Bill Amendment: IL SB3393 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly
Bill Title: OSFM-CONTINUING EDUCATION
Status: 2026-07-02 - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments [SB3393 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2025-SB3393-House_Amendment_001.html
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| 1 | AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 3393 | ||||||
| 2 | AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 3393 by replacing | ||||||
| 3 | everything after the enacting clause with the following: | ||||||
| 4 | "Section 5. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by | ||||||
| 5 | changing Section 7.5 as follows: | ||||||
| 6 | (5 ILCS 140/7.5) | ||||||
| 7 | (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-441 and | ||||||
| 8 | 104-457) | ||||||
| 9 | Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for | ||||||
| 10 | by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be | ||||||
| 11 | exempt from inspection and copying: | ||||||
| 12 | (a) All information determined to be confidential | ||||||
| 13 | under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and | ||||||
| 14 | Development Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (b) Library circulation and order records identifying | ||||||
| 16 | library users with specific materials under the Library | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Records Confidentiality Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (c) Applications, related documents, and medical | ||||||
| 3 | records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation | ||||||
| 4 | Procedures Board and any and all documents or other | ||||||
| 5 | records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation | ||||||
| 6 | Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it | ||||||
| 7 | has received. | ||||||
| 8 | (d) Information and records held by the Department of | ||||||
| 9 | Public Health and its authorized representatives relating | ||||||
| 10 | to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted | ||||||
| 11 | infection or any information the disclosure of which is | ||||||
| 12 | restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted | ||||||
| 13 | Infection Control Act. | ||||||
| 14 | (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted | ||||||
| 15 | under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of | ||||||
| 17 | the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying | ||||||
| 18 | Qualifications Based Selection Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 20 | and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid | ||||||
| 21 | Tuition Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted | ||||||
| 23 | under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and | ||||||
| 24 | records of any lawfully created State or local inspector | ||||||
| 25 | general's office that would be exempt if created or | ||||||
| 26 | obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under | ||||||
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| |||||||
| 1 | that Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy | ||||||
| 3 | plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a | ||||||
| 4 | local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted | ||||||
| 5 | under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code. | ||||||
| 6 | (j) Information and data concerning the distribution | ||||||
| 7 | of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers | ||||||
| 8 | under the Emergency Telephone System Act. | ||||||
| 9 | (k) Law enforcement officer identification information | ||||||
| 10 | or driver identification information compiled by a law | ||||||
| 11 | enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation | ||||||
| 12 | under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. | ||||||
| 13 | (l) Records and information provided to a residential | ||||||
| 14 | health care facility resident sexual assault and death | ||||||
| 15 | review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse | ||||||
| 16 | Prevention Review Team Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (m) Information provided to the predatory lending | ||||||
| 18 | database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential | ||||||
| 19 | Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent | ||||||
| 20 | authorized under that Article. | ||||||
| 21 | (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of | ||||||
| 22 | compensation and expenses for court appointed trial | ||||||
| 23 | counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the | ||||||
| 24 | Capital Crimes Litigation Act (repealed). This subsection | ||||||
| 25 | (n) shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the | ||||||
| 26 | case, even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | death penalty prior to trial or sentencing. | ||||||
| 2 | (o) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 3 | disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and | ||||||
| 4 | Hazardous Substances Registry Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (p) Security portions of system safety program plans, | ||||||
| 6 | investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or | ||||||
| 7 | information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the | ||||||
| 8 | Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and | ||||||
| 9 | 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the | ||||||
| 10 | Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Regional | ||||||
| 11 | Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the | ||||||
| 12 | Regional Transportation Authority Act, or the St. Clair | ||||||
| 13 | County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety | ||||||
| 14 | Act (repealed). | ||||||
| 15 | (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the | ||||||
| 16 | Personnel Record Review Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the | ||||||
| 18 | Illinois School Student Records Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 20 | under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 21 | (t) (Blank). | ||||||
| 22 | (u) Records and information provided to an independent | ||||||
| 23 | team of experts under the Developmental Disability and | ||||||
| 24 | Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law). | ||||||
| 25 | (v) Names and information of people who have applied | ||||||
| 26 | for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under | ||||||
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| |||||||
| 1 | the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for | ||||||
| 2 | or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm | ||||||
| 3 | Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the | ||||||
| 4 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the | ||||||
| 5 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed | ||||||
| 6 | Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed | ||||||
| 7 | Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the | ||||||
| 8 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act. | ||||||
| 9 | (v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification | ||||||
| 10 | Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under | ||||||
| 11 | Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. | ||||||
| 12 | (w) Personally identifiable information which is | ||||||
| 13 | exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section | ||||||
| 14 | 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 16 | under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section | ||||||
| 17 | 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code. | ||||||
| 18 | (y) Confidential information under the Adult | ||||||
| 19 | Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling | ||||||
| 20 | statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including | ||||||
| 21 | information about the identity and administrative finding | ||||||
| 22 | against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated | ||||||
| 23 | decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of | ||||||
| 24 | an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established | ||||||
| 25 | under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (z) Records and information provided to a fatality | ||||||
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| |||||||
| 1 | review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory | ||||||
| 2 | Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services | ||||||
| 3 | Act. | ||||||
| 4 | (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 5 | under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code. | ||||||
| 6 | (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from | ||||||
| 7 | disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. | ||||||
| 8 | (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement | ||||||
| 9 | Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent | ||||||
| 10 | authorized under that Act. | ||||||
| 11 | (dd) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 12 | disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common | ||||||
| 13 | Interest Community Ombudsperson Act. | ||||||
| 14 | (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 15 | under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 17 | under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (gg) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 19 | disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle | ||||||
| 20 | Code. | ||||||
| 21 | (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 22 | Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code. | ||||||
| 23 | (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 24 | under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of | ||||||
| 25 | the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| 26 | (jj) Information and reports that are required to be | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day | ||||||
| 2 | and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from | ||||||
| 3 | disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day | ||||||
| 4 | and Temporary Labor Services Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the | ||||||
| 6 | Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. | ||||||
| 7 | (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 8 | and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public | ||||||
| 9 | Aid Code. | ||||||
| 10 | (mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 11 | Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act. | ||||||
| 12 | (nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 13 | Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. | ||||||
| 14 | (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports | ||||||
| 15 | arising out of a peer support counseling session | ||||||
| 16 | prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders | ||||||
| 17 | Suicide Prevention Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to | ||||||
| 19 | an employee of an emergency services provider or law | ||||||
| 20 | enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide | ||||||
| 21 | Prevention Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (qq) Information and records held by the Department of | ||||||
| 23 | Public Health and its authorized representatives collected | ||||||
| 24 | under the Reproductive Health Act. | ||||||
| 25 | (rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 26 | the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. | ||||||
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| 1 | (ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of | ||||||
| 2 | Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 3 | Human Rights Act. | ||||||
| 4 | (tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy | ||||||
| 5 | Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that | ||||||
| 6 | Act. | ||||||
| 7 | (uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 8 | Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. | ||||||
| 9 | (vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 10 | subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 11 | Public Aid Code. | ||||||
| 12 | (ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 13 | Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act. | ||||||
| 14 | (xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or | ||||||
| 15 | information that shall not be made public under the | ||||||
| 16 | Illinois Insurance Code. | ||||||
| 17 | (yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under | ||||||
| 18 | the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under | ||||||
| 20 | the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. | ||||||
| 21 | (aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 22 | under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code. | ||||||
| 23 | (bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure | ||||||
| 24 | by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State | ||||||
| 25 | Police Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
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| |||||||
| 1 | 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil | ||||||
| 2 | Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| 3 | (ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 4 | under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for | ||||||
| 5 | Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human | ||||||
| 6 | Trafficking, or Stalking Act. | ||||||
| 7 | (eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 8 | under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic | ||||||
| 9 | Violence Fatality Review Act. | ||||||
| 10 | (fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera | ||||||
| 11 | Act and all automated license plate reader (ALPR) | ||||||
| 12 | information used and collected by the Illinois State | ||||||
| 13 | Police. "ALPR information" means information gathered by | ||||||
| 14 | an ALPR or created from the analysis of data generated by | ||||||
| 15 | an ALPR. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after | ||||||
| 16 | July 1, 2028. | ||||||
| 17 | (ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under | ||||||
| 18 | paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse | ||||||
| 19 | Agency Licensing Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (hhh) Information submitted to the Illinois State | ||||||
| 21 | Police in an affidavit or application for an assault | ||||||
| 22 | weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement, | ||||||
| 23 | .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge | ||||||
| 24 | endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card | ||||||
| 25 | Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (iii) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the School Safety Drill Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (jjj) Information exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 3 | 30 of the Insurance Data Security Law. | ||||||
| 4 | (kkk) Confidential business information prohibited | ||||||
| 5 | from disclosure under Section 45 of the Paint Stewardship | ||||||
| 6 | Act. | ||||||
| 7 | (lll) Data exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 8 | 2-3.196 of the School Code. | ||||||
| 9 | (mmm) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 10 | under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 11 | Power Agency Act. | ||||||
| 12 | (nnn) Materials received by the Department of Commerce | ||||||
| 13 | and Economic Opportunity that are confidential under the | ||||||
| 14 | Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (ooo) Data or information provided pursuant to Section | ||||||
