Energy

Creates the Electric Transmission Facilities Siting Act. Defines terms. Requires that, in the siting of new electric transmission facilities, available corridors be used in the following order of priority: (1) existing public utility corridors; (2) highway corridors; and (3) new corridors. Provides that a public utility or developer may construct, place, or maintain a high-voltage electric service line on a public right-of-way or along a highway if (i) the public utility or developer submits a colocation request for the high-voltage electric service line to the Secretary of Transportation and (ii) the Secretary reviews and approves the colocation request. Provides that the Secretary may deny a colocation request if the Secretary determines that the construction, placement, or maintenance of a high-voltage electric service line on a public right-of-way or along a highway would endanger public safety or would interfere with the proper function of the highway. Provides that a public utility or developer may submit a written request to the Department of Transportation for an evaluation of certain corridors for possible locations for a high-voltage electric service line. Provides that, within 30 days after receipt of a written request, the Secretary shall assign a project coordinator to the request. Provides that a project coordinator, upon assignment to a request, shall begin the evaluation in coordination with the applicable public utility or developer. Requires a public utility or developer to develop a constructability report in consultation with the Department and requires the public utility or developer and the Department to follow the terms and conditions of the constructability report during the planning and approval process for the siting of a high-voltage electric service line. Sets forth requirements for the content of the constructability report. Provides that, if the Department requires that a high-voltage electric service line on a public right-of-way be relocated by a specific date, the Department shall give the applicable public utility or developer notice of the required relocation no less than 10 years before the date of the required relocation. Makes other changes. 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. Defines "plug-in solar energy system". 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 an eligible customer may, but shall not be required to, conform the eligible customer's plug-in solar energy system to the interconnection requirements under provisions concerning net metering and any rules adopted pursuant to those provisions. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system that does not interconnect to the electrical system in a manner that is consistent with the applicable rules adopted by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall not be eligible for net electricity metering. Provides that a plug-in solar energy system shall not qualify for any distributed generation rebate. Provides that an electricity provider shall not be liable for any damage or injury caused by an eligible customer's plug-in solar energy system. Provides that homeowners' associations, common interest community associations, and condominium unit owners' associations shall not adopt or enforce any covenant, bylaw, regulation, or other rule that unreasonably restricts or prohibits, or has the effect of prohibiting, the installation or use of a plug-in solar energy system that has a maximum power output to a receptacle outlet of 391 watts or less. Provides that landlords shall not adopt or enforce any lease or contract that unreasonably restricts or prohibits, or has the effect of prohibiting, the installation or use of a plug-in solar energy system that has a maximum power output to a receptacle outlet of 391 watts or less.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in levy year 2026, if a specified taxing district provided a property tax abatement under a specified provision of the Energy Community Reinvestment Act in any levy year occurring before the current levy year and if the taxing district was subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the levy year of the abatement, then the district's aggregate extension base for each subsequent levy year after the levy year of the abatement but not earlier than levy year 2026 shall be calculated as through the district's aggregate extension for the levy year in which the abatement was granted included the amount of the abatement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Provides that a taxpayer that incurs qualified infrastructure costs in connection with the sale at a qualified retail motor fuel facility in the State of biodiesel, higher blends of ethanol fuel, and renewable diesel is allowed an income tax credit in an amount equal to 30% of those qualified infrastructure costs. Provides that the credit may not exceed $200,000 per qualified facility and $1,000,000 per taxpayer per taxable year. Effective immediately.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning the exercise of eminent domain powers by a public utility, provides that an owner or operator of a pipeline designed, constructed, and operated to transport carbon dioxide to which the Illinois Commerce Commission has granted a certificate under the Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Sequestration Act shall not seek or exercise eminent domain authority from the Commission. Amends the Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Sequestration Act. Provides that a certificate of authority does not grant an owner or operator of a carbon dioxide pipeline the authority to take and acquire an easement in any property or interest in property for the construction, maintenance, or operation of a carbon dioxide pipeline through the exercise of eminent domain power. Removes corresponding provisions concerning eminent domain.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2027, a diesel powered vehicle owned or operated by the State, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency must use a biodiesel blend that contains 19%, unless the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel or on ultra low sulfur fuel. Allows, in December, January, February, and March, a biodiesel blend of at least 10% to be used. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act and the Public Utilities Act. Provides that "agrivoltaic system" means a ground-mounted photovoltaic solar energy system that meets the following criteria: (1) the applicable farm plan and the system have been intentionally designed with agricultural producers, agrivoltaics experts, or both agricultural producers and agrivoltaics experts; (2) the system is constructed, installed, and operated to achieve an integrated and simultaneous production of both solar energy and current or future marketable agricultural products, including all products and activities described in the definition of "production agriculture" in the Use Tax Act and apiaries if the apiary is paired with another qualifying marketable agricultural product, by an agricultural producer; (3) the agricultural production of the system occur on land beneath or between rows of solar panels; and (4) the agricultural production of the system begins as soon as agronomically feasible and optimal for the agricultural producer after the commercial operation date of the solar panels and continues until decommissioning. Provides that "agrivoltaic system" does not include a system that has a pollinator habitat as the sole dual use of the system.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2027, a diesel powered vehicle owned or operated by the State, any county or unit of local government, any school district, any community college or public college or university, or any mass transit agency must use a biodiesel blend that contains 19%, unless the engine is designed or retrofitted to operate on a higher percentage of biodiesel or on ultra low sulfur fuel. Allows, in December, January, February, and March, a biodiesel blend of at least 10% to be used. Effective immediately.

Amends the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the Property Tax Code. Provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in levy year 2026, if a specified taxing district provided a property tax abatement under a specified provision of the Energy Community Reinvestment Act in any levy year occurring before the current levy year and if the taxing district was subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in the levy year of the abatement, then the district's aggregate extension base for each subsequent levy year after the levy year of the abatement but not earlier than levy year 2026 shall be calculated as through the district's aggregate extension for the levy year in which the abatement was granted included the amount of the abatement. Effective immediately.