Bill Amendment: IL HB3351 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly

NOTE: For additional amemendments please see the Bill Drafting List

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Bill Title: IL SOLAR FOR ALL-PREVAIL WAGE

Status: 2023-06-30 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0188 [HB3351 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB3351-Senate_Amendment_001.html

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Sen. Cristina Castro

Filed: 4/26/2023

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AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3351
AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3351 by replacing
everything after the enacting clause with the following:
"Section 5. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by
changing Section 1-56 as follows:
(20 ILCS 3855/1-56)
Sec. 1-56. Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy
Resources Fund; Illinois Solar for All Program.
(a) The Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources
Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury.
(b) The Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources
Fund shall be administered by the Agency as described in this
subsection (b), provided that the changes to this subsection
(b) made by this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly
shall not interfere with existing contracts under this
Section.

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(1) The Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy
Resources Fund shall be used to purchase renewable energy
credits according to any approved procurement plan
developed by the Agency prior to June 1, 2017.
(2) The Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy
Resources Fund shall also be used to create the Illinois
Solar for All Program, which provides incentives for
low-income distributed generation and community solar
projects, and other associated approved expenditures. The
objectives of the Illinois Solar for All Program are to
bring photovoltaics to low-income communities in this
State in a manner that maximizes the development of new
photovoltaic generating facilities, to create a long-term,
low-income solar marketplace throughout this State, to
integrate, through interaction with stakeholders, with
existing energy efficiency initiatives, and to minimize
administrative costs. The Illinois Solar for All Program
shall be implemented in a manner that seeks to minimize
administrative costs, and maximize efficiencies and
synergies available through coordination with similar
initiatives, including the Adjustable Block program
described in subparagraphs (K) through (M) of paragraph
(1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75, energy efficiency
programs, job training programs, and community action
agencies. The Agency shall strive to ensure that renewable
energy credits procured through the Illinois Solar for All

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Program and each of its subprograms are purchased from
projects across the breadth of low-income and
environmental justice communities in Illinois, including
both urban and rural communities, are not concentrated in
a few communities, and do not exclude particular
low-income or environmental justice communities. The
Agency shall include a description of its proposed
approach to the design, administration, implementation and
evaluation of the Illinois Solar for All Program, as part
of the long-term renewable resources procurement plan
authorized by subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this Act,
and the program shall be designed to grow the low-income
solar market. The Agency or utility, as applicable, shall
purchase renewable energy credits from the (i)
photovoltaic distributed renewable energy generation
projects and (ii) community solar projects that are
procured under procurement processes authorized by the
long-term renewable resources procurement plans approved
by the Commission.
The Illinois Solar for All Program shall include the
program offerings described in subparagraphs (A) through
(E) of this paragraph (2), which the Agency shall
implement through contracts with third-party providers
and, subject to appropriation, pay the approximate amounts
identified using monies available in the Illinois Power
Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund. Each contract that

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provides for the installation of solar facilities shall
provide that the solar facilities will produce energy and
economic benefits, at a level determined by the Agency to
be reasonable, for the participating low income customers.
The monies available in the Illinois Power Agency
Renewable Energy Resources Fund and not otherwise
committed to contracts executed under subsection (i) of
this Section, as well as, in the case of the programs
described under subparagraphs (A) through (E) of this
paragraph (2), funding authorized pursuant to subparagraph
(O) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of
this Act, shall initially be allocated among the programs
described in this paragraph (2), as follows: 35% of these
funds shall be allocated to programs described in
subparagraphs (A) and (E) of this paragraph (2), 40% of
these funds shall be allocated to programs described in
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (2), and 25% of these
funds shall be allocated to programs described in
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (2). The allocation of
funds among subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (E) of this
paragraph (2) may be changed if the Agency, after
receiving input through a stakeholder process, determines
incentives in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), or (E) of this
paragraph (2) have not been adequately subscribed to fully
utilize available Illinois Solar for All Program funds.
Contracts that will be paid with funds in the Illinois

