Energy

Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Provides that a high voltage transmission line may be constructed, placed, or maintained across any public right-of-way or along any highway, federally aided State highway, controlled access highway, interstate highway, or roadway, except as deemed necessary by the Secretary of Transportation to protect public safety or ensure the proper function of the highway. Provides that in the case of the co-location of a high voltage transmission line with Department of Transportation highway right-of-way, the Secretary of Transportation shall engage in coordination activities with a utility or developer to review requested highway corridors for a possible permitted location of a high voltage transmission line. Provides that when a permissible route along a highway corridor has been identified by the Department and the utility or developer, the Department must engage in consultation with the utility or developer to develop a constructability report to be used by both parties when co-location projects are being planned and approved. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Establishes an order of priority when siting a location for a new electric transmission facility.

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or municipality may not adopt any regulation that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the use of natural gas in new construction without a referendum. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers.

Creates the Climate Change Superfund Act. Creates the Illinois Climate Change Superfund as a special fund in the State treasury. Requires at least 40% of the Fund to be spent on projects that directly benefit disadvantaged communities facing climate change impacts. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules within one year, including regarding the apportionment of liability for climate change for payments into the Fund by responsible parties, regarding qualifying expenditures from the Fund, and regarding an Illinois Climate Change Superfund Program. Requires the Agency to establish procedures to challenge its determinations of liability for climate change and provides for judicial review under the Administrative Review Law. Makes findings. Defines terms. Provides that the Act is severable. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "plug-in solar energy system" means a moveable photovoltaic generation device that (i) may or may not include an energy storage system; (ii) exports no more than 1,200 watts to an outlet; (iii) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard outlet; (iv) is intended primarily to offset part of an eligible customer's electricity consumption; and (v) is certified by Underwriters Laboratories or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory. Provides that an electricity provider shall not require an eligible customer who uses, or intends to install and use, a plug-in solar energy system to do certain actions. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system is exempt from interconnection requirements under provisions concerning net electricity metering and any rules adopted pursuant to those provisions. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system is not eligible for net electricity metering or any distributed generation rebate. Provides that an electricity provider is not liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's plug-in solar energy system. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system that has a maximum power output to a receptacle outlet of 391 watts or less is exempt from any product listing standard that would require alterations to a building's premises, wiring, or electrical panels. Provides that landlords, homeowners' associations, common interest community associations, and condominium unit owners' associations shall not adopt, enforce, or attempt to enforce any restriction, covenant, bylaw, regulation, lease stipulation, or other rule that directly or indirectly restricts, prohibits, or imposes unreasonable conditions on the installation, use, or operation of a plug-in solar energy system. Amends the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, and the Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act. Provides that "solar energy system" includes a plug-in solar energy system. Makes other changes.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a portable solar generation device shall be exempt from (i) net metering program and interconnection requirements under provisions concerning net electricity metering and (ii) any rules adopted pursuant to those provisions. Provides that a portable solar generation device shall include a device or feature that prevents the portable solar generation device from energizing a building's electrical system during a power outage. Provides that an electricity provider shall not require an eligible customer who uses, or intends to install and use, a portable solar generation device to do any of the following: (1) obtain the electricity provider's approval before installing or using the portable solar generation device; (2) pay a fee or charge related to the installation or use of the portable solar generation device; or (3) install additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the portable solar generation device. Provides that an electricity provider shall not be liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's portable solar generation device. Effective June 1, 2026.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a portable solar generation device shall be exempt from (i) net metering program and interconnection requirements under provisions concerning net electricity metering and (ii) any rules adopted pursuant to those provisions. Provides that a portable solar generation device shall include a device or feature that prevents the portable solar generation device from energizing a building's electrical system during a power outage. Provides that an electricity provider shall not require an eligible customer who uses, or intends to install and use, a portable solar generation device to do any of the following: (1) obtain the electricity provider's approval before installing or using the portable solar generation device; (2) pay a fee or charge related to the installation or use of the portable solar generation device; or (3) install additional controls or equipment beyond what is integrated into the portable solar generation device. Provides that an electricity provider shall not be liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's portable solar generation device.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning nondiscrimination, provides that the Commission is authorized to approve a low-income discount rate for residential electric and natural gas customers that applies to the entirety of a qualifying customer's bill, including, but not limited to, a qualifying customer's delivery service charges and energy supply charges. Provides that an electric or natural gas utility may fund low-income discount rates through a surcharge on customers' electric and natural gas bills. Provides that the changes to the Act apply retroactively on and after January 1, 2023. Amends the Energy Assistance Act. In provisions concerning eligibility under the Act, provides that, in setting the annual eligibility level for the use of State funds from the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall consider the amount of available funding and may not set a limit higher than 300% of the federal nonfarm poverty level. In provisions concerning the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund, provides that the yearly administrative expenses of the Fund may not exceed 15% (rather than 13%) of the amount collected during that year, except when unspent funds from the Fund are reallocated from a previous year. Provides that any unspent balance of the 15% administrative allowance may be utilized for administrative expenses in the year they are reallocated. Provides that, of the 15% administrative allowance, no less than 9% (rather than 8%) shall be provided to Local Administrative Agencies for administrative expenses. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2027, the Base Energy Assistance Charge shall be $0.80 per month for each utility that is required by the Illinois Commerce Commission to implement a low-income discount rate and shall be $0.40 per month for each utility that is not required to implement a low-income discount rate and that contributes to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund. Makes other changes.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Establishes the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture. Allows grants to be awarded from the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund, which is created as a special fund in the State treasury, for the installation of equipment for the storage and dispensing of fuels with higher blends of ethanol or biodiesel feedstock, according to the application and eligibility requirements established by rule by the Department of Agriculture. Requires the Comptroller and Treasurer to transfer, from June 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, $3,000,000 each calendar quarter from the Underground Storage Tank Fund to the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Fund. Provides for eligibility for grant funding and eligible expenditures from the fund. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Transportation to install level II electric vehicle charging stations at each rest stop along each interstate highway in the State. Provides that, subject to approval by the United States Secretary of Transportation, the Department may install direct current fast-charging stations at each rest stop along each interstate highway in the State, which charge an electric vehicle charging fee in an amount no greater than what is necessary to offset the cost to the State in constructing and maintaining the charging infrastructure and procuring electricity. Allows the Department to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Amends the State Finance Act. Creates the EV Charging Station Fund for expenses directly related to the installation, maintenance, procuring electricity, and other costs associated with electric vehicle charging stations at highway rest stops. Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Increases the additional fee for registration of an electric vehicle to $150 (currently $100), with $50 being deposited into the EV Charging Station Fund.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a vehicle or combination of vehicles operated by an engine fueled wholly or partially by an electric battery or hydrogen fuel cell electric fueling system may exceed the posted weight limits by up to 2,000 pounds.