Energy

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes provisions prohibiting the construction of new nuclear power reactors with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity to be located within the State until the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security finds that the United States Government has identified and approved a demonstrable technology or means for the disposal of high level nuclear waste.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a gas utility may cease providing service if the Illinois Commerce Commission determines that adequate substitute service is available at a reasonable cost to support the existing end uses of the affected utility customers. Provides for cost-effective energy efficiency measures for natural gas utilities that supersede existing provisions concerning natural gas energy efficiency programs and take effect beginning January 1, 2027. Provides that gas main and gas service extension policies shall be based on the principle that the full incremental cost associated with new development and growth shall be borne by the customers that cause those incremental costs. Provides that, no later than 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Commission shall initiate a docketed rulemaking reviewing each gas public utility tariff that provides for gas main and gas service extensions without additional charge to new customers in excess of the default extensions as specified in administrative rule. Adds the Clean Building Heating Law Article to the Act, with provisions concerning emissions standards for heating in buildings, as well as related and other provisions. Adds the 2050 Heat Decarbonization Standard Article to the Act, with provisions concerning options for compliance, measures for customer emission reduction, customer emission reductions, tradable clean heat credits, banking of emission reductions, equity in emission reductions, enforcement, the 2050 Heat Decarbonization Pathways Study, gas infrastructure planning, a study on gas utility financial incentive reform, and reporting requirements. Adds the Statewide Navigator Program Law Article to the Act, with provisions concerning creation of a statewide navigator program, as well as related and other provisions. Amends the Energy Transition Act to add electrification industries to clean energy jobs. Effective immediately.

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.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes the name of the Retail Electric Competition Article to the Retail and Renewable Electric Competition Article. Changes the name of the Retail Electric Competition Act of 2006 to the Retail and Renewable Electric Competition Act of 2006. Changes the name of the Office of Retail Market Development to the Office of Retail and Renewable Market Development and the title of the head of the Office from Director to Bureau Chief. Provides that the Bureau Chief shall have the authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2 professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out ways to promote distributed renewable energy generation devices and community renewable generation projects in the State to benefit all State consumers. Provides that the Office shall actively seek input from all interested parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote development and remove barriers to development of distributed renewable energy generation devices and community renewable generation projects. Provides that the Office shall take steps for interconnections involving distributed renewable energy resources, energy storage systems, utility-scale wind projects, and utility-scale solar projects, including interconnections to a distribution system or a transmission system. Provides that the Interconnection Working Group shall determine a single standardized cost for Level 1 interconnections, which shall not exceed $200. Provides that, in collaboration with the General Counsel of the Commission, the Office shall develop policies and procedures to facilitate employees of the Office in leading the Interconnection Working Group without interference with docketed proceedings. Provides that the Office may employ, designate, or otherwise retain the services of an Ombudsperson who is responsible for oversight of a utility's compliance with the certain rules and any other utility interconnection policies or procedures. Sets forth provisions concerning the authority of the Ombudsperson and interconnection monitoring by the Office. Makes conforming and other changes.

Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that leases of solar energy systems are exempt from the taxes imposed under the Acts.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions about commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.

Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may deny a permit for a commercial solar energy facility or commercial wind energy facility, including the modification or improvement to an existing facility, if the work requested to be performed under the permit is not being performed under a project labor agreement with building trades located in the area where construction, modification, or improvements are to be made.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Changes the name of the Retail Electric Competition Article to the Retail and Renewable Electric Competition Article. Changes the name of the Retail Electric Competition Act of 2006 to the Retail and Renewable Electric Competition Act of 2006. Changes the name of the Office of Retail Market Development to the Office of Retail and Renewable Market Development and the title of the head of the Office from Director to Bureau Chief. Provides that the Bureau Chief shall have the authority to employ or otherwise retain at least 2 professionals dedicated to the task of actively seeking out ways to promote distributed renewable energy generation devices and community renewable generation projects in the State to benefit all State consumers. Provides that the Office shall actively seek input from all interested parties and shall develop a thorough understanding and critical analyses of the tools and techniques used to promote development and remove barriers to development of distributed renewable energy generation devices and community renewable generation projects. Provides that the Office shall take steps for interconnections involving distributed renewable energy resources, energy storage systems, utility-scale wind projects, and utility-scale solar projects, including interconnections to a distribution system or a transmission system. Provides that the Interconnection Working Group shall determine a single standardized cost for Level 1 interconnections, which shall not exceed $200. Provides that, in collaboration with the General Counsel of the Commission, the Office shall develop policies and procedures to facilitate employees of the Office in leading the Interconnection Working Group without interference with docketed proceedings. Provides that the Office may employ, designate, or otherwise retain the services of an Ombudsperson who is responsible for oversight of a utility's compliance with the certain rules and any other utility interconnection policies or procedures. Sets forth provisions concerning the authority of the Ombudsperson and interconnection monitoring by the Office. Makes conforming and other changes.

HR 68 urges warehouse owners to install rooftop solar panels on their properties. It also encourages them to take advantage of any applicable incentives to help expedite the installation process.

Creates the Advancing Federally Regulated Illinois Transmission Projects Act. Provides that the Department of Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may identify one or more Projects for potential application of the PJM State Agreement Approach that the Director determines may improve the resilience, reliability, and access to clean energy of the ratepayers of a public utility with more than 3,000,000 customers in this State. Sets forth eligibility criteria for the projects. Sets forth provisions concerning applications. Amends the Public Utilities Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.