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Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund shall be
executed by the Agency. Contracts that will be paid with
funds collected by an electric utility shall be executed
by the electric utility.
Contracts under the Illinois Solar for All Program
shall include an approach, as set forth in the long-term
renewable resources procurement plans, to ensure the
wholesale market value of the energy is credited to
participating low-income customers or organizations and to
ensure tangible economic benefits flow directly to program
participants, except in the case of low-income
multi-family housing where the low-income customer does
not directly pay for energy. Priority shall be given to
projects that demonstrate meaningful involvement of
low-income community members in designing the initial
proposals. Acceptable proposals to implement projects must
demonstrate the applicant's ability to conduct initial
community outreach, education, and recruitment of
low-income participants in the community. Projects must
include job training opportunities if available, with the
specific level of trainee usage to be determined through
the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement
plan, and the Illinois Solar for All Program Administrator
shall coordinate with the job training programs described
in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section 16-108.12 of
the Public Utilities Act and in the Energy Transition Act.

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The Agency shall make every effort to ensure that
small and emerging businesses, particularly those located
in low-income and environmental justice communities, are
able to participate in the Illinois Solar for All Program.
These efforts may include, but shall not be limited to,
proactive support from the program administrator,
different or preferred access to subprograms and
administrator-identified customers or grassroots
education provider-identified customers, and different
incentive levels. The Agency shall report on progress and
barriers to participation of small and emerging businesses
in the Illinois Solar for All Program at least once a year.
The report shall be made available on the Agency's website
and, in years when the Agency is updating its long-term
renewable resources procurement plan, included in that
Plan.
(A) Low-income single-family and small multifamily
solar incentive. This program will provide incentives
to low-income customers, either directly or through
solar providers, to increase the participation of
low-income households in photovoltaic on-site
distributed generation at residential buildings
containing one to 4 units. Companies participating in
this program that install solar panels shall commit to
hiring job trainees for a portion of their low-income
installations, and an administrator shall facilitate

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partnering the companies that install solar panels
with entities that provide solar panel installation
job training. It is a goal of this program that a
minimum of 25% of the incentives for this program be
allocated to projects located within environmental
justice communities. Contracts entered into under this
paragraph may be entered into with an entity that will
develop and administer the program and shall also
include contracts for renewable energy credits from
the photovoltaic distributed generation that is the
subject of the program, as set forth in the long-term
renewable resources procurement plan. Additionally:
(i) The Agency shall reserve a portion of this
program for projects that promote energy
sovereignty through ownership of projects by
low-income households, not-for-profit
organizations providing services to low-income
households, affordable housing owners, community
cooperatives, or community-based limited liability
companies providing services to low-income
households. Projects that feature energy ownership
should ensure that local people have control of
the project and reap benefits from the project
over and above energy bill savings. The Agency may
consider the inclusion of projects that promote
ownership over time or that involve partial

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project ownership by communities, as promoting
energy sovereignty. Incentives for projects that
promote energy sovereignty may be higher than
incentives for equivalent projects that do not
promote energy sovereignty under this same
program.
(ii) Through its long-term renewable resources
procurement plan, the Agency shall consider
additional program and contract requirements to
ensure faithful compliance by applicants
benefiting from preferences for projects
designated to promote energy sovereignty. The
Agency shall make every effort to enable solar
providers already participating in the Adjustable
Block-Program under subparagraph (K) of paragraph
(1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this Act,
and particularly solar providers developing
projects under item (i) of subparagraph (K) of
paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of
this Act to easily participate in the Low-Income
Distributed Generation Incentive program described
under this subparagraph (A), and vice versa. This
effort may include, but shall not be limited to,
utilizing similar or the same application systems
and processes, similar or the same forms and
formats of communication, and providing active

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outreach to companies participating in one program
but not the other. The Agency shall report on
efforts made to encourage this cross-participation
in its long-term renewable resources procurement
plan.
(B) Low-Income Community Solar Project Initiative.
Incentives shall be offered to low-income customers,
either directly or through developers, to increase the
participation of low-income subscribers of community
solar projects. The developer of each project shall
identify its partnership with community stakeholders
regarding the location, development, and participation
in the project, provided that nothing shall preclude a
project from including an anchor tenant that does not
qualify as low-income. Companies participating in this
program that develop or install solar projects shall
commit to hiring job trainees for a portion of their
low-income installations, and an administrator shall
facilitate partnering the companies that install solar
projects with entities that provide solar installation
and related job training. It is a goal of this program
that a minimum of 25% of the incentives for this
program be allocated to community photovoltaic
projects in environmental justice communities. The
Agency shall reserve a portion of this program for
projects that promote energy sovereignty through