| 16 | 20 of the Statewide Recycling Needs and Assessment Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (ppp) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 18 | Section 28-11 of the Lawful Health Care Activity Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (qqq) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 20 | Section 7-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. | ||||||
| 21 | (rrr) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 22 | under Section 4-2 of the Uniform Money Transmission | ||||||
| 23 | Modernization Act. | ||||||
| 24 | (sss) Information exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 25 | 40 of the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (ttt) Audio recordings made under Section 30 of the | ||||||
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| |||||||
| 1 | Illinois State Police Act, except to the extent authorized | ||||||
| 2 | under that Section. | ||||||
| 3 | (uuu) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 4 | under Section 30-5 of the Digital Assets Regulation Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (www) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 6 | under Section 1505-230 of the Department of Labor Law of | ||||||
| 7 | the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| 8 | (Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; | ||||||
| 9 | 103-142, eff. 1-1-24; 103-372, eff. 1-1-24; 103-472, eff. | ||||||
| 10 | 8-1-24; 103-508, eff. 8-4-23; 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-592, | ||||||
| 11 | eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-636, eff. 7-1-24; | ||||||
| 12 | 103-724, eff. 1-1-25; 103-786, eff. 8-7-24; 103-859, eff. | ||||||
| 13 | 8-9-24; 103-991, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1081, | ||||||
| 14 | eff. 3-21-25; 104-10, eff. 6-16-25; 104-18, eff. 6-30-25; | ||||||
| 15 | 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-428, eff. 8-18-25; revised | ||||||
| 16 | 9-10-25.) | ||||||
| 17 | (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-457 but | ||||||
| 18 | before 104-441) | ||||||
| 19 | Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for | ||||||
| 20 | by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be | ||||||
| 21 | exempt from inspection and copying: | ||||||
| 22 | (a) All information determined to be confidential | ||||||
| 23 | under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and | ||||||
| 24 | Development Act. | ||||||
| 25 | (b) Library circulation and order records identifying | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | library users with specific materials under the Library | ||||||
| 2 | Records Confidentiality Act. | ||||||
| 3 | (c) Applications, related documents, and medical | ||||||
| 4 | records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation | ||||||
| 5 | Procedures Board and any and all documents or other | ||||||
| 6 | records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation | ||||||
| 7 | Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it | ||||||
| 8 | has received. | ||||||
| 9 | (d) Information and records held by the Department of | ||||||
| 10 | Public Health and its authorized representatives relating | ||||||
| 11 | to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted | ||||||
| 12 | infection or any information the disclosure of which is | ||||||
| 13 | restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted | ||||||
| 14 | Infection Control Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted | ||||||
| 16 | under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of | ||||||
| 18 | the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying | ||||||
| 19 | Qualifications Based Selection Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 21 | and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid | ||||||
| 22 | Tuition Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted | ||||||
| 24 | under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and | ||||||
| 25 | records of any lawfully created State or local inspector | ||||||
| 26 | general's office that would be exempt if created or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under | ||||||
| 2 | that Act. | ||||||
| 3 | (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy | ||||||
| 4 | plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a | ||||||
| 5 | local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted | ||||||
| 6 | under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code. | ||||||
| 7 | (j) Information and data concerning the distribution | ||||||
| 8 | of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers | ||||||
| 9 | under the Emergency Telephone System Act. | ||||||
| 10 | (k) Law enforcement officer identification information | ||||||
| 11 | or driver identification information compiled by a law | ||||||
| 12 | enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation | ||||||
| 13 | under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. | ||||||
| 14 | (l) Records and information provided to a residential | ||||||
| 15 | health care facility resident sexual assault and death | ||||||
| 16 | review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse | ||||||
| 17 | Prevention Review Team Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (m) Information provided to the predatory lending | ||||||
| 19 | database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential | ||||||
| 20 | Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent | ||||||
| 21 | authorized under that Article. | ||||||
| 22 | (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of | ||||||
| 23 | compensation and expenses for court appointed trial | ||||||
| 24 | counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the | ||||||
| 25 | Capital Crimes Litigation Act (repealed). This subsection | ||||||
| 26 | (n) shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | case, even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the | ||||||
| 2 | death penalty prior to trial or sentencing. | ||||||
| 3 | (o) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 4 | disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and | ||||||
| 5 | Hazardous Substances Registry Act. | ||||||
| 6 | (p) Security portions of system safety program plans, | ||||||
| 7 | investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or | ||||||
| 8 | information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the | ||||||
| 9 | Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and | ||||||
| 10 | 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the | ||||||
| 11 | Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Northern | ||||||
| 12 | Illinois Transit Authority under Section 2.11 of the | ||||||
| 13 | Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, or the St. Clair | ||||||
| 14 | County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety | ||||||
| 15 | Act (repealed). | ||||||
| 16 | (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the | ||||||
| 17 | Personnel Record Review Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois School Student Records Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 21 | under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (t) (Blank). | ||||||
| 23 | (u) Records and information provided to an independent | ||||||
| 24 | team of experts under the Developmental Disability and | ||||||
| 25 | Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law). | ||||||
| 26 | (v) Names and information of people who have applied | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under | ||||||
| 2 | the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for | ||||||
| 3 | or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm | ||||||
| 4 | Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the | ||||||
| 5 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the | ||||||
| 6 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed | ||||||
| 7 | Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed | ||||||
| 8 | Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the | ||||||
| 9 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act. | ||||||
| 10 | (v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification | ||||||
| 11 | Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under | ||||||
| 12 | Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. | ||||||
| 13 | (w) Personally identifiable information which is | ||||||
| 14 | exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section | ||||||
| 15 | 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 17 | under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section | ||||||
| 18 | 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code. | ||||||
| 19 | (y) Confidential information under the Adult | ||||||
| 20 | Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling | ||||||
| 21 | statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including | ||||||
| 22 | information about the identity and administrative finding | ||||||
| 23 | against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated | ||||||
| 24 | decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of | ||||||
| 25 | an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established | ||||||
| 26 | under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (z) Records and information provided to a fatality | ||||||
| 2 | review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory | ||||||
| 3 | Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services | ||||||
| 4 | Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 6 | under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code. | ||||||
| 7 | (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from | ||||||
| 8 | disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. | ||||||
| 9 | (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement | ||||||
| 10 | Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent | ||||||
| 11 | authorized under that Act. | ||||||
| 12 | (dd) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 13 | disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common | ||||||
| 14 | Interest Community Ombudsperson Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 16 | under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 18 | under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (gg) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 20 | disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle | ||||||
| 21 | Code. | ||||||
| 22 | (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 23 | Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code. | ||||||
| 24 | (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 25 | under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of | ||||||
| 26 | the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (jj) Information and reports that are required to be | ||||||
| 2 | submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day | ||||||
| 3 | and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from | ||||||
| 4 | disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day | ||||||
| 5 | and Temporary Labor Services Act. | ||||||
| 6 | (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the | ||||||
| 7 | Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 9 | and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public | ||||||
| 10 | Aid Code. | ||||||
| 11 | (mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 12 | Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act. | ||||||
| 13 | (nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 14 | Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports | ||||||
| 16 | arising out of a peer support counseling session | ||||||
| 17 | prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders | ||||||
| 18 | Suicide Prevention Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to | ||||||
| 20 | an employee of an emergency services provider or law | ||||||
| 21 | enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide | ||||||
| 22 | Prevention Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (qq) Information and records held by the Department of | ||||||
| 24 | Public Health and its authorized representatives collected | ||||||
| 25 | under the Reproductive Health Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of | ||||||
| 3 | Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 4 | Human Rights Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy | ||||||
| 6 | Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that | ||||||
| 7 | Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 9 | Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. | ||||||
| 10 | (vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 11 | subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 12 | Public Aid Code. | ||||||
| 13 | (ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 14 | Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or | ||||||
| 16 | information that shall not be made public under the | ||||||
| 17 | Illinois Insurance Code. | ||||||
| 18 | (yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under | ||||||
| 19 | the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under | ||||||
| 21 | the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 23 | under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code. | ||||||
| 24 | (bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure | ||||||
| 25 | by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State | ||||||
| 26 | Police Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 2 | 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil | ||||||
| 3 | Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| 4 | (ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 5 | under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for | ||||||
| 6 | Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human | ||||||
| 7 | Trafficking, or Stalking Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 9 | under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic | ||||||
| 10 | Violence Fatality Review Act. | ||||||
| 11 | (fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera | ||||||
| 12 | Act and all automated license plate reader (ALPR) | ||||||
| 13 | information used and collected by the Illinois State | ||||||
| 14 | Police. "ALPR information" means information gathered by | ||||||
| 15 | an ALPR or created from the analysis of data generated by | ||||||
| 16 | an ALPR. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after | ||||||
| 17 | July 1, 2028. | ||||||
| 18 | (ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under | ||||||
| 19 | paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse | ||||||
| 20 | Agency Licensing Act. | ||||||
| 21 | (hhh) Information submitted to the Illinois State | ||||||
| 22 | Police in an affidavit or application for an assault | ||||||
| 23 | weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement, | ||||||
| 24 | .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge | ||||||
| 25 | endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card | ||||||
| 26 | Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (iii) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of | ||||||
| 2 | the School Safety Drill Act. | ||||||
| 3 | (jjj) Information exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 4 | 30 of the Insurance Data Security Law. | ||||||
| 5 | (kkk) Confidential business information prohibited | ||||||
| 6 | from disclosure under Section 45 of the Paint Stewardship | ||||||
| 7 | Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (lll) Data exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 9 | 2-3.196 of the School Code. | ||||||
| 10 | (mmm) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 11 | under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 12 | Power Agency Act. | ||||||
| 13 | (nnn) Materials received by the Department of Commerce | ||||||
| 14 | and Economic Opportunity that are confidential under the | ||||||
| 15 | Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (ooo) Data or information provided pursuant to Section | ||||||
