Energy

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or a municipality may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, rule, or other measure that would regulate the installation or inspection of a residential energy backup system, including on a building with a shared roof. Defines "residential energy backup system". Effective June 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that it is the policy of the State to rapidly transition to 100% clean energy by 2060 (rather than 2050). Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions relating to performance incentives and metrics for electric utilities designed to encourage those utilities to support and facilitate the State's clean energy transition, extends timelines by 10 years from existing statutory dates to allow for competitive market development and cost declines. Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that all electricity generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal or oil as a fuel and are not public GHG-emitting units shall permanently reduce all CO2e and co-pollutant emissions to zero no later than January 1, 2040 (rather than 2030). Further provides that All EGUs and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that use coal as a fuel and are public GHG-emitting units shall permanently reduce CO2e emissions to zero no later than December 31, 2055 (rather than 2045). Provides that if the emissions reduction requirement is not achieved by December 31, 2045 (rather than 2035), the plant shall retire one or more units or otherwise reduce its CO2e emissions by 45% from existing emissions by June 30, 2048 (rather than 2038). Provides that no later than January 1. 2050 (rather than 2040) all EGUs and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that have a NOx emission rate of greater than 0.12 lbs/MWh or a SO2 emission rate greater than 0.006 lb/MWh, and are not located in or within 3 miles of an environmental justice community designated as of January 1, 2021 or an equity investment eligible community shall permanently reduce all CO2e and co-pollutant emissions to zero, including through unit retirement or the use of 100% green hydrogen or other similar technology that is commercially proven to achieve zero carbon emissions.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2027, an electric vehicle owner may register an electric vehicle with any qualifying registration, and an additional $320 surcharge shall be collected in addition to the applicable registration fee. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2028, the Secretary shall annually adjust the electric vehicle registration surcharge by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending in March of the year in which the increase takes place. Establishes the Road Usage Charge Program to be implemented by Secretary of State to be used in lieu of the fees levied for electric vehicle owners. Requires the Secretary to adopt rules to implement the Program. Allows the Secretary to impose a penalty for failure to timely pay a road usage charge according to the terms of the Program or tampering with a device necessary for the Program. Provides that if enrolled in the Program, the owner of an electric vehicle shall: report mileage driven; pay the road usage fee for each payment period; and comply with all other provisions and other requirements of the Program. Provides that beginning July 1, 2027, the road usage charge rate is 1.5 cent per mile and the road usage charge cap is $320 for an annual registration. Requires the Secretary to annually adjust the road usage charge rate and the road usage charge cap by an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months ending in March of the year in which the increase takes place. Provides that revenue generated by the Program and relevant penalties shall be distributed in the same manner revenue from the motor fuel tax is distributed after covering the costs to administer the Program.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, to assist and support the Illinois Commerce Commission in the development of renewable energy access plan updates, the Commission may retain the services of technical and policy experts with relevant expertise and experience. Provides that the procurement is exempt from the requirements of the Illinois Procurement Code. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code to make a conforming change. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning virtual power plant programs, provides that, in setting the values of upfront payment and performance payment compensation under the provisions, the Illinois Commerce Commission shall set values for eligible systems that include energy storage that are, taking into account the time value of money, not less than: (A) for an eligible system that did not receive and agrees not to apply for a rebate for its storage component under specified provisions, $250 per kilowatt-hour nameplate capacity paid on the date the system is placed in service; or (B) for an eligible system that received a rebate for its storage component under specified provisions, $0 per kilowatt-hour. In provisions concerning distributed generation and storage rebates, provides that, until the later of December 31, 2029 or the threshold date (rather than until December 31, 2029), the value of specified rebates shall be $300 per kilowatt of nameplate generating capacity, measured as nominal DC power output, of the distributed generation. Amends the Counties Code. In provisions concerning setback distances for commercial wind energy facilities or commercial solar energy facilities, specifies that the ability of a county to require a reasonable setback distance between fencing and public rights-of-way if the requirement is not specific to commercial wind energy facilities or commercial solar energy facilities and does not preclude the development of commercial wind energy facilities or commercial solar energy facilities or the ability of commercial wind energy facilities or commercial solar energy facilities to comply with the requirements set forth in the provisions shall not exceed 50 feet between fencing and public rights-of-way. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that a "community renewable generation project" means an electric generating facility that, among other things, is limited in nameplate capacity to less than or equal to 5,000 kilowatts (rather than 10,000 kilowatts). Makes other changes.