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ownership of projects by low-income households,
not-for-profit organizations providing services to
low-income households, affordable housing owners, or
community-based limited liability companies providing
services to low-income households. Projects that
feature energy ownership should ensure that local
people have control of the project and reap benefits
from the project over and above energy bill savings.
The Agency may consider the inclusion of projects that
promote ownership over time or that involve partial
project ownership by communities, as promoting energy
sovereignty. Incentives for projects that promote
energy sovereignty may be higher than incentives for
equivalent projects that do not promote energy
sovereignty under this same program. Contracts entered
into under this paragraph may be entered into with
developers and shall also include contracts for
renewable energy credits related to the program.
(C) Incentives for non-profits and public
facilities. Under this program funds shall be used to
support on-site photovoltaic distributed renewable
energy generation devices to serve the load associated
with not-for-profit customers and to support
photovoltaic distributed renewable energy generation
that uses photovoltaic technology to serve the load
associated with public sector customers taking service

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at public buildings. Companies participating in this
program that develop or install solar projects shall
commit to hiring job trainees for a portion of their
low-income installations, and an administrator shall
facilitate partnering the companies that install solar
projects with entities that provide solar installation
and related job training. Through its long-term
renewable resources procurement plan, the Agency shall
consider additional program and contract requirements
to ensure faithful compliance by applicants benefiting
from preferences for projects designated to promote
energy sovereignty. It is a goal of this program that
at least 25% of the incentives for this program be
allocated to projects located in environmental justice
communities. Contracts entered into under this
paragraph may be entered into with an entity that will
develop and administer the program or with developers
and shall also include contracts for renewable energy
credits related to the program.
(D) (Blank).
(E) Low-income large multifamily solar incentive.
This program shall provide incentives to low-income
customers, either directly or through solar providers,
to increase the participation of low-income households
in photovoltaic on-site distributed generation at
residential buildings with 5 or more units. Companies

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participating in this program that develop or install
solar projects shall commit to hiring job trainees for
a portion of their low-income installations, and an
administrator shall facilitate partnering the
companies that install solar projects with entities
that provide solar installation and related job
training. It is a goal of this program that a minimum
of 25% of the incentives for this program be allocated
to projects located within environmental justice
communities. The Agency shall reserve a portion of
this program for projects that promote energy
sovereignty through ownership of projects by
low-income households, not-for-profit organizations
providing services to low-income households,
affordable housing owners, or community-based limited
liability companies providing services to low-income
households. Projects that feature energy ownership
should ensure that local people have control of the
project and reap benefits from the project over and
above energy bill savings. The Agency may consider the
inclusion of projects that promote ownership over time
or that involve partial project ownership by
communities, as promoting energy sovereignty.
Incentives for projects that promote energy
sovereignty may be higher than incentives for
equivalent projects that do not promote energy

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sovereignty under this same program.
The requirement that a qualified person, as defined in
paragraph (1) of subsection (i) of this Section, install
photovoltaic devices does not apply to the Illinois Solar
for All Program described in this subsection (b).
In addition to the programs outlined in paragraphs (A)
through (E), the Agency and other parties may propose
additional programs through the Long-Term Renewable
Resources Procurement Plan developed and approved under
paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the
Public Utilities Act. Additional programs may target
market segments not specified above and may also include
incentives targeted to increase the uptake of
nonphotovoltaic technologies by low-income customers,
including energy storage paired with photovoltaics, if the
Commission determines that the Illinois Solar for All
Program would provide greater benefits to the public
health and well-being of low-income residents through also
supporting that additional program versus supporting
programs already authorized.
(3) Costs associated with the Illinois Solar for All
Program and its components described in paragraph (2) of
this subsection (b), including, but not limited to, costs
associated with procuring experts, consultants, and the
program administrator referenced in this subsection (b)
and related incremental costs, costs related to income