| 17 | 20 of the Statewide Recycling Needs and Assessment Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (ppp) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 19 | Section 28-11 of the Lawful Health Care Activity Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (qqq) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 21 | Section 7-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (rrr) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 23 | under Section 4-2 of the Uniform Money Transmission | ||||||
| 24 | Modernization Act. | ||||||
| 25 | (sss) Information exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 26 | 40 of the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (ttt) Audio recordings made under Section 30 of the | ||||||
| 2 | Illinois State Police Act, except to the extent authorized | ||||||
| 3 | under that Section. | ||||||
| 4 | (uuu) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 5 | under Section 30-5 of the Digital Assets Regulation Act. | ||||||
| 6 | (www) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 7 | under Section 1505-230 of the Department of Labor Law of | ||||||
| 8 | the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| 9 | (Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; | ||||||
| 10 | 103-142, eff. 1-1-24; 103-372, eff. 1-1-24; 103-472, eff. | ||||||
| 11 | 8-1-24; 103-508, eff. 8-4-23; 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-592, | ||||||
| 12 | eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-636, eff. 7-1-24; | ||||||
| 13 | 103-724, eff. 1-1-25; 103-786, eff. 8-7-24; 103-859, eff. | ||||||
| 14 | 8-9-24; 103-991, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1081, | ||||||
| 15 | eff. 3-21-25; 104-10, eff. 6-16-25; 104-18, eff. 6-30-25; | ||||||
| 16 | 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-428, eff. 8-18-25; 104-457, eff. | ||||||
| 17 | 6-1-26; revised 1-7-26.) | ||||||
| 18 | (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-441) | ||||||
| 19 | Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for | ||||||
| 20 | by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be | ||||||
| 21 | exempt from inspection and copying: | ||||||
| 22 | (a) All information determined to be confidential | ||||||
| 23 | under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and | ||||||
| 24 | Development Act. | ||||||
| 25 | (b) Library circulation and order records identifying | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | library users with specific materials under the Library | ||||||
| 2 | Records Confidentiality Act. | ||||||
| 3 | (c) Applications, related documents, and medical | ||||||
| 4 | records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation | ||||||
| 5 | Procedures Board and any and all documents or other | ||||||
| 6 | records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation | ||||||
| 7 | Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it | ||||||
| 8 | has received. | ||||||
| 9 | (d) Information and records held by the Department of | ||||||
| 10 | Public Health and its authorized representatives relating | ||||||
| 11 | to known or suspected cases of sexually transmitted | ||||||
| 12 | infection or any information the disclosure of which is | ||||||
| 13 | restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmitted | ||||||
| 14 | Infection Control Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted | ||||||
| 16 | under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of | ||||||
| 18 | the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying | ||||||
| 19 | Qualifications Based Selection Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 21 | and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid | ||||||
| 22 | Tuition Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted | ||||||
| 24 | under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and | ||||||
| 25 | records of any lawfully created State or local inspector | ||||||
| 26 | general's office that would be exempt if created or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under | ||||||
| 2 | that Act. | ||||||
| 3 | (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy | ||||||
| 4 | plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a | ||||||
| 5 | local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted | ||||||
| 6 | under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code. | ||||||
| 7 | (j) Information and data concerning the distribution | ||||||
| 8 | of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers | ||||||
| 9 | under the Emergency Telephone System Act. | ||||||
| 10 | (k) Law enforcement officer identification information | ||||||
| 11 | or driver identification information compiled by a law | ||||||
| 12 | enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation | ||||||
| 13 | under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. | ||||||
| 14 | (l) Records and information provided to a residential | ||||||
| 15 | health care facility resident sexual assault and death | ||||||
| 16 | review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse | ||||||
| 17 | Prevention Review Team Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (m) Information provided to the predatory lending | ||||||
| 19 | database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential | ||||||
| 20 | Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent | ||||||
| 21 | authorized under that Article. | ||||||
| 22 | (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of | ||||||
| 23 | compensation and expenses for court appointed trial | ||||||
| 24 | counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the | ||||||
| 25 | Capital Crimes Litigation Act (repealed). This subsection | ||||||
| 26 | (n) shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | case, even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the | ||||||
| 2 | death penalty prior to trial or sentencing. | ||||||
| 3 | (o) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 4 | disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and | ||||||
| 5 | Hazardous Substances Registry Act. | ||||||
| 6 | (p) Security portions of system safety program plans, | ||||||
| 7 | investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or | ||||||
| 8 | information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the | ||||||
| 9 | Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and | ||||||
| 10 | 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the | ||||||
| 11 | Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Northern | ||||||
| 12 | Illinois Transit Authority under Section 2.11 of the | ||||||
| 13 | Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act, or the St. Clair | ||||||
| 14 | County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety | ||||||
| 15 | Act (repealed). | ||||||
| 16 | (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the | ||||||
| 17 | Personnel Record Review Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois School Student Records Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 21 | under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (t) (Blank). | ||||||
| 23 | (u) Records and information provided to an independent | ||||||
| 24 | team of experts under the Developmental Disability and | ||||||
| 25 | Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law). | ||||||
| 26 | (v) Names and information of people who have applied | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under | ||||||
| 2 | the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for | ||||||
| 3 | or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm | ||||||
| 4 | Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the | ||||||
| 5 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the | ||||||
| 6 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed | ||||||
| 7 | Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed | ||||||
| 8 | Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the | ||||||
| 9 | Firearm Concealed Carry Act. | ||||||
| 10 | (v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification | ||||||
| 11 | Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under | ||||||
| 12 | Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. | ||||||
| 13 | (w) Personally identifiable information which is | ||||||
| 14 | exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section | ||||||
| 15 | 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 17 | under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section | ||||||
| 18 | 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code. | ||||||
| 19 | (y) Confidential information under the Adult | ||||||
| 20 | Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling | ||||||
| 21 | statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including | ||||||
| 22 | information about the identity and administrative finding | ||||||
| 23 | against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated | ||||||
| 24 | decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of | ||||||
| 25 | an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established | ||||||
| 26 | under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (z) Records and information provided to a fatality | ||||||
| 2 | review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory | ||||||
| 3 | Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services | ||||||
| 4 | Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 6 | under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code. | ||||||
| 7 | (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from | ||||||
| 8 | disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. | ||||||
| 9 | (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement | ||||||
| 10 | Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent | ||||||
| 11 | authorized under that Act. | ||||||
| 12 | (dd) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 13 | disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common | ||||||
| 14 | Interest Community Ombudsperson Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 16 | under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 18 | under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (gg) Information that is prohibited from being | ||||||
| 20 | disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle | ||||||
| 21 | Code. | ||||||
| 22 | (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 23 | Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code. | ||||||
| 24 | (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure | ||||||
| 25 | under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of | ||||||
| 26 | the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (jj) Information and reports that are required to be | ||||||
| 2 | submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day | ||||||
| 3 | and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from | ||||||
| 4 | disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day | ||||||
| 5 | and Temporary Labor Services Act. | ||||||
| 6 | (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the | ||||||
| 7 | Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted | ||||||
| 9 | and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public | ||||||
| 10 | Aid Code. | ||||||
| 11 | (mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 12 | Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act. | ||||||
| 13 | (nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 14 | Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports | ||||||
| 16 | arising out of a peer support counseling session | ||||||
| 17 | prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders | ||||||
| 18 | Suicide Prevention Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to | ||||||
| 20 | an employee of an emergency services provider or law | ||||||
| 21 | enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide | ||||||
| 22 | Prevention Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (qq) Information and records held by the Department of | ||||||
| 24 | Public Health and its authorized representatives collected | ||||||
| 25 | under the Reproductive Health Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of | ||||||
| 3 | Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 4 | Human Rights Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy | ||||||
| 6 | Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that | ||||||
| 7 | Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 9 | Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. | ||||||
| 10 | (vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 11 | subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 12 | Public Aid Code. | ||||||
| 13 | (ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 14 | Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or | ||||||
| 16 | information that shall not be made public under the | ||||||
| 17 | Illinois Insurance Code. | ||||||
| 18 | (yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under | ||||||
| 19 | the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under | ||||||
| 21 | the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 23 | under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code. | ||||||
| 24 | (bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure | ||||||
| 25 | by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State | ||||||
| 26 | Police Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 2 | 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil | ||||||
| 3 | Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| 4 | (ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 5 | under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for | ||||||
| 6 | Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human | ||||||
| 7 | Trafficking, or Stalking Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 9 | under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic | ||||||
| 10 | Violence Fatality Review Act. | ||||||
| 11 | (fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera | ||||||
| 12 | Act and all automated license plate reader (ALPR) | ||||||
| 13 | information used and collected by the Illinois State | ||||||
| 14 | Police. "ALPR information" means information gathered by | ||||||
| 15 | an ALPR or created from the analysis of data generated by | ||||||
| 16 | an ALPR. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after | ||||||
| 17 | July 1, 2028. | ||||||
| 18 | (ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under | ||||||
| 19 | paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse | ||||||
| 20 | Agency Licensing Act. | ||||||
| 21 | (hhh) Information submitted to the Illinois State | ||||||
| 22 | Police in an affidavit or application for an assault | ||||||
| 23 | weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement, | ||||||
| 24 | .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge | ||||||
| 25 | endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card | ||||||
| 26 | Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (iii) Data exempt from disclosure under Section 50 of | ||||||
| 2 | the School Safety Drill Act. | ||||||
| 3 | (jjj) Information exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 4 | 30 of the Insurance Data Security Law. | ||||||
| 5 | (kkk) Confidential business information prohibited | ||||||
| 6 | from disclosure under Section 45 of the Paint Stewardship | ||||||
| 7 | Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (lll) Data exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 9 | 2-3.196 of the School Code. | ||||||
| 10 | (mmm) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 11 | under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 12 | Power Agency Act. | ||||||
| 13 | (nnn) Materials received by the Department of Commerce | ||||||
| 14 | and Economic Opportunity that are confidential under the | ||||||
