Energy (Energy Storage)

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Adds and modifies definitions of terms. Authorizes the Illinois Power Agency to conduct competitive solicitations to procure contracted energy storage credits sufficient to achieve certain energy storage standards; to request, review, and accept proposals; to execute contracts; and to procure energy storage credits. Requires the Agency to develop a storage procurement plan. Authorizes the Agency to develop and implement a firm energy resource procurement plan. Makes other changes. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires each electric utility to demonstrate sufficient resources devoted to interconnection. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to perform specified actions regarding interconnection within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. In a provision regarding virtual power plant programs, requires each electric utility serving more than 300,000 customers as of January 1, 2023 to propose an initial tariff within 60 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. In a provision regarding peak remediation programs, requires each electric utility serving more than 300,000 retail customers as of January 1, 2023 to propose an initial tariff within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Requires the Commission to establish a working group with relevant stakeholders to develop a stand-alone energy storage distribution deployment program. Provides that, beginning on June 1, 2024, the electric utility shall be entitled to recover through tariffed charges all of the costs associated with the purchase of energy storage credits to meet specified energy storage standards. Requires the Agency to prepare an energy storage resources procurement plan for the procurement of energy storage credits. Requires the Commission to establish an Office of Interconnection and Renewable Development, which shall (i) 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 the projects and devices, and (ii) monitor interconnection between electric utilities and applicants for interconnection and interconnection customers. Sets forth reporting requirements for the Office. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

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 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.