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verification and facilitating customer participation in
the program, and costs related to the evaluation of the
Illinois Solar for All Program, may be paid for using
monies in the Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy
Resources Fund, and funds allocated pursuant to
subparagraph (O) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of
Section 1-75, but the Agency or program administrator
shall strive to minimize costs in the implementation of
the program. The Agency or contracting electric utility
shall purchase renewable energy credits from generation
that is the subject of a contract under subparagraphs (A)
through (E) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (b), and
may pay for such renewable energy credits through an
upfront payment per installed kilowatt of nameplate
capacity paid once the device is interconnected at the
distribution system level of the interconnecting utility
and verified as energized. Payments for renewable energy
credits shall be in exchange for all renewable energy
credits generated by the system during the first 15 years
of operation and shall be structured to overcome barriers
to participation in the solar market by the low-income
community. The incentives provided for in this Section may
be implemented through the pricing of renewable energy
credits where the prices paid for the credits are higher
than the prices from programs offered under subsection (c)
of Section 1-75 of this Act to account for the additional

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capital necessary to successfully access targeted market
segments. The Agency or contracting electric utility shall
retire any renewable energy credits purchased under this
program and the credits shall count towards the obligation
under subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this Act for the
electric utility to which the project is interconnected,
if applicable.
The Agency shall direct that up to 5% of the funds
available under the Illinois Solar for All Program to
community-based groups and other qualifying organizations
to assist in community-driven education efforts related to
the Illinois Solar for All Program, including general
energy education, job training program outreach efforts,
and other activities deemed to be qualified by the Agency.
Grassroots education funding shall not be used to support
the marketing by solar project development firms and
organizations, unless such education provides equal
opportunities for all applicable firms and organizations.
(4) The Agency shall, consistent with the requirements
of this subsection (b), propose the Illinois Solar for All
Program terms, conditions, and requirements, including the
prices to be paid for renewable energy credits, and which
prices may be determined through a formula, through the
development, review, and approval of the Agency's
long-term renewable resources procurement plan described
in subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this Act and Section

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16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. In the course of the
Commission proceeding initiated to review and approve the
plan, including the Illinois Solar for All Program
proposed by the Agency, a party may propose an additional
low-income solar or solar incentive program, or
modifications to the programs proposed by the Agency, and
the Commission may approve an additional program, or
modifications to the Agency's proposed program, if the
additional or modified program more effectively maximizes
the benefits to low-income customers after taking into
account all relevant factors, including, but not limited
to, the extent to which a competitive market for
low-income solar has developed. Following the Commission's
approval of the Illinois Solar for All Program, the Agency
or a party may propose adjustments to the program terms,
conditions, and requirements, including the price offered
to new systems, to ensure the long-term viability and
success of the program. The Commission shall review and
approve any modifications to the program through the plan
revision process described in Section 16-111.5 of the
Public Utilities Act.
(5) The Agency shall issue a request for
qualifications for a third-party program administrator or
administrators to administer all or a portion of the
Illinois Solar for All Program. The third-party program
administrator shall be chosen through a competitive bid

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process based on selection criteria and requirements
developed by the Agency, including, but not limited to,
experience in administering low-income energy programs and
overseeing statewide clean energy or energy efficiency
services. If the Agency retains a program administrator or
administrators to implement all or a portion of the
Illinois Solar for All Program, each administrator shall
periodically submit reports to the Agency and Commission
for each program that it administers, at appropriate
intervals to be identified by the Agency in its long-term
renewable resources procurement plan, provided that the
reporting interval is at least quarterly. The third-party
program administrator may be, but need not be, the same
administrator as for the Adjustable Block program
described in subparagraphs (K) through (M) of paragraph
(1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75. The Agency, through
its long-term renewable resources procurement plan
approval process, shall also determine if individual
subprograms of the Illinois Solar for All Program are
better served by a different or separate Program
Administrator.
The third-party administrator's responsibilities
shall also include facilitating placement for graduates of
Illinois-based renewable energy-specific job training
programs, including the Clean Jobs Workforce Network
Program and the Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship

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Program administered by the Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity and programs administered under
Section 16-108.12 of the Public Utilities Act. To increase
the uptake of trainees by participating firms, the
administrator shall also develop a web-based clearinghouse
for information available to both job training program
graduates and firms participating, directly or indirectly,
in Illinois solar incentive programs. The program
administrator shall also coordinate its activities with
entities implementing electric and natural gas
income-qualified energy efficiency programs, including
customer referrals to and from such programs, and connect
prospective low-income solar customers with any existing
deferred maintenance programs where applicable.
(6) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan
shall also provide for an independent evaluation of the
Illinois Solar for All Program. At least every 2 years,
the Agency shall select an independent evaluator to review
and report on the Illinois Solar for All Program and the
performance of the third-party program administrator of
the Illinois Solar for All Program. The evaluation shall
be based on objective criteria developed through a public
stakeholder process. The process shall include feedback
and participation from Illinois Solar for All Program
stakeholders, including participants and organizations in
environmental justice and historically underserved

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communities. The report shall include a summary of the
evaluation of the Illinois Solar for All Program based on
the stakeholder developed objective criteria. The report
shall include the number of projects installed; the total
installed capacity in kilowatts; the average cost per
kilowatt of installed capacity to the extent reasonably
obtainable by the Agency; the number of jobs or job
opportunities created; economic, social, and environmental
benefits created; and the total administrative costs
expended by the Agency and program administrator to
implement and evaluate the program. The report shall be
delivered to the Commission and posted on the Agency's
website, and shall be used, as needed, to revise the
Illinois Solar for All Program. The Commission shall also
consider the results of the evaluation as part of its
review of the long-term renewable resources procurement
plan under subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this Act.
(7) If additional funding for the programs described
in this subsection (b) is available under subsection (k)
of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, then the
Agency shall submit a procurement plan to the Commission
no later than September 1, 2018, that proposes how the
Agency will procure programs on behalf of the applicable
utility. After notice and hearing, the Commission shall
approve, or approve with modification, the plan no later
than November 1, 2018.

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(8) As part of the development and update of the
long-term renewable resources procurement plan authorized
by subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this Act, the Agency
shall plan for: (A) actions to refer customers from the
Illinois Solar for All Program to electric and natural gas
income-qualified energy efficiency programs, and vice
versa, with the goal of increasing participation in both
of these programs; (B) effective procedures for data
sharing, as needed, to effectuate referrals between the
Illinois Solar for All Program and both electric and
natural gas income-qualified energy efficiency programs,
including sharing customer information directly with the
utilities, as needed and appropriate; and (C) efforts to
identify any existing deferred maintenance programs for
which prospective Solar for All Program customers may be
eligible and connect prospective customers for whom
deferred maintenance is or may be a barrier to solar
installation to those programs.
As used in this subsection (b), "low-income households"
means persons and families whose income does not exceed 80% of
area median income, adjusted for family size and revised every
5 years.
For the purposes of this subsection (b), the Agency shall
define "environmental justice community" based on the
methodologies and findings established by the Agency and the
Administrator for the Illinois Solar for All Program in its

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initial long-term renewable resources procurement plan and as
updated by the Agency and the Administrator for the Illinois
Solar for All Program as part of the long-term renewable
resources procurement plan update.
(b-5) After the receipt of all payments required by
Section 16-115D of the Public Utilities Act, no additional
funds shall be deposited into the Illinois Power Agency
Renewable Energy Resources Fund unless directed by order of
the Commission.
(b-10) After the receipt of all payments required by
Section 16-115D of the Public Utilities Act and payment in
full of all contracts executed by the Agency under subsections
(b) and (i) of this Section, if the balance of the Illinois
Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund is under $5,000,
then the Fund shall be inoperative and any remaining funds and
any funds submitted to the Fund after that date, shall be
transferred to the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance
Fund for use in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program,
as authorized by the Energy Assistance Act.
(b-15) The prevailing wage requirements set forth in the
Prevailing Wage Act apply to each project that is undertaken
pursuant to one or more of the programs of incentives and
initiatives described in subsection (b) of this Section and
for which a project application is submitted to the program
after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd
General Assembly, except (i) projects that serve single-family