| 15 | Music and Musicians Tax Credit and Jobs Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (ooo) Data or information provided pursuant to Section | ||||||
| 17 | 20 of the Statewide Recycling Needs and Assessment Act. | ||||||
| 18 | (ppp) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 19 | Section 28-11 of the Lawful Health Care Activity Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (qqq) Information that is exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 21 | Section 7-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. | ||||||
| 22 | (rrr) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 23 | under Section 4-2 of the Uniform Money Transmission | ||||||
| 24 | Modernization Act. | ||||||
| 25 | (sss) Information exempt from disclosure under Section | ||||||
| 26 | 40 of the Student-Athlete Endorsement Rights Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (ttt) Audio recordings made under Section 30 of the | ||||||
| 2 | Illinois State Police Act, except to the extent authorized | ||||||
| 3 | under that Section. | ||||||
| 4 | (uuu) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 5 | under Section 30-5 of the Digital Assets Regulation Act. | ||||||
| 6 | (vvv) (uuu) Information exempt from disclosure under | ||||||
| 7 | Section 70 of the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill | ||||||
| 8 | Patients Act. | ||||||
| 9 | (www) Information prohibited from being disclosed | ||||||
| 10 | under Section 1505-230 of the Department of Labor Law of | ||||||
| 11 | the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. | ||||||
| 12 | (Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-34, eff. 6-9-23; | ||||||
| 13 | 103-142, eff. 1-1-24; 103-372, eff. 1-1-24; 103-472, eff. | ||||||
| 14 | 8-1-24; 103-508, eff. 8-4-23; 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-592, | ||||||
| 15 | eff. 6-7-24; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-636, eff. 7-1-24; | ||||||
| 16 | 103-724, eff. 1-1-25; 103-786, eff. 8-7-24; 103-859, eff. | ||||||
| 17 | 8-9-24; 103-991, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1049, eff. 8-9-24; 103-1081, | ||||||
| 18 | eff. 3-21-25; 104-10, eff. 6-16-25; 104-18, eff. 6-30-25; | ||||||
| 19 | 104-417, eff. 8-15-25; 104-428, eff. 8-18-25; 104-441, eff. | ||||||
| 20 | 9-12-26; 104-457, eff. 6-1-26; revised 1-7-26.) | ||||||
| 21 | Section 10. The Illinois Public Labor Relations Act is | ||||||
| 22 | amended by changing Sections 14 and 17 as follows: | ||||||
| 23 | (5 ILCS 315/14) (from Ch. 48, par. 1614) | ||||||
| 24 | Sec. 14. Security employee, peace officer and fire fighter | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | disputes. | ||||||
| 2 | (a) In the case of collective bargaining agreements | ||||||
| 3 | involving units of security employees of a public employer, | ||||||
| 4 | Peace Officer Units, or units of fire fighters or paramedics, | ||||||
| 5 | and in the case of disputes under Section 18, unless the | ||||||
| 6 | parties mutually agree to some other time limit, mediation | ||||||
| 7 | shall commence 30 days prior to the expiration date of such | ||||||
| 8 | agreement or at such later time as the mediation services | ||||||
| 9 | chosen under subsection (b) of Section 12 can be provided to | ||||||
| 10 | the parties. In the case of negotiations for an initial | ||||||
| 11 | collective bargaining agreement, mediation shall commence upon | ||||||
| 12 | 15 days notice from either party or at such later time as the | ||||||
| 13 | mediation services chosen pursuant to subsection (b) of | ||||||
| 14 | Section 12 can be provided to the parties. In mediation under | ||||||
| 15 | this Section, if either party requests the use of mediation | ||||||
| 16 | services from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service | ||||||
| 17 | or, if the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is | ||||||
| 18 | unable to provide mediation services, from the Illinois | ||||||
| 19 | Department of Labor, the other party shall either join in such | ||||||
| 20 | request or bear the additional cost of mediation services from | ||||||
| 21 | another source. The mediator shall have a duty to keep the | ||||||
| 22 | Board informed on the progress of the mediation. If any | ||||||
| 23 | dispute has not been resolved within 15 days after the first | ||||||
| 24 | meeting of the parties and the mediator, or within such other | ||||||
| 25 | time limit as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, | ||||||
| 26 | either the exclusive representative or employer may request of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the other, in writing, arbitration, and shall submit a copy of | ||||||
| 2 | the request to the Board. | ||||||
| 3 | (b) Within 10 days after such a request for arbitration | ||||||
| 4 | has been made, the employer shall choose a delegate and the | ||||||
| 5 | employees' exclusive representative shall choose a delegate to | ||||||
| 6 | a panel of arbitration as provided in this Section. The | ||||||
| 7 | employer and employees shall forthwith advise the other and | ||||||
| 8 | the Board of their selections. | ||||||
| 9 | (c) Within 7 days after the request of either party, the | ||||||
| 10 | parties shall request a panel of impartial arbitrators from | ||||||
| 11 | which they shall select the neutral chairman according to the | ||||||
| 12 | procedures provided in this Section. If the parties have | ||||||
| 13 | agreed to a contract that contains a grievance resolution | ||||||
| 14 | procedure as provided in Section 8, the chairman shall be | ||||||
| 15 | selected using their agreed contract procedure unless they | ||||||
| 16 | mutually agree to another procedure. If the parties fail to | ||||||
| 17 | notify the Board of their selection of neutral chairman within | ||||||
| 18 | 7 days after receipt of the list of impartial arbitrators, the | ||||||
| 19 | Board shall appoint, at random, a neutral chairman from the | ||||||
| 20 | list. In the absence of an agreed contract procedure for | ||||||
| 21 | selecting an impartial arbitrator, either party may request a | ||||||
| 22 | panel from the Board. Within 7 days of the request of either | ||||||
| 23 | party, the Board shall select from the Public Employees Labor | ||||||
| 24 | Mediation Roster 7 persons who are on the labor arbitration | ||||||
| 25 | panels of either the American Arbitration Association or the | ||||||
| 26 | Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, or who are members | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | of the National Academy of Arbitrators, as nominees for | ||||||
| 2 | impartial arbitrator of the arbitration panel. The parties may | ||||||
| 3 | select an individual on the list provided by the Board or any | ||||||
| 4 | other individual mutually agreed upon by the parties. Within 7 | ||||||
| 5 | days following the receipt of the list, the parties shall | ||||||
| 6 | notify the Board of the person they have selected. Unless the | ||||||
| 7 | parties agree on an alternate selection procedure, they shall | ||||||
| 8 | alternatively strike one name from the list provided by the | ||||||
| 9 | Board until only one name remains. A coin toss shall determine | ||||||
| 10 | which party shall strike the first name. If the parties fail to | ||||||
| 11 | notify the Board in a timely manner of their selection for | ||||||
| 12 | neutral chairman, the Board shall appoint a neutral chairman | ||||||
| 13 | from the Illinois Public Employees Mediation/Arbitration | ||||||
| 14 | Roster. | ||||||
| 15 | (d) The chairman shall call a hearing to begin within 15 | ||||||
| 16 | days and give reasonable notice of the time and place of the | ||||||
| 17 | hearing. The hearing shall be held at the offices of the Board | ||||||
| 18 | or at such other location as the Board deems appropriate. The | ||||||
| 19 | chairman shall preside over the hearing and shall take | ||||||
| 20 | testimony. Any oral or documentary evidence and other data | ||||||
| 21 | deemed relevant by the arbitration panel may be received in | ||||||
| 22 | evidence. The proceedings shall be informal. Technical rules | ||||||
| 23 | of evidence shall not apply and the competency of the evidence | ||||||
| 24 | shall not thereby be deemed impaired. A verbatim record of the | ||||||
| 25 | proceedings shall be made and the arbitrator shall arrange for | ||||||
| 26 | the necessary recording service. Transcripts may be ordered at | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the expense of the party ordering them, but the transcripts | ||||||
| 2 | shall not be necessary for a decision by the arbitration | ||||||
| 3 | panel. The expense of the proceedings, including a fee for the | ||||||
| 4 | chairman, shall be borne equally by each of the parties to the | ||||||
| 5 | dispute. The delegates, if public officers or employees, shall | ||||||
| 6 | continue on the payroll of the public employer without loss of | ||||||
| 7 | pay. The hearing conducted by the arbitration panel may be | ||||||
| 8 | adjourned from time to time, but unless otherwise agreed by | ||||||
| 9 | the parties, shall be concluded within 30 days of the time of | ||||||
| 10 | its commencement. Majority actions and rulings shall | ||||||
| 11 | constitute the actions and rulings of the arbitration panel. | ||||||
| 12 | Arbitration proceedings under this Section shall not be | ||||||
| 13 | interrupted or terminated by reason of any unfair labor | ||||||
| 14 | practice charge filed by either party at any time. | ||||||
| 15 | (e) The arbitration panel may administer oaths, require | ||||||
| 16 | the attendance of witnesses, and the production of such books, | ||||||
| 17 | papers, contracts, agreements and documents as may be deemed | ||||||
| 18 | by it material to a just determination of the issues in | ||||||
| 19 | dispute, and for such purpose may issue subpoenas. If any | ||||||
| 20 | person refuses to obey a subpoena, or refuses to be sworn or to | ||||||
| 21 | testify, or if any witness, party or attorney is guilty of any | ||||||
| 22 | contempt while in attendance at any hearing, the arbitration | ||||||
| 23 | panel may, or the attorney general if requested shall, invoke | ||||||
| 24 | the aid of any circuit court within the jurisdiction in which | ||||||
| 25 | the hearing is being held, which court shall issue an | ||||||
| 26 | appropriate order. Any failure to obey the order may be | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | punished by the court as contempt. | ||||||
| 2 | (f) At any time before the rendering of an award, the | ||||||
| 3 | chairman of the arbitration panel, if he is of the opinion that | ||||||
| 4 | it would be useful or beneficial to do so, may remand the | ||||||
| 5 | dispute to the parties for further collective bargaining for a | ||||||
| 6 | period not to exceed 2 weeks. If the dispute is remanded for | ||||||
| 7 | further collective bargaining the time provisions of this Act | ||||||
| 8 | shall be extended for a time period equal to that of the | ||||||
| 9 | remand. The chairman of the panel of arbitration shall notify | ||||||
| 10 | the Board of the remand. | ||||||
| 11 | (g) At or before the conclusion of the hearing held | ||||||
| 12 | pursuant to subsection (d), the arbitration panel shall | ||||||
| 13 | identify the economic issues in dispute, and direct each of | ||||||
| 14 | the parties to submit, within such time limit as the panel | ||||||
| 15 | shall prescribe, to the arbitration panel and to each other | ||||||
| 16 | its last offer of settlement on each economic issue. The | ||||||
| 17 | determination of the arbitration panel as to the issues in | ||||||
| 18 | dispute and as to which of these issues are economic shall be | ||||||
| 19 | conclusive. The arbitration panel, within 30 days after the | ||||||
| 20 | conclusion of the hearing, or such further additional periods | ||||||
| 21 | to which the parties may agree, shall make written findings of | ||||||
| 22 | fact and promulgate a written opinion and shall mail or | ||||||
| 23 | otherwise deliver a true copy thereof to the parties and their | ||||||
| 24 | representatives and to the Board. As to each economic issue, | ||||||
| 25 | the arbitration panel shall adopt the last offer of settlement | ||||||
| 26 | which, in the opinion of the arbitration panel, more nearly | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | complies with the applicable factors prescribed in subsection | ||||||
| 2 | (h). The findings, opinions and order as to all other issues | ||||||
| 3 | shall be based upon the applicable factors prescribed in | ||||||
| 4 | subsection (h). | ||||||
| 5 | (h) Where there is no agreement between the parties, or | ||||||
| 6 | where there is an agreement but the parties have begun | ||||||
| 7 | negotiations or discussions looking to a new agreement or | ||||||
| 8 | amendment of the existing agreement, and wage rates or other | ||||||
| 9 | conditions of employment under the proposed new or amended | ||||||
| 10 | agreement are in dispute, the arbitration panel shall base its | ||||||
| 11 | findings, opinions and order upon the following factors, as | ||||||
| 12 | applicable: | ||||||
| 13 | (1) The lawful authority of the employer. | ||||||
| 14 | (2) Stipulations of the parties. | ||||||
| 15 | (3) The interests and welfare of the public and the | ||||||
| 16 | financial ability of the unit of government to meet those | ||||||
| 17 | costs. | ||||||
| 18 | (4) Comparison of the wages, hours and conditions of | ||||||
| 19 | employment of the employees involved in the arbitration | ||||||
| 20 | proceeding with the wages, hours and conditions of | ||||||
| 21 | employment of other employees performing similar services | ||||||
| 22 | and with other employees generally: | ||||||
| 23 | (A) In public employment in comparable | ||||||
| 24 | communities. | ||||||
| 25 | (B) In private employment in comparable | ||||||
| 26 | communities. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (5) The average consumer prices for goods and | ||||||
| 2 | services, commonly known as the cost of living. | ||||||
| 3 | (6) The overall compensation presently received by the | ||||||
| 4 | employees, including direct wage compensation, vacations, | ||||||
| 5 | holidays and other excused time, insurance and pensions, | ||||||
| 6 | medical and hospitalization benefits, the continuity and | ||||||
| 7 | stability of employment and all other benefits received. | ||||||
| 8 | (7) Changes in any of the foregoing circumstances | ||||||
| 9 | during the pendency of the arbitration proceedings. | ||||||
| 10 | (8) Such other factors, not confined to the foregoing, | ||||||
| 11 | which are normally or traditionally taken into | ||||||
| 12 | consideration in the determination of wages, hours and | ||||||
| 13 | conditions of employment through voluntary collective | ||||||
| 14 | bargaining, mediation, fact-finding, arbitration or | ||||||
| 15 | otherwise between the parties, in the public service or in | ||||||
| 16 | private employment. | ||||||
| 17 | (i) In the case of peace officers, the arbitration | ||||||
| 18 | decision shall be limited to wages, hours, and conditions of | ||||||
| 19 | employment (which may include residency requirements in | ||||||
| 20 | municipalities with a population under 100,000, but those | ||||||
| 21 | residency requirements shall not allow residency outside of | ||||||
| 22 | Illinois) and shall not include the following: i) residency | ||||||
| 23 | requirements in municipalities with a population of at least | ||||||
| 24 | 100,000; ii) the type of equipment, other than uniforms, | ||||||
| 25 | issued or used; iii) manning; iv) the total number of | ||||||
| 26 | employees employed by the department; v) mutual aid and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | assistance agreements to other units of government; and vi) | ||||||
| 2 | the criterion pursuant to which force, including deadly force, | ||||||
| 3 | can be used; provided, nothing herein shall preclude an | ||||||
