these changes which are now live. The following are details regarding each change:

Part I Changes

• Providing a shading study is no longer a required upload for any application. (Upload removed from Part I)
• Language is added to the application noting that an Interconnection Agreement (IA), required for systems >25 kW AC, must be signed by both the interconnection customer and the interconnecting utility. The IA must be dated on or prior to the date of submission of the application. (Clarification of existing Part I requirement)
• Ground-mounted systems larger than 250 kW AC must provide a land use permit from the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction). If a land use permit is not applicable, the Approved Vendor must provide written confirmation from the AHJ that no permit is required. (New Part I upload)
• Non-ministerial permits, other than the land use permit specified above for systems larger than 250 kW AC, are no longer required and have been removed from the Part I application. For those Approved Vendors and Designees that use the application CSV upload feature, non-ministerial permits have been made optional in the CSV, enabling you to continue to use the same CSV template without issue. (Uploads removed from Part I)

Part II Changes

• The ICC Docket Number for the Certification of the DG Installer who is the installer of record is now required. (New required information in Part II)
• For systems that include a battery, a detailed schematic must be provided showing that either only solar-generated power can be used to charge the battery or that the battery’s output does not run through the meter used to measure solar output. (New Part II upload)

Changes that apply to both Part I and Part II

• Bifacial panels are now an option in the application. (New option for both Part I and Part II)

Should you have questions about any of these changes, please contact the Program Administrator at admin@illinoisabp.com.

The Illinois Power Agency is seeking feedback on the first draft of the refreshed Adjustable Block Program REC contract with comments due by August 14, 2020. The draft REC contract, a comparison of the draft REC contract and the current REC Contract, and a Request for Stakeholder Comments document can be found at www.illinoisabp.com/rec-contract. Please see the Request for Stakeholder Comments for additional background and information, and details on two virtual workshops scheduled for July 31, 2020 and August 7, 2020, both at 12:00 PM Central Standard Time.

This announcement is also posted here on the Adjustable Block Program website.

The Illinois Power Agency has communicated information on how to file the first annual Approved Vendor (AV) reports. Please note that this filing, which will be used to verify REC delivery, is required of all AVs by Wednesday, July 15^th.  A 90 day cure period is afforded to ensure that all information submitted is correct, but the initial report date is not negotiable.

Please read the IPA announcement here.

In addition, the IPA communicates that all solar companies will be required to report "information related to ongoing program participation, including use of graduates of job training programs and other information related to increasing the diversity of the solar workforce.

The last item above is currently the topic of a stakeholder process; as a result, job training information likely will be collected separately from the rest of the annual report data after the stakeholder comment process concludes.”

Approved Vendors will be reaching out to their designees to collect this important information on the industry’s work to increase diversity in the workforce once this portion of the AV report has been finalized.