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or multi-family residential buildings and (ii) projects with
an aggregate capacity of less than 100 kilowatts that serve
houses of worship. The Agency shall require verification that
all construction performed on a project by the renewable
energy credit delivery contract holder, its contractors, or
its subcontractors relating to the construction of the
facility is performed by workers receiving an amount for that
work that is greater than or equal to the general prevailing
rate of wages as that term is defined in the Prevailing Wage
Act, and the Agency may adjust renewable energy credit prices
to account for increased labor costs.
In this subsection (b-15), "house of worship" has the
meaning given in subparagraph (Q) of paragraph (1) of
subsection (c) of Section 1-75.
(c) (Blank).
(d) (Blank).
(e) All renewable energy credits procured using monies
from the Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund
shall be permanently retired.
(f) The selection of one or more third-party program
managers or administrators, the selection of the independent
evaluator, and the procurement processes described in this
Section are exempt from the requirements of the Illinois
Procurement Code, under Section 20-10 of that Code.
(g) All disbursements from the Illinois Power Agency
Renewable Energy Resources Fund shall be made only upon

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warrants of the Comptroller drawn upon the Treasurer as
custodian of the Fund upon vouchers signed by the Director or
by the person or persons designated by the Director for that
purpose. The Comptroller is authorized to draw the warrant
upon vouchers so signed. The Treasurer shall accept all
warrants so signed and shall be released from liability for
all payments made on those warrants.
(h) The Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources
Fund shall not be subject to sweeps, administrative charges,
or chargebacks, including, but not limited to, those
authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act, that
would in any way result in the transfer of any funds from this
Fund to any other fund of this State or in having any such
funds utilized for any purpose other than the express purposes
set forth in this Section.
(h-5) The Agency may assess fees to each bidder to recover
the costs incurred in connection with a procurement process
held under this Section. Fees collected from bidders shall be
deposited into the Renewable Energy Resources Fund.
(i) Supplemental procurement process.
(1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the Agency
shall develop a one-time supplemental procurement plan
limited to the procurement of renewable energy credits, if
available, from new or existing photovoltaics, including,
but not limited to, distributed photovoltaic generation.

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Nothing in this subsection (i) requires procurement of
wind generation through the supplemental procurement.
Renewable energy credits procured from new
photovoltaics, including, but not limited to, distributed
photovoltaic generation, under this subsection (i) must be
procured from devices installed by a qualified person. In
its supplemental procurement plan, the Agency shall
establish contractually enforceable mechanisms for
ensuring that the installation of new photovoltaics is
performed by a qualified person.
For the purposes of this paragraph (1), "qualified
person" means a person who performs installations of
photovoltaics, including, but not limited to, distributed
photovoltaic generation, and who: (A) has completed an
apprenticeship as a journeyman electrician from a United
States Department of Labor registered electrical
apprenticeship and training program and received a
certification of satisfactory completion; or (B) does not
currently meet the criteria under clause (A) of this
paragraph (1), but is enrolled in a United States
Department of Labor registered electrical apprenticeship
program, provided that the person is directly supervised
by a person who meets the criteria under clause (A) of this
paragraph (1); or (C) has obtained one of the following
credentials in addition to attesting to satisfactory
completion of at least 5 years or 8,000 hours of

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documented hands-on electrical experience: (i) a North
American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
Installer Certificate for Solar PV; (ii) an Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) PV Systems Installer Certificate; (iii)
an Electronics Technicians Association, International
(ETAI) Level 3 PV Installer Certificate; or (iv) an
Associate in Applied Science degree from an Illinois
Community College Board approved community college program
in renewable energy or a distributed generation
technology.
For the purposes of this paragraph (1), "directly
supervised" means that there is a qualified person who
meets the qualifications under clause (A) of this
paragraph (1) and who is available for supervision and
consultation regarding the work performed by persons under
clause (B) of this paragraph (1), including a final
inspection of the installation work that has been directly
supervised to ensure safety and conformity with applicable
codes.
For the purposes of this paragraph (1), "install"
means the major activities and actions required to
connect, in accordance with applicable building and
electrical codes, the conductors, connectors, and all
associated fittings, devices, power outlets, or
apparatuses mounted at the premises that are directly
involved in delivering energy to the premises' electrical