| 4 | arbitration decision regarding equipment or manning levels if | ||||||
| 5 | such decision is based on a finding that the equipment or | ||||||
| 6 | manning considerations in a specific work assignment involve a | ||||||
| 7 | serious risk to the safety of a peace officer beyond that which | ||||||
| 8 | is inherent in the normal performance of police duties. | ||||||
| 9 | Limitation of the terms of the arbitration decision pursuant | ||||||
| 10 | to this subsection shall not be construed to limit the factors | ||||||
| 11 | upon which the decision may be based, as set forth in | ||||||
| 12 | subsection (h). | ||||||
| 13 | In the case of fire fighter, and fire department or fire | ||||||
| 14 | district paramedic matters, the arbitration decision shall be | ||||||
| 15 | limited to wages, hours, and conditions of employment | ||||||
| 16 | (including manning and also including residency requirements | ||||||
| 17 | in municipalities with a population under 1,000,000, but those | ||||||
| 18 | residency requirements shall not allow residency outside of | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois) and shall not include the following matters: i) | ||||||
| 20 | residency requirements in municipalities with a population of | ||||||
| 21 | at least 1,000,000; ii) the type of equipment (other than | ||||||
| 22 | uniforms and fire fighter turnout gear) issued or used; iii) | ||||||
| 23 | the total number of employees employed by the department; iv) | ||||||
| 24 | mutual aid and assistance agreements to other units of | ||||||
| 25 | government; and v) the criterion pursuant to which force, | ||||||
| 26 | including deadly force, can be used; provided, however, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | nothing herein shall preclude an arbitration decision | ||||||
| 2 | regarding equipment levels if such decision is based on a | ||||||
| 3 | finding that the equipment considerations in a specific work | ||||||
| 4 | assignment involve a serious risk to the safety of a fire | ||||||
| 5 | fighter beyond that which is inherent in the normal | ||||||
| 6 | performance of fire fighter duties. Limitation of the terms of | ||||||
| 7 | the arbitration decision pursuant to this subsection shall not | ||||||
| 8 | be construed to limit the facts upon which the decision may be | ||||||
| 9 | based, as set forth in subsection (h). | ||||||
| 10 | The changes to this subsection (i) made by Public Act | ||||||
| 11 | 90-385 (relating to residency requirements) do not apply to | ||||||
| 12 | persons who are employed by a combined department that | ||||||
| 13 | performs both police and firefighting services; these persons | ||||||
| 14 | shall be governed by the provisions of this subsection (i) | ||||||
| 15 | relating to peace officers, as they existed before the | ||||||
| 16 | amendment by Public Act 90-385. | ||||||
| 17 | To preserve historical bargaining rights, this subsection | ||||||
| 18 | shall not apply to any provision of a fire fighter collective | ||||||
| 19 | bargaining agreement in effect and applicable on the effective | ||||||
| 20 | date of this Act; provided, however, nothing herein shall | ||||||
| 21 | preclude arbitration with respect to any such provision. | ||||||
| 22 | (j) Arbitration procedures shall be deemed to be initiated | ||||||
| 23 | by the filing of a letter requesting mediation as required | ||||||
| 24 | under subsection (a) of this Section. The commencement of a | ||||||
| 25 | new municipal fiscal year after the initiation of arbitration | ||||||
| 26 | procedures under this Act, but before the arbitration | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | decision, or its enforcement, shall not be deemed to render a | ||||||
| 2 | dispute moot, or to otherwise impair the jurisdiction or | ||||||
| 3 | authority of the arbitration panel or its decision. Increases | ||||||
| 4 | in rates of compensation awarded by the arbitration panel may | ||||||
| 5 | be effective only at the start of the fiscal year next | ||||||
| 6 | commencing after the date of the arbitration award. If a new | ||||||
| 7 | fiscal year has commenced either since the initiation of | ||||||
| 8 | arbitration procedures under this Act or since any mutually | ||||||
| 9 | agreed extension of the statutorily required period of | ||||||
| 10 | mediation under this Act by the parties to the labor dispute | ||||||
| 11 | causing a delay in the initiation of arbitration, the | ||||||
| 12 | foregoing limitations shall be inapplicable, and such awarded | ||||||
| 13 | increases may be retroactive to the commencement of the fiscal | ||||||
| 14 | year, any other statute or charter provisions to the contrary, | ||||||
| 15 | notwithstanding. At any time the parties, by stipulation, may | ||||||
| 16 | amend or modify an award of arbitration. | ||||||
| 17 | (k) Orders of the arbitration panel shall be reviewable, | ||||||
| 18 | upon appropriate petition by either the public employer or the | ||||||
| 19 | exclusive bargaining representative, by the circuit court for | ||||||
| 20 | the county in which the dispute arose or in which a majority of | ||||||
| 21 | the affected employees reside, but only for reasons that the | ||||||
| 22 | arbitration panel was without or exceeded its statutory | ||||||
| 23 | authority; the order is arbitrary, or capricious; or the order | ||||||
| 24 | was procured by fraud, collusion or other similar and unlawful | ||||||
| 25 | means. Such petitions for review must be filed with the | ||||||
| 26 | appropriate circuit court within 90 days following the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | issuance of the arbitration order. The pendency of such | ||||||
| 2 | proceeding for review shall not automatically stay the order | ||||||
| 3 | of the arbitration panel. The party against whom the final | ||||||
| 4 | decision of any such court shall be adverse, if such court | ||||||
| 5 | finds such appeal or petition to be frivolous, shall pay | ||||||
| 6 | reasonable attorneys' fees and costs to the successful party | ||||||
| 7 | as determined by said court in its discretion. If said court's | ||||||
| 8 | decision affirms the award of money, such award, if | ||||||
| 9 | retroactive, shall bear interest at the rate of 12 percent per | ||||||
| 10 | annum from the effective retroactive date. | ||||||
| 11 | (l) During the pendency of proceedings before the | ||||||
| 12 | arbitration panel, existing wages, hours, and other conditions | ||||||
| 13 | of employment shall not be changed by action of either party | ||||||
| 14 | without the consent of the other but a party may so consent | ||||||
| 15 | without prejudice to his rights or position under this Act. | ||||||
| 16 | The proceedings are deemed to be pending before the | ||||||
| 17 | arbitration panel upon the initiation of arbitration | ||||||
| 18 | procedures under this Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (m) Security officers of public employers, and Peace | ||||||
| 20 | Officers, Fire Fighters and fire department and fire | ||||||
| 21 | protection district paramedics, covered by this Section may | ||||||
| 22 | not withhold services, nor may public employers lock out or | ||||||
| 23 | prevent such employees from performing services at any time. | ||||||
| 24 | (n) All of the terms decided upon by the arbitration panel | ||||||
| 25 | shall be included in an agreement to be submitted to the public | ||||||
| 26 | employer's governing body for ratification and adoption by | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | law, ordinance or the equivalent appropriate means. | ||||||
| 2 | The governing body shall review each term decided by the | ||||||
| 3 | arbitration panel. If the governing body fails to reject one | ||||||
| 4 | or more terms of the arbitration panel's decision by a 3/5 vote | ||||||
| 5 | of those duly elected and qualified members of the governing | ||||||
| 6 | body, within 20 days of issuance, or in the case of | ||||||
| 7 | firefighters employed by a state university, at the next | ||||||
| 8 | regularly scheduled meeting of the governing body after | ||||||
| 9 | issuance, such term or terms shall become a part of the | ||||||
| 10 | collective bargaining agreement of the parties. If the | ||||||
| 11 | governing body affirmatively rejects one or more terms of the | ||||||
| 12 | arbitration panel's decision, it must provide reasons for such | ||||||
| 13 | rejection with respect to each term so rejected, within 20 | ||||||
| 14 | days of such rejection and the parties shall return to the | ||||||
| 15 | arbitration panel for further proceedings and issuance of a | ||||||
| 16 | supplemental decision with respect to the rejected terms. Any | ||||||
| 17 | supplemental decision by an arbitration panel or other | ||||||
| 18 | decision maker agreed to by the parties shall be submitted to | ||||||
| 19 | the governing body for ratification and adoption in accordance | ||||||
| 20 | with the procedures and voting requirements set forth in this | ||||||
| 21 | Section. The voting requirements of this subsection shall | ||||||
| 22 | apply to all disputes submitted to arbitration pursuant to | ||||||
| 23 | this Section notwithstanding any contrary voting requirements | ||||||
| 24 | contained in any existing collective bargaining agreement | ||||||
| 25 | between the parties. | ||||||
| 26 | (o) If the governing body of the employer votes to reject | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the panel's decision, the parties shall return to the panel | ||||||
| 2 | within 30 days from the issuance of the reasons for rejection | ||||||
| 3 | for further proceedings and issuance of a supplemental | ||||||
| 4 | decision. All reasonable costs of such supplemental proceeding | ||||||
| 5 | including the exclusive representative's reasonable attorney's | ||||||
| 6 | fees, as established by the Board, shall be paid by the | ||||||
| 7 | employer. | ||||||
| 8 | (p) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section the | ||||||
| 9 | employer and exclusive representative may agree to submit | ||||||
| 10 | unresolved disputes concerning wages, hours, terms and | ||||||
| 11 | conditions of employment to an alternative form of impasse | ||||||
| 12 | resolution. | ||||||
| 13 | The amendatory changes to this Section made by Public Act | ||||||
| 14 | 101-652 take effect July 1, 2022. | ||||||
| 15 | (Source: P.A. 101-652, eff. 7-1-21; 102-28, eff. 6-25-21.) | ||||||
| 16 | (5 ILCS 315/17) (from Ch. 48, par. 1617) | ||||||
| 17 | Sec. 17. Right to strike. | ||||||
| 18 | (a) Nothing in this Act shall make it unlawful or make it | ||||||
| 19 | an unfair labor practice for public employees, other than | ||||||
| 20 | security employees, as defined in Section 3(p), peace | ||||||
| 21 | officers, fire fighters, and paramedics employed by fire | ||||||
| 22 | departments and fire protection districts, to strike except as | ||||||
| 23 | otherwise provided in this Act. Public employees who are | ||||||
| 24 | permitted to strike may strike only if: | ||||||
| 25 | (1) the employees are represented by an exclusive | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | bargaining representative; | ||||||
| 2 | (2) the collective bargaining agreement between the | ||||||
| 3 | public employer and the public employees, if any, has | ||||||
| 4 | expired, or such collective bargaining agreement does not | ||||||
| 5 | prohibit the strike; | ||||||
| 6 | (3) the public employer and the labor organization | ||||||
| 7 | have not mutually agreed to submit the disputed issues to | ||||||
| 8 | final and binding arbitration; | ||||||
| 9 | (4) the exclusive representative has requested a | ||||||
| 10 | mediator pursuant to Section 12 for the purpose of | ||||||
| 11 | mediation or conciliation of a dispute between the public | ||||||
| 12 | employer and the exclusive representative and mediation | ||||||
| 13 | has been used; and | ||||||
| 14 | (5) at least 5 days have elapsed after a notice of | ||||||
| 15 | intent to strike has been given by the exclusive | ||||||
| 16 | bargaining representative to the public employer. | ||||||
| 17 | In mediation under this Section, if either party requests | ||||||
| 18 | the use of mediation services from the Federal Mediation and | ||||||
| 19 | Conciliation Service or, if the Federal Mediation and | ||||||
| 20 | Conciliation Service is unable to provide mediation services, | ||||||
| 21 | from the Illinois Department of Labor, the other party shall | ||||||
| 22 | either join in such request or bear the additional cost of | ||||||
| 23 | mediation services from another source. | ||||||
| 24 | (b) An employee who participates in a strike, work | ||||||
| 25 | stoppage or slowdown, in violation of this Act shall be | ||||||
| 26 | subject to discipline by the employer. No employer may pay or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | cause such employee to be paid any wages or other compensation | ||||||
| 2 | for such periods of participation, except for wages or | ||||||
| 3 | compensation earned before participation in such strike. | ||||||
| 4 | (Source: P.A. 86-412.) | ||||||
| 5 | Section 15. The Department of Labor Law of the Civil | ||||||
| 6 | Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section | ||||||
| 7 | 1505-230 as follows: | ||||||
| 8 | (20 ILCS 1505/1505-230 new) | ||||||
| 9 | Sec. 1505-230. Labor mediation services program. | ||||||
| 10 | (a) Subject to appropriation, no later than 120 days after | ||||||
| 11 | the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General | ||||||
| 12 | Assembly, the Department shall establish a labor mediation | ||||||
| 13 | services program to facilitate the settlement of disputes | ||||||
| 14 | between employers and labor organizations. The program shall | ||||||
| 15 | be operated independently of all divisions of the Department. | ||||||
| 16 | A party to a controversy between an employer and a labor | ||||||
| 17 | organization may invoke the services of the Department under | ||||||
| 18 | the program, or the Department may proffer its services under | ||||||
| 19 | the program, in circumstances involving grievances arising | ||||||
| 20 | under a collective bargaining agreement or the negotiation of | ||||||
| 21 | an initial or successor collective bargaining agreement | ||||||
| 22 | between an employer and a labor organization concerning wages, | ||||||
| 23 | hours, or conditions of employment. | ||||||
| 24 | (b) If the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | unable to provide mediation services and the services of the | ||||||
| 2 | Department have been invoked by a party or have been proffered | ||||||
| 3 | by the Department, then the Department shall assign a mediator | ||||||
| 4 | appointed under subsection (d) to facilitate a settlement to | ||||||
| 5 | the dispute. All information disclosed by a party to a | ||||||
| 6 | mediator in the performance of mediation functions under the | ||||||
| 7 | program shall not be divulged unless required by law. | ||||||
| 8 | (c) The Department may establish policies granting | ||||||
| 9 | priority services under the program to: (i) bargaining units | ||||||
| 10 | for which mediation is a statutory requirement, (ii) disputes | ||||||
| 11 | involving initial or successor collective bargaining | ||||||
| 12 | agreements, (iii) disputes involving the health and safety of | ||||||
| 13 | the public, (iv) disputes that both parties certify may result | ||||||
| 14 | in a lockout or strike, or (v) any other matters deemed to be | ||||||
| 15 | of significance by the Department. | ||||||
| 16 | (d) The Department may appoint mediators who have | ||||||
| 17 | demonstrated experience in labor and employment matters. | ||||||
| 18 | Mediators may be appointed to a term of 2 years beginning on | ||||||
| 19 | the effective date of the appointment or renewal. Mediators | ||||||
| 20 | may be removed by the Director during the term only for good | ||||||
| 21 | cause, including, but not limited to, incompetency, | ||||||
