Energy

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. In provisions regarding clean coal, coal, energy efficiency, PACE, and renewable energy project financing, adds provisions regarding energy storage project financing. Makes changes in provisions concerning project bond authorizations and financing limits. Makes conforming changes to related provisions regarding findings, definitions, creation of reserve funds, powers and duties of the Illinois Finance Authority, criteria for program participation, securitization of bonds issued by the Authority, and other related provisions.

Amends the Counties Code. In provisions regarding 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 and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or a municipality may not adopt any ordinance or resolution or exercise any power that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system. Limits home rule powers.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Fast-Track Nuclear Now Act. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes prohibitions on the construction of a new nuclear power reactor with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity that is located within the State. Amends the Illinois Nuclear Facility Safety Act. Provides that it is declared to be the policy of the State to facilitate new nuclear facility construction. Makes a conforming change. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security shall work with any proposed project, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and any relevant State agency to reduce regulatory barriers to new nuclear facility construction.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Defines "off-grid electricity provider" as an entity, person, private company, electric cooperative, municipal agency, or other organization that (1) is engaged in any combination of generating, transmitting, distributing, or selling electricity at retail to consumers, (2) is not connected to any existing electric transmission or distribution system within this State for either primary or backup supply, (3) operates independently of existing utilities and other regulated entities, (4) is not located within any federal, State, or municipal roadway or right-of-way, and (5) does not cross any federal, State, or municipal roadway or right-of-way or State boundaries. Provides that an off-grid electricity provider whose operation date is on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be exempt from the requirements of the Utilities Chapter of the Illinois Compiled Statutes. Provides that an off-grid electricity provider shall remain subject to all other applicable laws and regulations, including municipal and State highway safety regulations, unless specifically excluded from those laws or regulations by a separate Act. Provides that an off-grid electricity provider shall cease being an off-grid electricity provider and immediately become subject to the requirements of the Utilities Chapter of the Illinois Compiled Statutes if the off-grid electricity provider does any of the following actions: (1) the provider elects to connect to any portion of an existing electric transmission or distribution system within this State for either primary or backup supply; (2) the provider locates within or crosses any federal, State, or municipal roadway or right-of-way; or (3) the provider crosses State boundaries. Effective immediately.

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 Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax credit for taxpayers that make an investment in the manufacture of a small modular nuclear reactor in the State during the taxable year. Provides that the amount of the credit is 20% of the amount of that investment. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Provides that tangible personal property purchased for use in the construction or operation of a small modular nuclear reactor in the State is exempt from taxation under those Act. Effective immediately.

Provides that the amendatory Act may be referred to as the Fast-Track Nuclear Now Act. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Removes prohibitions on the construction of a new nuclear power reactor with a nameplate capacity of more than 300 megawatts of electricity that is located within the State. Amends the Illinois Nuclear Facility Safety Act. Provides that it is declared to be the policy of the State to facilitate new nuclear facility construction. Makes a conforming change. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security shall work with any proposed project, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and any relevant State agency to reduce regulatory barriers to new nuclear facility construction. Effective immediately.

Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Defines "battery storage resource" and "total State-installed generation capacity". Provides that no variance, adjusted standard, or other regulatory relief otherwise available in the Act may be granted to the emissions reduction and elimination obligations in the amendatory provisions if battery storage resources constitute at least 10% of the total State-installed generation capacity in the State. Provides that, if battery storage resources constitute less than 10% of the total State-installed generation capacity at any time after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Environmental Protection Agency shall delay enforcement of certain timelines and relieve generators of their obligation not to exceed their existing emission levels. Provides that, for a large GHG-emitting unit that uses gas as a fuel and is subject to certain restrictions within the provisions concerning greenhouse gases, the unit may exceed its existing emissions during run hours dispatched by a regional transmission organization during emergency, pre-emergency, or conservative operations or run hours that are required to maintain system reliability. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

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.