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wiring from the photovoltaics, including, but not limited
to, to distributed photovoltaic generation.
The renewable energy credits procured pursuant to the
supplemental procurement plan shall be procured using up
to $30,000,000 from the Illinois Power Agency Renewable
Energy Resources Fund. The Agency shall not plan to use
funds from the Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy
Resources Fund in excess of the monies on deposit in such
fund or projected to be deposited into such fund. The
supplemental procurement plan shall ensure adequate,
reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally
sustainable renewable energy resources (including credits)
at the lowest total cost over time, taking into account
any benefits of price stability.
To the extent available, 50% of the renewable energy
credits procured from distributed renewable energy
generation shall come from devices of less than 25
kilowatts in nameplate capacity. Procurement of renewable
energy credits from distributed renewable energy
generation devices shall be done through multi-year
contracts of no less than 5 years. The Agency shall create
credit requirements for counterparties. In order to
minimize the administrative burden on contracting
entities, the Agency shall solicit the use of third
parties to aggregate distributed renewable energy. These
third parties shall enter into and administer contracts

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with individual distributed renewable energy generation
device owners. An individual distributed renewable energy
generation device owner shall have the ability to measure
the output of his or her distributed renewable energy
generation device.
In developing the supplemental procurement plan, the
Agency shall hold at least one workshop open to the public
within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory
Act of the 98th General Assembly and shall consider any
comments made by stakeholders or the public. Upon
development of the supplemental procurement plan within
this 90-day period, copies of the supplemental procurement
plan shall be posted and made publicly available on the
Agency's and Commission's websites. All interested parties
shall have 14 days following the date of posting to
provide comment to the Agency on the supplemental
procurement plan. All comments submitted to the Agency
shall be specific, supported by data or other detailed
analyses, and, if objecting to all or a portion of the
supplemental procurement plan, accompanied by specific
alternative wording or proposals. All comments shall be
posted on the Agency's and Commission's websites. Within
14 days following the end of the 14-day review period, the
Agency shall revise the supplemental procurement plan as
necessary based on the comments received and file its
revised supplemental procurement plan with the Commission

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for approval.
(2) Within 5 days after the filing of the supplemental
procurement plan at the Commission, any person objecting
to the supplemental procurement plan shall file an
objection with the Commission. Within 10 days after the
filing, the Commission shall determine whether a hearing
is necessary. The Commission shall enter its order
confirming or modifying the supplemental procurement plan
within 90 days after the filing of the supplemental
procurement plan by the Agency.
(3) The Commission shall approve the supplemental
procurement plan of renewable energy credits to be
procured from new or existing photovoltaics, including,
but not limited to, distributed photovoltaic generation,
if the Commission determines that it will ensure adequate,
reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally
sustainable electric service in the form of renewable
energy credits at the lowest total cost over time, taking
into account any benefits of price stability.
(4) The supplemental procurement process under this
subsection (i) shall include each of the following
components:
(A) Procurement administrator. The Agency may
retain a procurement administrator in the manner set
forth in item (2) of subsection (a) of Section 1-75 of
this Act to conduct the supplemental procurement or

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may elect to use the same procurement administrator
administering the Agency's annual procurement under
Section 1-75.
(B) Procurement monitor. The procurement monitor
retained by the Commission pursuant to Section
16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act shall:
(i) monitor interactions among the procurement
administrator and bidders and suppliers;
(ii) monitor and report to the Commission on
the progress of the supplemental procurement
process;
(iii) provide an independent confidential
report to the Commission regarding the results of
the procurement events;
(iv) assess compliance with the procurement
plan approved by the Commission for the
supplemental procurement process;
(v) preserve the confidentiality of supplier
and bidding information in a manner consistent
with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and
tariffs;
(vi) provide expert advice to the Commission
and consult with the procurement administrator
regarding issues related to procurement process
design, rules, protocols, and policy-related
matters;

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(vii) consult with the procurement
administrator regarding the development and use of
benchmark criteria, standard form contracts,
credit policies, and bid documents; and
(viii) perform, with respect to the
supplemental procurement process, any other
procurement monitor duties specifically delineated
within subsection (i) of this Section.
(C) Solicitation, pre-qualification, and
registration of bidders. The procurement administrator
shall disseminate information to potential bidders to
promote a procurement event, notify potential bidders
that the procurement administrator may enter into a
post-bid price negotiation with bidders that meet the
applicable benchmarks, provide supply requirements,
and otherwise explain the competitive procurement
process. In addition to such other publication as the
procurement administrator determines is appropriate,
this information shall be posted on the Agency's and
the Commission's websites. The procurement
administrator shall also administer the
prequalification process, including evaluation of
credit worthiness, compliance with procurement rules,
and agreement to the standard form contract developed
pursuant to item (D) of this paragraph (4). The
procurement administrator shall then identify and