| 22 | dereliction of duty, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance. | ||||||
| 23 | The Director may elect to renew the term of a mediator upon the | ||||||
| 24 | expiration of the term. The Department may provide for | ||||||
| 25 | compensation for mediators appointed under this Section. The | ||||||
| 26 | mediators appointed under this Section shall not be subject to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the Personnel Code. | ||||||
| 2 | (e) All mediation communications, including, but not | ||||||
| 3 | limited to, files, records, reports, documents, or other | ||||||
| 4 | papers received or prepared by a mediator as part of the | ||||||
| 5 | program, shall be classified as confidential and shall be | ||||||
| 6 | exempt from disclosure under Section 7.5 of the Freedom of | ||||||
| 7 | Information Act. The mediator shall not produce any | ||||||
| 8 | confidential records of, or testify in regard to, any | ||||||
| 9 | mediation conducted by the mediator in any civil or | ||||||
| 10 | administrative proceeding. | ||||||
| 11 | (f) No later than December 31, 2027, the Department shall | ||||||
| 12 | submit a report to the General Assembly summarizing initial | ||||||
| 13 | aggregate data for the program, including the number of | ||||||
| 14 | mediations performed and the outcome of those mediations. As | ||||||
| 15 | part of the report, the Department shall consult with | ||||||
| 16 | representatives of labor and employers to outline possible | ||||||
| 17 | improvements to the program and provide recommendations for | ||||||
| 18 | improvements as the Director deems appropriate. | ||||||
| 19 | Section 20. The Illinois Housing Development Act is | ||||||
| 20 | amended by changing Section 7.28 as follows: | ||||||
| 21 | (20 ILCS 3805/7.28) | ||||||
| 22 | Sec. 7.28. Tax credit for donation to sponsors. The | ||||||
| 23 | Authority may administer and adopt rules for an affordable | ||||||
| 24 | housing tax donation credit program to provide tax credits for | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | donations as set forth in this Section. | ||||||
| 2 | (a) In this Section: | ||||||
| 3 | "Administrative housing agency" means either the Authority | ||||||
| 4 | or an agency of the City of Chicago. | ||||||
| 5 | "Affordable housing project" means either: | ||||||
| 6 | (1) a rental project in which at least 25% of the units | ||||||
| 7 | have rents (including tenant-paid heat) that do not | ||||||
| 8 | exceed, on a monthly basis, maximum gross rent figures, as | ||||||
| 9 | published by the Authority, that are: | ||||||
| 10 | (i) based on data published annually by the U.S. | ||||||
| 11 | Department of Housing and Urban Development; | ||||||
| 12 | (ii) based on the annual income of households | ||||||
| 13 | earning 60% of the area median income; | ||||||
| 14 | (iii) computed using a 30% of gross monthly income | ||||||
| 15 | standard; and | ||||||
| 16 | (iv) adjusted for unit size and at least 25% of the | ||||||
| 17 | units are occupied by persons and families whose | ||||||
| 18 | incomes do not exceed 60% of the median family income | ||||||
| 19 | for the geographic area in which the residential unit | ||||||
| 20 | is located; or | ||||||
| 21 | (2) a unit for sale to homebuyers whose gross | ||||||
| 22 | household income is at or below (A) 60% of the area median | ||||||
| 23 | income (for taxable years beginning prior to January 1, | ||||||
| 24 | 2022) or (B) 120% of the area median income (for taxable | ||||||
| 25 | years beginning on or after January 1, 2022) and who pay no | ||||||
| 26 | more than 30% of their gross household income for mortgage | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | principal, interest, property taxes, and property | ||||||
| 2 | insurance (PITI). | ||||||
| 3 | "Donation" means money, securities, or real or personal | ||||||
| 4 | property that is donated to a not-for-profit sponsor that is | ||||||
| 5 | used solely for costs associated with either (i) purchasing, | ||||||
| 6 | constructing, or rehabilitating an affordable housing project | ||||||
| 7 | in this State, (ii) an employer-assisted housing project in | ||||||
| 8 | this State, (iii) general operating support, or (iv) technical | ||||||
| 9 | assistance as defined by this Section. | ||||||
| 10 | "Employer-assisted housing project" means either | ||||||
| 11 | down-payment assistance, reduced-interest mortgages, mortgage | ||||||
| 12 | guarantee programs, rental subsidies, or individual | ||||||
| 13 | development account savings plans that are provided by | ||||||
| 14 | employers to employees to assist in securing affordable | ||||||
| 15 | housing near the workplace, that are restricted to housing | ||||||
| 16 | near the workplace, and that are restricted to employees whose | ||||||
| 17 | gross household income is at or below 120% of the area median | ||||||
| 18 | income. | ||||||
| 19 | "General operating support" means any cost incurred by a | ||||||
| 20 | sponsor that is a part of its general program costs and is not | ||||||
| 21 | limited to costs directly incurred by the affordable housing | ||||||
| 22 | project. | ||||||
| 23 | "Geographical area" means the metropolitan area or county | ||||||
| 24 | designated as an area by the federal Department of Housing and | ||||||
| 25 | Urban Development under Section 8 of the United States Housing | ||||||
| 26 | Act of 1937, as amended, for purposes of determining fair | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | market rental rates. | ||||||
| 2 | "Median income" means the incomes that are determined by | ||||||
| 3 | the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development | ||||||
| 4 | guidelines and adjusted for family size. | ||||||
| 5 | "Project" means an affordable housing project, an | ||||||
| 6 | employer-assisted housing project, general operating support, | ||||||
| 7 | or technical assistance. | ||||||
| 8 | "Sponsor" means a not-for-profit organization that (i) is | ||||||
| 9 | organized as a not-for-profit organization under the laws of | ||||||
| 10 | this State or another state and (1) for an affordable housing | ||||||
| 11 | project, has as one of its purposes the development of | ||||||
| 12 | affordable housing; (2) for an employer-assisted housing | ||||||
| 13 | project, has as one of its purposes home ownership education; | ||||||
| 14 | and (3) for a technical assistance project, has as one of its | ||||||
| 15 | purposes either the development of affordable housing or home | ||||||
| 16 | ownership education; (ii) is organized for the purpose of | ||||||
| 17 | constructing or rehabilitating affordable housing units and | ||||||
| 18 | has been issued a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service of | ||||||
| 19 | the United States Department of the Treasury that the | ||||||
| 20 | organization is exempt from income taxation under provisions | ||||||
| 21 | of the Internal Revenue Code; or (iii) is an organization | ||||||
| 22 | designated as a community development corporation by the | ||||||
| 23 | United States government under Title VII of the Economic | ||||||
| 24 | Opportunity Act of 1964. | ||||||
| 25 | "Tax credit" means a tax credit allowed under Section 214 | ||||||
| 26 | of the Illinois Income Tax Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "Technical assistance" means any cost incurred by a | ||||||
| 2 | sponsor for project planning, assistance with applying for | ||||||
| 3 | financing, or counseling services provided to prospective | ||||||
| 4 | homebuyers. | ||||||
| 5 | (b) A sponsor must apply to an administrative housing | ||||||
| 6 | agency for approval of the project. The administrative housing | ||||||
| 7 | agency must reserve a specific amount of tax credits for each | ||||||
| 8 | approved project. Tax credits for general operating support | ||||||
| 9 | can only be reserved as part of a reservation of tax credits | ||||||
| 10 | for an affordable housing project, an employer-assisted | ||||||
| 11 | housing project, or technical assistance. No tax credits shall | ||||||
| 12 | be allowed for a project without a reservation of such tax | ||||||
| 13 | credits by an administrative housing agency for that project. | ||||||
| 14 | (c) The Authority must adopt rules establishing criteria | ||||||
| 15 | for eligible costs and donations, issuing and verifying tax | ||||||
| 16 | credits, and selecting projects that are eligible for a tax | ||||||
| 17 | credit. The Authority shall notify sponsors and donors that | ||||||
| 18 | any project funded in part through the sale or transfer of the | ||||||
| 19 | credit, when the sale or transfer occurs before construction | ||||||
| 20 | begins and is made under subsection (c) of Section 214 of the | ||||||
| 21 | Illinois Income Tax Act, qualifies as a public work under the | ||||||
| 22 | Prevailing Wage Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (d) Tax credits for employer-assisted housing projects are | ||||||
| 24 | limited to that pool of tax credits that have been set aside | ||||||
| 25 | for employer-assisted housing. Tax credits for general | ||||||
| 26 | operating support are limited to 10% of the total tax credit | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | reservation for the related project (other than general | ||||||
| 2 | operating support) and are also limited to that pool of tax | ||||||
| 3 | credits that have been set aside for general operating | ||||||
| 4 | support. Tax credits for technical assistance are limited to | ||||||
| 5 | that pool of tax credits that have been set aside for technical | ||||||
| 6 | assistance. | ||||||
| 7 | (e) The amount of tax credits reserved by the | ||||||
| 8 | administrative housing agency for an approved project is | ||||||
| 9 | limited to $32,850,352 in State fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and | ||||||
| 10 | shall increase by 5% each fiscal year thereafter. The City of | ||||||
| 11 | Chicago shall receive 24.5% of total tax credits authorized | ||||||
| 12 | for each fiscal year. The Authority shall receive the balance | ||||||
| 13 | of the tax credits authorized for each fiscal year. The tax | ||||||
| 14 | credits may be used anywhere in this State. The tax credits | ||||||
| 15 | have the following set-asides: | ||||||
| 16 | (1) for employer-assisted housing projects, $2 | ||||||
| 17 | million; and | ||||||
| 18 | (2) for general operating support and technical | ||||||
| 19 | assistance, $1 million. | ||||||
| 20 | The balance of the funds must be used for affordable | ||||||
| 21 | housing projects. During the first 9 months of a fiscal year, | ||||||
| 22 | if an administrative housing agency is unable to reserve the | ||||||
| 23 | tax credits set aside for the purposes described in subsection | ||||||
| 24 | (e), the administrative housing agency may reserve the tax | ||||||
| 25 | credits for any approved projects. | ||||||
| 26 | (f) The administrative housing agency that reserves tax | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | credits for an affordable housing project must record against | ||||||
| 2 | the land upon which the affordable housing project is located | ||||||
| 3 | an instrument to assure that the property maintains its | ||||||
| 4 | affordable housing compliance for a minimum of 10 years. The | ||||||
| 5 | Authority has flexibility to assure that the instrument does | ||||||
| 6 | not cause undue hardship on homeowners. | ||||||
| 7 | (Source: P.A. 102-175, eff. 7-29-21.) | ||||||
| 8 | Section 25. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by | ||||||
| 9 | changing Section 1-75 as follows: | ||||||
| 10 | (20 ILCS 3855/1-75) | ||||||
| 11 | (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 104-458) | ||||||
| 12 | Sec. 1-75. Planning and Procurement Bureau. The Planning | ||||||
| 13 | and Procurement Bureau has the following duties and | ||||||
| 14 | responsibilities: | ||||||
| 15 | (a) The Planning and Procurement Bureau shall each year, | ||||||
| 16 | beginning in 2008, develop procurement plans and conduct | ||||||
| 17 | competitive procurement processes in accordance with the | ||||||
| 18 | requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act | ||||||
| 19 | for the eligible retail customers of electric utilities that | ||||||
| 20 | on December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least | ||||||
| 21 | 100,000 customers in Illinois. Beginning with the delivery | ||||||
| 22 | year commencing on June 1, 2017, the Planning and Procurement | ||||||
| 23 | Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the procurement | ||||||
| 24 | of zero emission credits from zero emission facilities in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | accordance with the requirements of subsection (d-5) of this | ||||||
| 2 | Section. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory | ||||||
| 3 | Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Planning and | ||||||
| 4 | Procurement Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the | ||||||
| 5 | procurement of carbon mitigation credits from carbon-free | ||||||
| 6 | energy resources in accordance with the requirements of | ||||||
| 7 | subsection (d-10) of this Section. The Planning and | ||||||
| 8 | Procurement Bureau shall also develop procurement plans and | ||||||
| 9 | conduct competitive procurement processes in accordance with | ||||||
| 10 | the requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 11 | Act for the eligible retail customers of small | ||||||
| 12 | multi-jurisdictional electric utilities that (i) on December | ||||||
| 13 | 31, 2005 served less than 100,000 customers in Illinois and | ||||||
| 14 | (ii) request a procurement plan for their Illinois | ||||||
| 15 | jurisdictional load. This Section shall not apply to a small | ||||||
| 16 | multi-jurisdictional utility until such time as a small | ||||||
| 17 | multi-jurisdictional utility requests the Agency to prepare a | ||||||
| 18 | procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. For | ||||||
| 19 | the purposes of this Section, the term "eligible retail | ||||||
| 20 | customers" has the same definition as found in Section | ||||||
| 21 | 16-111.5(a) of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 22 | Beginning with the plan or plans to be implemented in the | ||||||
| 23 | 2017 delivery year, the Agency shall no longer include the | ||||||
| 24 | procurement of renewable energy resources in the annual | ||||||
| 25 | procurement plans required by this subsection (a), except as | ||||||
| 26 | provided in subsection (q) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Utilities Act, and shall instead develop a long-term renewable | ||||||
| 2 | resources procurement plan in accordance with subsection (c) | ||||||
| 3 | of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 4 | Act. | ||||||
| 5 | In accordance with subsection (c-5) of this Section, the | ||||||
| 6 | Planning and Procurement Bureau shall oversee the procurement | ||||||
| 7 | by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail | ||||||
| 8 | customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable | ||||||
| 9 | energy credits from new utility-scale solar projects to be | ||||||
| 10 | installed, along with energy storage facilities, at or | ||||||
| 11 | adjacent to the sites of electric generating facilities that, | ||||||
| 12 | as of January 1, 2016, burned coal as their primary fuel | ||||||
| 13 | source. | ||||||
| 14 | (1) The Agency shall each year, beginning in 2008, as | ||||||
| 15 | needed, issue a request for qualifications for experts or | ||||||
| 16 | expert consulting firms to develop the procurement plans | ||||||
| 17 | in accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 18 | Utilities Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert | ||||||
| 19 | consulting firm must have: | ||||||
| 20 | (A) direct previous experience assembling | ||||||
| 21 | large-scale power supply plans or portfolios for | ||||||
