Environment (Climate Change)

Amends the Sustainable Agriculture Act. Provides that the (b) The Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency shall conduct a joint study and publish the findings of such study to evaluate the extent to which carbon could be stored through widespread adoption of practices promoting soil carbon sequestration in the State, and what soil management practices that can be utilized to promote soil carbon sequestration. Provides that the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency may consult with and seek assistance from (1) similar state agencies in other states and (2) federal agencies, to the extent that such coordination aids in furthering the purposes of this study. Provides that the joint study shall consider how changes in seasonality and weather patterns, driven by climate change, may impact the efficacy of soil carbon sequestration. Provides that the joint study shall be published on a publicly available website no later than January 1, 2028, and suitable copies shall be delivered to the Governor and members of the General Assembly.

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that, prior to approving or directing any decarbonization pathway, pilot program, infrastructure investment, or regulatory mandate related to the natural gas distribution system, the Commission shall conduct a comprehensive, independent cost-benefit analysis that evaluates: (i) life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions; (ii) cumulative energy system costs, including any stranded asset risks estimated at no less than $80,000,000,000 by 2050 under high-electrification scenarios; (iii) ratepayer bill impacts for all customer classes, with a focus on low-income and non-migrating customers; (iv) system reliability and safety under State standards; (v) equity impacts, including cost shifts to vulnerable populations; (vi) workforce and job impacts; and (vii) the extent to which competitive market mechanisms, such as private investment, third-party financing, and supplier competition, can achieve equivalent or superior outcomes at lower costs. Provides that the Commission shall not approve a decarbonization pathway, pilot program, infrastructure investment, or regulatory mandate unless the pathway, program, investment, or mandate demonstrates net benefits under the cost-benefit analysis without prioritizing an approach where regulated solutions increase costs without proportional benefits. Provides that the Commission shall use transparent, market-based data from sources such as PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO), and Chicago Citygate and coordinate with applicable biennial long-term gas infrastructure plans.

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 Environmental Protection Act. In provisions regarding the regulation of greenhouse gases, defines "heat rate" as the gross amount of energy used by an electric generator or power plant, expressed in British thermal units (Btus), to generate one kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity, as measured using a 12-month average. In provisions regarding electric generating units and large greenhouse gas-emitting units that have a heat rate greater than or equal to 7,000 Btus/kWh, requires each EGU and large GHG-emitting unit, by no later than January 1, 2035, to reduce its COe emissions by at least 50% from its existing COe emissions as measured using a 12-month gross average in 2034.

Creates the Climate Change Superfund Act. Creates the Illinois Climate Change Superfund as a special fund in the State treasury. Requires at least 40% of the Fund to be spent on projects that directly benefit disadvantaged communities facing climate change impacts. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt rules within one year, including regarding the apportionment of liability for climate change for payments into the Fund by responsible parties, regarding qualifying expenditures from the Fund, and regarding an Illinois Climate Change Superfund Program. Requires the Agency to establish procedures to challenge its determinations of liability for climate change and provides for judicial review under the Administrative Review Law. Makes findings. Defines terms. Provides that the Act is severable. Makes conforming changes to the State Finance Act.

Creates the Powering Up Illinois Act. Defines terms. Sets forth findings. Requires an electric utility that operates within the State to (i) upgrade the State's electrical distribution systems as needed and in time to achieve the State's decarbonization goals, and implement federal, State, regional, and local air quality and decarbonization standards, plans, and regulations, (ii) conduct sufficient advance planning, engineering, and construction of increased distribution of system capacity by advance ordering transformers and other needed equipment so that customers can be energized without substantial delay, (iii) promptly energize new customers, including by ensuring that new housing, new businesses, and new charging for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road vehicles, vessels, trains, and equipment can be used without delay caused by a failure of the utility to implement energization projects, (iv) promptly upgrade service when needed by customers, (v) allow customers seeking energization to choose an optional flexible connection agreement, which shall provide a tariffed, voluntary utility offering that requires customers to agree to specified service levels as a requirement of energization or interconnection through the use of demand response technology that limits the net import and export of electricity at the point of common coupling to remain within the rated capacity limits of a customer's existing service connection or distribution circuit, either on a permanent basis or to allow for immediate project operations before service or distribution system upgrades are completed, and (vi) recruit, train, and retain an adequately sized and qualified workforce to carry out the planning, engineering, and construction of electrical distribution systems needed to promptly serve customers seeking energization and service upgrades without sacrificing other necessary activities of the workforce. Sets forth provisions concerning: the staffing of an electrification team; electric utility requirements; recovery of costs; and safety standards. Effective immediately.

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.

Creates the Powering Up Illinois Act. Defines terms. Sets forth findings. Requires an electric utility that operates within the State to (i) upgrade the State's electrical distribution systems as needed and in time to achieve the State's decarbonization goals, and implement federal, State, regional, and local air quality and decarbonization standards, plans, and regulations, (ii) conduct sufficient advance planning, engineering, and construction of increased distribution of system capacity by advance ordering transformers and other needed equipment so that customers can be energized without substantial delay, (iii) promptly energize new customers, including by ensuring that new housing, new businesses, and new charging for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road vehicles, vessels, trains, and equipment can be used without delay caused by a failure of the utility to implement energization projects, (iv) promptly upgrade service when needed by customers, (v) allow customers seeking energization to choose an optional flexible connection agreement, which shall provide a tariffed, voluntary utility offering that requires customers to agree to specified service levels as a requirement of energization or interconnection through the use of demand response technology that limits the net import and export of electricity at the point of common coupling to remain within the rated capacity limits of a customer's existing service connection or distribution circuit, either on a permanent basis or to allow for immediate project operations before service or distribution system upgrades are completed, and (vi) recruit, train, and retain an adequately sized and qualified workforce to carry out the planning, engineering, and construction of electrical distribution systems needed to promptly serve customers seeking energization and service upgrades without sacrificing other necessary activities of the workforce. Sets forth provisions concerning: the staffing of an electrification team; electric utility requirements; recovery of costs; and safety standards. Effective immediately.

Amends the Department of Agriculture Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Directs the Department of Agriculture to study: (1) the specific actions that can be taken and the practices that can be implemented to mitigate the impacts of drought and climate change on agriculture in the State; (2) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of establishing and implementing financial and technical assistance programs to mitigate the impacts of drought and climate change on agricultural producers in the State; (3) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of using agricultural land management to realize greenhouse gas reductions and maximize carbon sequestration opportunities in the State; (4) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of using floatovoltaics in State waterways; and (5) the costs, benefits, and feasibility of establishing within the Department an Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office for the purpose of providing agricultural producers with the voluntary technical assistance, nonregulatory programs, and incentives necessary to harden the State's agricultural sector to the coming impacts of drought and climate change. Allows the Department to enter into a contract or grant agreement with one or more organizations or institutions with expertise in environmental and agricultural issues for the purpose of completing the tasks delegated to the Department in these provisions. Authorizes the Department, in conducting the required cost-benefit analyses, to take into account the value of ecosystem services. Directs the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly within 2 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

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.