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register bidders to participate in the procurement
event.
(D) Standard contract forms and credit terms and
instruments. The procurement administrator, in
consultation with the Agency, the Commission, and
other interested parties and subject to Commission
oversight, shall develop and provide standard contract
forms for the supplier contracts that meet generally
accepted industry practices as well as include any
applicable State of Illinois terms and conditions that
are required for contracts entered into by an agency
of the State of Illinois. Standard credit terms and
instruments that meet generally accepted industry
practices shall be similarly developed. Contracts for
new photovoltaics shall include a provision attesting
that the supplier will use a qualified person for the
installation of the device pursuant to paragraph (1)
of subsection (i) of this Section. The procurement
administrator shall make available to the Commission
all written comments it receives on the contract
forms, credit terms, or instruments. If the
procurement administrator cannot reach agreement with
the parties as to the contract terms and conditions,
the procurement administrator must notify the
Commission of any disputed terms and the Commission
shall resolve the dispute. The terms of the contracts

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shall not be subject to negotiation by winning
bidders, and the bidders must agree to the terms of the
contract in advance so that winning bids are selected
solely on the basis of price.
(E) Requests for proposals; competitive
procurement process. The procurement administrator
shall design and issue requests for proposals to
supply renewable energy credits in accordance with the
supplemental procurement plan, as approved by the
Commission. The requests for proposals shall set forth
a procedure for sealed, binding commitment bidding
with pay-as-bid settlement, and provision for
selection of bids on the basis of price, provided,
however, that no bid shall be accepted if it exceeds
the benchmark developed pursuant to item (F) of this
paragraph (4).
(F) Benchmarks. Benchmarks for each product to be
procured shall be developed by the procurement
administrator in consultation with Commission staff,
the Agency, and the procurement monitor for use in
this supplemental procurement.
(G) A plan for implementing contingencies in the
event of supplier default, Commission rejection of
results, or any other cause.
(5) Within 2 business days after opening the sealed
bids, the procurement administrator shall submit a

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confidential report to the Commission. The report shall
contain the results of the bidding for each of the
products along with the procurement administrator's
recommendation for the acceptance and rejection of bids
based on the price benchmark criteria and other factors
observed in the process. The procurement monitor also
shall submit a confidential report to the Commission
within 2 business days after opening the sealed bids. The
report shall contain the procurement monitor's assessment
of bidder behavior in the process as well as an assessment
of the procurement administrator's compliance with the
procurement process and rules. The Commission shall review
the confidential reports submitted by the procurement
administrator and procurement monitor and shall accept or
reject the recommendations of the procurement
administrator within 2 business days after receipt of the
reports.
(6) Within 3 business days after the Commission
decision approving the results of a procurement event, the
Agency shall enter into binding contractual arrangements
with the winning suppliers using the standard form
contracts.
(7) The names of the successful bidders and the
average of the winning bid prices for each contract type
and for each contract term shall be made available to the
public within 2 days after the supplemental procurement

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event. The Commission, the procurement monitor, the
procurement administrator, the Agency, and all
participants in the procurement process shall maintain the
confidentiality of all other supplier and bidding
information in a manner consistent with all applicable
laws, rules, regulations, and tariffs. Confidential
information, including the confidential reports submitted
by the procurement administrator and procurement monitor
pursuant to this Section, shall not be made publicly
available and shall not be discoverable by any party in
any proceeding, absent a compelling demonstration of need,
nor shall those reports be admissible in any proceeding
other than one for law enforcement purposes.
(8) The supplemental procurement provided in this
subsection (i) shall not be subject to the requirements
and limitations of subsections (c) and (d) of this
Section.
(9) Expenses incurred in connection with the
procurement process held pursuant to this Section,
including, but not limited to, the cost of developing the
supplemental procurement plan, the procurement
administrator, procurement monitor, and the cost of the
retirement of renewable energy credits purchased pursuant
to the supplemental procurement shall be paid for from the
Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund. The
Agency shall enter into an interagency agreement with the

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Commission to reimburse the Commission for its costs
associated with the procurement monitor for the
supplemental procurement process.
(Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.".