| 22 | end-use customers; | ||||||
| 23 | (B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics, | ||||||
| 24 | engineering, risk management, or a related area of | ||||||
| 25 | study; | ||||||
| 26 | (C) 10 years of experience in the electricity | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | sector, including managing supply risk; | ||||||
| 2 | (D) expertise in wholesale electricity market | ||||||
| 3 | rules, including those established by the Federal | ||||||
| 4 | Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission | ||||||
| 5 | organizations; | ||||||
| 6 | (E) expertise in credit protocols and familiarity | ||||||
| 7 | with contract protocols; | ||||||
| 8 | (F) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the | ||||||
| 9 | required functions and responsibilities; and | ||||||
| 10 | (G) the absence of a conflict of interest and | ||||||
| 11 | inappropriate bias for or against potential bidders or | ||||||
| 12 | the affected electric utilities. | ||||||
| 13 | (2) The Agency shall each year, as needed, issue a | ||||||
| 14 | request for qualifications for a procurement administrator | ||||||
| 15 | to conduct the competitive procurement processes in | ||||||
| 16 | accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 17 | Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert consulting | ||||||
| 18 | firm must have: | ||||||
| 19 | (A) direct previous experience administering a | ||||||
| 20 | large-scale competitive procurement process; | ||||||
| 21 | (B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics, | ||||||
| 22 | engineering, or a related area of study; | ||||||
| 23 | (C) 10 years of experience in the electricity | ||||||
| 24 | sector, including risk management experience; | ||||||
| 25 | (D) expertise in wholesale electricity market | ||||||
| 26 | rules, including those established by the Federal | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission | ||||||
| 2 | organizations; | ||||||
| 3 | (E) expertise in credit and contract protocols; | ||||||
| 4 | (F) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the | ||||||
| 5 | required functions and responsibilities; and | ||||||
| 6 | (G) the absence of a conflict of interest and | ||||||
| 7 | inappropriate bias for or against potential bidders or | ||||||
| 8 | the affected electric utilities. | ||||||
| 9 | (3) The Agency shall provide affected utilities and | ||||||
| 10 | other interested parties with the lists of qualified | ||||||
| 11 | experts or expert consulting firms identified through the | ||||||
| 12 | request for qualifications processes that are under | ||||||
| 13 | consideration to develop the procurement plans and to | ||||||
| 14 | serve as the procurement administrator. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 15 | also provide each qualified expert's or expert consulting | ||||||
| 16 | firm's response to the request for qualifications. All | ||||||
| 17 | information provided under this subparagraph shall also be | ||||||
| 18 | provided to the Commission. The Agency may provide by rule | ||||||
| 19 | for fees associated with supplying the information to | ||||||
| 20 | utilities and other interested parties. These parties | ||||||
| 21 | shall, within 5 business days, notify the Agency in | ||||||
| 22 | writing if they object to any experts or expert consulting | ||||||
| 23 | firms on the lists. Objections shall be based on: | ||||||
| 24 | (A) failure to satisfy qualification criteria; | ||||||
| 25 | (B) identification of a conflict of interest; or | ||||||
| 26 | (C) evidence of inappropriate bias for or against | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | potential bidders or the affected utilities. | ||||||
| 2 | The Agency shall remove experts or expert consulting | ||||||
| 3 | firms from the lists within 10 days if there is a | ||||||
| 4 | reasonable basis for an objection and provide the updated | ||||||
| 5 | lists to the affected utilities and other interested | ||||||
| 6 | parties. If the Agency fails to remove an expert or expert | ||||||
| 7 | consulting firm from a list, an objecting party may seek | ||||||
| 8 | review by the Commission within 5 days thereafter by | ||||||
| 9 | filing a petition, and the Commission shall render a | ||||||
| 10 | ruling on the petition within 10 days. There is no right of | ||||||
| 11 | appeal of the Commission's ruling. | ||||||
| 12 | (4) The Agency shall issue requests for proposals to | ||||||
| 13 | the qualified experts or expert consulting firms to | ||||||
| 14 | develop a procurement plan for the affected utilities and | ||||||
| 15 | to serve as procurement administrator. | ||||||
| 16 | (5) The Agency shall select an expert or expert | ||||||
| 17 | consulting firm to develop procurement plans based on the | ||||||
| 18 | proposals submitted and shall award contracts of up to 5 | ||||||
| 19 | years to those selected. | ||||||
| 20 | (6) The Agency shall select an expert or expert | ||||||
| 21 | consulting firm, with approval of the Commission, to serve | ||||||
| 22 | as procurement administrator based on the proposals | ||||||
| 23 | submitted. If the Commission rejects, within 5 days, the | ||||||
| 24 | Agency's selection, the Agency shall submit another | ||||||
| 25 | recommendation within 3 days based on the proposals | ||||||
| 26 | submitted. The Agency shall award a 5-year contract to the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | expert or expert consulting firm so selected with | ||||||
| 2 | Commission approval. | ||||||
| 3 | (b) The experts or expert consulting firms retained by the | ||||||
| 4 | Agency shall, as appropriate, prepare procurement plans, and | ||||||
| 5 | conduct a competitive procurement process as prescribed in | ||||||
| 6 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, to ensure | ||||||
| 7 | adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally | ||||||
| 8 | sustainable electric service at the lowest total cost over | ||||||
| 9 | time, taking into account any benefits of price stability, for | ||||||
| 10 | eligible retail customers of electric utilities that on | ||||||
| 11 | December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least | ||||||
| 12 | 100,000 customers in the State of Illinois, and for eligible | ||||||
| 13 | Illinois retail customers of small multi-jurisdictional | ||||||
| 14 | electric utilities that (i) on December 31, 2005 served less | ||||||
| 15 | than 100,000 customers in Illinois and (ii) request a | ||||||
| 16 | procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. | ||||||
| 17 | (c) Renewable portfolio standard. | ||||||
| 18 | (1)(A) The Agency shall develop a long-term renewable | ||||||
| 19 | resources procurement plan that shall include procurement | ||||||
| 20 | programs and competitive procurement events necessary to | ||||||
| 21 | meet the goals set forth in this subsection (c). The | ||||||
| 22 | initial long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 23 | shall be released for comment no later than 160 days after | ||||||
| 24 | June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-906). | ||||||
| 25 | The Agency shall review, and may revise on an expedited | ||||||
| 26 | basis, the long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | at least every 2 years, which shall be conducted in | ||||||
| 2 | conjunction with the procurement plan under Section | ||||||
| 3 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the extent | ||||||
| 4 | practicable to minimize administrative expense. No later | ||||||
| 5 | than 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory | ||||||
| 6 | Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 7 | release for comment a revision to the long-term renewable | ||||||
| 8 | resources procurement plan, updating elements of the most | ||||||
| 9 | recently approved plan as needed to comply with this | ||||||
| 10 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, and any | ||||||
| 11 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan update | ||||||
| 12 | published by the Agency but not yet approved by the | ||||||
| 13 | Illinois Commerce Commission shall be withdrawn. The | ||||||
| 14 | long-term renewable resources procurement plans shall be | ||||||
| 15 | subject to review and approval by the Commission under | ||||||
| 16 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (B) Subject to subparagraph (F) of this paragraph (1), | ||||||
| 18 | the long-term renewable resources procurement plan shall | ||||||
| 19 | attempt to meet the goals for procurement of renewable | ||||||
| 20 | energy credits at levels of at least the following overall | ||||||
| 21 | percentages: 13% by the 2017 delivery year; increasing by | ||||||
| 22 | at least 1.5% each delivery year thereafter to at least | ||||||
| 23 | 25% by the 2025 delivery year; increasing by at least 3% | ||||||
| 24 | each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by the 2030 | ||||||
| 25 | delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40% for each | ||||||
| 26 | delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall attempt to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 2 | determine the annual increase between delivery year 2030 | ||||||
| 3 | and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account energy | ||||||
| 4 | demand, other energy resources, and other public policy | ||||||
| 5 | goals. In the event of a conflict between these goals and | ||||||
| 6 | the new wind, new photovoltaic, and hydropower procurement | ||||||
| 7 | requirements described in items (i) through (iii) of | ||||||
| 8 | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1), the long-term plan | ||||||
| 9 | shall prioritize compliance with the new wind, new | ||||||
| 10 | photovoltaic, and hydropower procurement requirements | ||||||
| 11 | described in items (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (C) | ||||||
| 12 | of this paragraph (1) over the annual percentage targets | ||||||
| 13 | described in this subparagraph (B). The Agency shall not | ||||||
| 14 | comply with the annual percentage targets described in | ||||||
| 15 | this subparagraph (B) by procuring renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | credits that are unlikely to lead to the development of | ||||||
| 17 | new renewable resources or new, modernized, or retooled | ||||||
| 18 | hydropower facilities. | ||||||
| 19 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2017, the | ||||||
| 20 | procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the | ||||||
| 21 | prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B), | ||||||
| 22 | cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at | ||||||
| 23 | least 13% of each utility's load for eligible retail | ||||||
| 24 | customers and 13% of the applicable portion of each | ||||||
| 25 | utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible | ||||||
| 26 | retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 50% | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | of the utility's load for retail customers who are not | ||||||
| 2 | eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017. | ||||||
| 3 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the | ||||||
| 4 | procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the | ||||||
| 5 | prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B), | ||||||
| 6 | cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at | ||||||
| 7 | least 14.5% of each utility's load for eligible retail | ||||||
| 8 | customers and 14.5% of the applicable portion of each | ||||||
| 9 | utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible | ||||||
| 10 | retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 75% | ||||||
| 11 | of the utility's load for retail customers who are not | ||||||
| 12 | eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017. | ||||||
| 13 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2019, and for | ||||||
| 14 | each year thereafter, the procurement plans shall attempt | ||||||
| 15 | to include, subject to the prioritization outlined in this | ||||||
| 16 | subparagraph (B), cost-effective renewable energy | ||||||
| 17 | resources equal to a minimum percentage of each utility's | ||||||
| 18 | load for all retail customers as follows: 16% by June 1, | ||||||
| 19 | 2019; increasing by 1.5% each year thereafter to 25% by | ||||||
| 20 | June 1, 2025; and 25% by June 1, 2026; increasing by at | ||||||
| 21 | least 3% each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by | ||||||
| 22 | the 2030 delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40% | ||||||
| 23 | for each delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 24 | attempt to procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency | ||||||
| 25 | shall determine the annual increase between delivery year | ||||||
| 26 | 2030 and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | energy demand, other energy resources, and other public | ||||||
| 2 | policy goals. | ||||||
| 3 | For each delivery year, the Agency shall first | ||||||
| 4 | recognize each utility's obligations for that delivery | ||||||
| 5 | year under existing contracts. Any renewable energy | ||||||
| 6 | credits under existing contracts, including renewable | ||||||
| 7 | energy credits as part of renewable energy resources, | ||||||
| 8 | shall be used to meet the goals set forth in this | ||||||
| 9 | subsection (c) for the delivery year. | ||||||
| 10 | (C) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 11 | described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (1) shall | ||||||
| 12 | include the procurement of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 13 | new projects pursuant to the following terms: | ||||||
| 14 | (i) At least 10,000,000 renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 15 | delivered annually by the end of the 2021 delivery | ||||||
| 16 | year, and increasing ratably to reach 45,000,000 | ||||||
| 17 | renewable energy credits delivered annually from new | ||||||
| 18 | wind and solar projects, from repowered wind projects, | ||||||
| 19 | or from retooled hydropower facilities by the end of | ||||||
| 20 | delivery year 2030 such that the goals in subparagraph | ||||||
| 21 | (B) of this paragraph (1) are met entirely by | ||||||
| 22 | procurements of renewable energy credits from new wind | ||||||
| 23 | and photovoltaic projects. Of that amount, to the | ||||||
| 24 | extent possible, the Agency shall endeavor to procure | ||||||
| 25 | 45% from new and repowered wind and hydropower | ||||||
| 26 | projects and shall procure at least 55% from | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | photovoltaic projects. Of the amount to be procured | ||||||
| 2 | from photovoltaic projects, the Agency shall procure: | ||||||
| 3 | at least 50% from solar photovoltaic projects using | ||||||
| 4 | the program outlined in subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 5 | paragraph (1) from distributed renewable energy | ||||||
| 6 | generation devices or community renewable generation | ||||||
| 7 | projects; at least 47% from utility-scale solar | ||||||
| 8 | projects; at least 3% from brownfield site | ||||||
| 9 | photovoltaic projects that are not community renewable | ||||||
| 10 | generation projects. The Agency may propose | ||||||
| 11 | adjustments to these percentages, including | ||||||
| 12 | establishing percentage-based goals for the | ||||||
| 13 | procurement of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 14 | modernized or retooled hydropower facilities and | ||||||
| 15 | repowered wind projects, through its long-term | ||||||
| 16 | renewable resources plan described in subparagraph (A) | ||||||
| 17 | of this paragraph (1) as necessary based on developer | ||||||
| 18 | interest, market conditions, budget considerations, | ||||||
| 19 | resource adequacy needs, or other factors. | ||||||