Creates the Make-Ready Infrastructure Rules Act. Sets forth findings. Defines terms. Provides that an electric utility shall propose a new rule, before the electric utility submits its next Multi-Year Integrated Rate Plan, that authorizes the electric utility to design and deploy all electrical distribution infrastructure on the utility side of the meter for all customers who have installed separately metered or submetered infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging stations, other than charging stations in single-family residences. Provides that an electric utility shall recover its revenue requirement for the design and deployment of such electrical distribution infrastructure through periodic Multi-Year Integrated Rate Plan proceedings or through other methods determined by the Commission by rule. Provides that the Commission shall require an electric utility to provide an accurate and full accounting of all the electric utility's expenses related to electrical distribution infrastructure and shall apply appropriate penalties to an electric utility that is not accurately tracking all expenses. Provides that the new proposed rule, once effective, shall be offered to customers as an alternative to the transmission line extension rules in place as of the effective date of the Act for electric vehicle infrastructure and any customer allowances established under the rule shall be based on the full useful life of the electrical distribution infrastructure. Makes other changes.

Urges for the support and passage of the federal Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which offers a permanent, national solution to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of E-15 fuel blends.

Creates the Residential Automated Solar Permitting Platform Act. On or before July 1, 2027, municipalities and counties with a population of more than 10,000 residents must adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform. Requires that the municipality or county anticipate that the residential automated solar permitting platform will have the capability to process at least 75% of residential solar applications on existing construction submitted to authorities having jurisdiction in the State. "Residential automated solar permitting platform" means software or a combination of software that automates plan review, automatically produces code-compliant approvals, accepts online payments for permitting fees if permitting fees are levied, and instantly issues permits and permit revisions for residential photovoltaic systems upon online submission of permitting fee payments, if permitting fees are levied, and a code-compliant application. Provides that a person or entity whose rights have been violated under this Act by a municipality or county is entitled to collect: (1) in the case of unlawful retaliation, all legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate; and (2) attorney's fees and costs. Makes other changes.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that a public utility shall freeze its monthly customer charge for low-income households at an amount equal to a percentage of the household's income that is no greater than the current percentage of income used to determine the amount of monthly credits administered to participants of the Percentage of Income Payment Plan under the Energy Assistance Act.

Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Illinois Finance Authority shall have power to issue revenue bonds for energy storage projects that seek State-level energy storage credits or utility cost recovery. Provides that the Authority shall coordinate with the Illinois Power Agency to ensure that the financing terms of the revenue bonds are structured to minimize costs to State ratepayers. In provisions concerning Clean Coal, Coal, Energy Efficiency, PACE, and Renewable Energy Project financing, provides that bonds issued by the Authority shall be limited obligations of the Authority and payable solely from the revenues and receipts derived from the energy storage projects for which the bonds are issued. Requires the bonds to contain on their face a certain statement. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. In provisions concerning the Planning and Procurement Bureau, provides that an energy storage project shall not be eligible for the procurement of energy storage credits under provisions concerning the equity accountability system unless the owner or developer of the energy storage project demonstrates, as a condition of bid eligibility, that the energy storage project's long-term debt financing is secured through bonds issued by the Authority. Provides that the Agency shall not execute any procurement plan or enter into contracts for energy storage or renewable energy credits that would result in the average retail customer's bill exceeding cost-control caps set forth in certain provisions of the Public Utilities Act, unless the excess amount is approved by the General Assembly. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to conduct an annual Energy Affordability and Rate Impact Study. Sets forth requirements for the content of the Study. In provisions concerning distributed generation rebates, provides that, if a Multi-Year Integrated Grid Plan or any subsequent integrated resource plan submitted by a utility or the Commission includes a proposal to increase, suspend, or otherwise exceed any existing statutory rate caps or cost-control benchmarks in certain provisions of the Act, such adjustment shall not take effect unless specifically approved by a joint resolution of the General Assembly. Amends the Environmental Protection Act by repealing provisions concerning greenhouse gases. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.