| 20 | In developing the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 21 | procurement plan, the Agency shall consider other | ||||||
| 22 | approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, | ||||||
| 23 | that can be used to procure renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 24 | from brownfield site photovoltaic projects and thereby | ||||||
| 25 | help return blighted or contaminated land to | ||||||
| 26 | productive use while enhancing public health and the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | well-being of Illinois residents, including those in | ||||||
| 2 | environmental justice communities, as defined using | ||||||
| 3 | existing methodologies and findings used by the Agency | ||||||
| 4 | and its Administrator in its Illinois Solar for All | ||||||
| 5 | Program. The Agency shall also consider other | ||||||
| 6 | approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, | ||||||
| 7 | to procure renewable energy credits from new and | ||||||
| 8 | existing hydropower facilities to support the | ||||||
| 9 | development and maintenance of these facilities. The | ||||||
| 10 | Agency shall explore options to convert existing dams | ||||||
| 11 | but shall not consider approaches to develop new dams | ||||||
| 12 | where they do not already exist. To encourage the | ||||||
| 13 | continued operation of utility-scale wind projects, | ||||||
| 14 | the Agency shall consider and may propose other | ||||||
| 15 | approaches in addition to competitive procurements to | ||||||
| 16 | procure renewable energy credits from repowered wind | ||||||
| 17 | projects. | ||||||
| 18 | (ii) In any given delivery year, if forecasted | ||||||
| 19 | expenses are less than the maximum budget available | ||||||
| 20 | under subparagraph (E) of this paragraph (1), the | ||||||
| 21 | Agency shall continue to procure new renewable energy | ||||||
| 22 | credits until that budget is exhausted in the manner | ||||||
| 23 | outlined in item (i) of this subparagraph (C). | ||||||
| 24 | (iii) For purposes of this Section: | ||||||
| 25 | "New wind projects" means wind renewable energy | ||||||
| 26 | facilities that are energized after June 1, 2017 for | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the delivery year commencing June 1, 2017. | ||||||
| 2 | "New photovoltaic projects" means photovoltaic | ||||||
| 3 | renewable energy facilities that are energized after | ||||||
| 4 | June 1, 2017. Photovoltaic projects developed under | ||||||
| 5 | Section 1-56 of this Act shall not apply towards the | ||||||
| 6 | new photovoltaic project requirements in this | ||||||
| 7 | subparagraph (C). | ||||||
| 8 | "Repowered wind projects" means utility-scale wind | ||||||
| 9 | projects featuring the removal, replacement, or | ||||||
| 10 | expansion of turbines at an existing project site, as | ||||||
| 11 | defined in the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 12 | procurement plan, after the effective date of this | ||||||
| 13 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 14 | Renewable energy credit contract awards used to | ||||||
| 15 | support repowered wind projects shall only cover the | ||||||
| 16 | incremental increase in facility electricity | ||||||
| 17 | production resultant from repowering. | ||||||
| 18 | For purposes of calculating whether the Agency has | ||||||
| 19 | procured enough new wind and solar renewable energy | ||||||
| 20 | credits required by this subparagraph (C), renewable | ||||||
| 21 | energy facilities that have a multi-year renewable | ||||||
| 22 | energy credit delivery contract with the utility | ||||||
| 23 | through at least delivery year 2030 shall be | ||||||
| 24 | considered new, however no renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 25 | from contracts entered into before June 1, 2021 shall | ||||||
| 26 | be used to calculate whether the Agency has procured | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the correct proportion of new wind and new solar | ||||||
| 2 | contracts described in this subparagraph (C) for | ||||||
| 3 | delivery year 2021 and thereafter. | ||||||
| 4 | (D) Renewable energy credits shall be cost effective. | ||||||
| 5 | For purposes of this subsection (c), "cost effective" | ||||||
| 6 | means that the costs of procuring renewable energy | ||||||
| 7 | resources do not cause the limit stated in subparagraph | ||||||
| 8 | (E) of this paragraph (1) to be exceeded and, for | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy credits procured through a competitive | ||||||
| 10 | procurement event, do not exceed benchmarks based on | ||||||
| 11 | market prices for like products in the region. For | ||||||
| 12 | purposes of this subsection (c), "like products" means | ||||||
| 13 | contracts for renewable energy credits from the same or | ||||||
| 14 | substantially similar technology, same or substantially | ||||||
| 15 | similar vintage (new or existing), the same or | ||||||
| 16 | substantially similar quantity, and the same or | ||||||
| 17 | substantially similar contract length and structure. | ||||||
| 18 | Benchmarks shall reflect development, financing, or | ||||||
| 19 | related costs resulting from requirements imposed through | ||||||
| 20 | other provisions of State law, including, but not limited | ||||||
| 21 | to, requirements in subparagraphs (P) and (Q) of this | ||||||
| 22 | paragraph (1) and the Renewable Energy Facilities | ||||||
| 23 | Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Confidential | ||||||
| 24 | benchmarks shall be developed by the procurement | ||||||
| 25 | administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff, | ||||||
| 26 | Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subject to Commission review and approval. If price | ||||||
| 2 | benchmarks for like products in the region are not | ||||||
| 3 | available, the procurement administrator shall establish | ||||||
| 4 | price benchmarks based on publicly available data on | ||||||
| 5 | regional technology costs and expected current and future | ||||||
| 6 | regional energy prices. The benchmarks in this Section | ||||||
| 7 | shall not be used to curtail or otherwise reduce | ||||||
| 8 | contractual obligations entered into by or through the | ||||||
| 9 | Agency prior to June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public | ||||||
| 10 | Act 99-906). | ||||||
| 11 | (E) For purposes of this subsection (c), the required | ||||||
| 12 | procurement of cost-effective renewable energy resources | ||||||
| 13 | for a particular year commencing prior to June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| 14 | shall be measured as a percentage of the actual amount of | ||||||
| 15 | electricity (megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric | ||||||
| 16 | utility to eligible retail customers in the delivery year | ||||||
| 17 | ending immediately prior to the procurement, and, for | ||||||
| 18 | delivery years commencing on and after June 1, 2017, the | ||||||
| 19 | required procurement of cost-effective renewable energy | ||||||
| 20 | resources for a particular year shall be measured as a | ||||||
| 21 | percentage of the actual amount of electricity | ||||||
| 22 | (megawatt-hours) delivered by the electric utility in the | ||||||
| 23 | delivery year ending immediately prior to the procurement, | ||||||
| 24 | to all retail customers in its service territory. For | ||||||
| 25 | purposes of this subsection (c), the amount paid per | ||||||
| 26 | kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For | ||||||
| 2 | purposes of this subsection (c), the total amount paid for | ||||||
| 3 | electric service includes without limitation amounts paid | ||||||
| 4 | for supply, transmission, capacity, distribution, | ||||||
| 5 | surcharges, and add-on taxes. | ||||||
| 6 | Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection | ||||||
| 7 | (c), and except as provided in subparagraph (E-5) of | ||||||
| 8 | paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), the total of | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy resources procured under the procurement | ||||||
| 10 | plan for any single year shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 11 | limitations of this subparagraph (E). Such procurement | ||||||
| 12 | shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the | ||||||
| 13 | amount necessary to limit the annual estimated average net | ||||||
| 14 | increase due to the costs of these resources included in | ||||||
| 15 | the amounts paid by eligible retail customers in | ||||||
| 16 | connection with electric service to no more than 4.25% of | ||||||
| 17 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during | ||||||
| 18 | the year ending May 31, 2009. To arrive at a maximum dollar | ||||||
| 19 | amount of renewable energy resources to be procured for | ||||||
| 20 | the particular delivery year, the resulting per | ||||||
| 21 | kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the actual amount | ||||||
| 22 | of kilowatthours of electricity delivered, or applicable | ||||||
| 23 | portion of such amount as specified in paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 24 | this subsection (c), as applicable, by the electric | ||||||
| 25 | utility in the delivery year immediately prior to the | ||||||
| 26 | procurement to all retail customers in its service | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | territory. The calculations required by this subparagraph | ||||||
| 2 | (E) shall be made only once for each delivery year at the | ||||||
| 3 | time that the renewable energy resources are procured. | ||||||
| 4 | Once the determination as to the amount of renewable | ||||||
| 5 | energy resources to procure is made based on the | ||||||
| 6 | calculations set forth in this subparagraph (E) and the | ||||||
| 7 | contracts procuring those amounts are executed between the | ||||||
| 8 | seller and applicable electric utility, no subsequent rate | ||||||
| 9 | impact determinations shall be made and no adjustments to | ||||||
| 10 | those contract amounts shall be allowed. As provided in | ||||||
| 11 | subparagraph (E-5) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 12 | (c), the seller shall be entitled to full, prompt, and | ||||||
| 13 | uninterrupted payment under the applicable contract | ||||||
| 14 | notwithstanding the application of this subparagraph (E), | ||||||
| 15 | and all costs incurred under such contracts shall be fully | ||||||
| 16 | recoverable by the electric utility as provided in this | ||||||
| 17 | Section. | ||||||
| 18 | (E-5) If, for a particular delivery year, the | ||||||
| 19 | limitation on the amount of renewable energy resources to | ||||||
| 20 | be procured, as calculated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of | ||||||
| 21 | paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), would result in an | ||||||
| 22 | insufficient collection of funds to fully pay amounts due | ||||||
| 23 | to a seller under existing contracts executed under this | ||||||
| 24 | Section or executed under Section 1-56 of this Act, then | ||||||
| 25 | the following provisions shall apply to ensure full and | ||||||
| 26 | uninterrupted payment is made to such seller or sellers: | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (i) If the electric utility has retained unspent | ||||||
| 2 | funds in an interest-bearing account as prescribed in | ||||||
| 3 | subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of the Public | ||||||
| 4 | Utilities Act, then the utility shall use those funds | ||||||
| 5 | to remit full payment to the sellers to ensure prompt | ||||||
| 6 | and uninterrupted payment of existing contractual | ||||||
| 7 | obligation. | ||||||
| 8 | (ii) If the funds described in item (i) of this | ||||||
| 9 | subparagraph (E-5) are insufficient to satisfy all | ||||||
| 10 | existing contractual obligations, then the electric | ||||||
| 11 | utility shall, nonetheless, remit full payment to the | ||||||
| 12 | sellers to ensure prompt and uninterrupted payment of | ||||||
| 13 | existing contractual obligations, provided that the | ||||||
| 14 | full costs shall be recoverable by the utility in | ||||||
| 15 | accordance with part (ee) of item (iv) of this | ||||||
| 16 | subsection (E-5). | ||||||
| 17 | (iii) The Agency shall promptly notify the | ||||||
| 18 | Commission that existing contractual obligations are | ||||||
| 19 | reasonably expected to exceed the maximum collection | ||||||
| 20 | authorized under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 21 | this subsection (c) for the applicable delivery year. | ||||||
| 22 | The Agency shall also explain and confirm how the | ||||||
| 23 | operation of items (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph | ||||||
| 24 | (E-5) ensures that the electric utility will continue | ||||||
| 25 | to make prompt and uninterrupted payment under | ||||||
| 26 | existing contractual obligations. The Agency shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | provide this information to the Commission through a | ||||||
| 2 | notice filed in the Commission docket approving the | ||||||
| 3 | Agency's operative Long-Term Renewable Resources | ||||||
| 4 | Procurement Plan that includes the applicable delivery | ||||||
| 5 | year. | ||||||
| 6 | (iv) The Agency shall suspend or reduce new | ||||||
| 7 | contract awards for the procurement of renewable | ||||||
| 8 | energy credits until an Agency determination is made | ||||||
| 9 | under subparagraph (E) that additional procurements | ||||||
| 10 | would not cause the rate impact limitation of | ||||||
| 11 | subparagraph (E) to be exceeded. At least once | ||||||
| 12 | annually after the notice provided for in item (iii) | ||||||
| 13 | of this subparagraph (E-5) is made, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 14 | analyze existing contract obligations, projected | ||||||
| 15 | prices for indexed renewable energy credit contracts | ||||||
| 16 | executed under item (v) of subparagraph (G) of | ||||||
| 17 | paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of | ||||||
| 18 | this Act, and expected collections authorized under | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (E) to determine whether and to what | ||||||
| 20 | extent the limitations of subparagraph (E) would be | ||||||
| 21 | exceeded by additional renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 22 | procurement contract awards. | ||||||
| 23 | (aa) If the Agency determines that additional | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy credit procurement contract | ||||||
| 25 | awards could be made without exceeding the | ||||||
| 26 | limitations of subparagraph (E), then the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procurements shall be authorized at a scale | ||||||
| 2 | determined not to exceed the limitations of | ||||||
| 3 | subparagraph (E) in a manner consistent with the | ||||||
| 4 | priorities of this Section. | ||||||
| 5 | (bb) If the Agency determines that additional | ||||||
| 6 | renewable energy credit procurement contract | ||||||
| 7 | awards cannot be made without exceeding the | ||||||
| 8 | limitations of subparagraph (E), then the Agency | ||||||
| 9 | shall suspend any new contract awards for the | ||||||
| 10 | procurement of renewable energy credits until a | ||||||
| 11 | new rate impact determination is made under | ||||||
| 12 | subparagraph (E). | ||||||
| 13 | (cc) Agency determinations made under this | ||||||
| 14 | item (iv) shall be detailed and comprehensive and, | ||||||
| 15 | if not made through the Agency's Long-Term | ||||||
| 16 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, shall be | ||||||
| 17 | filed as a compliance filing in the most recent | ||||||
| 18 | docketed proceeding approving the Agency's | ||||||
| 19 | Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. | ||||||
| 20 | (dd) With respect to the procurement of | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy credits authorized through | ||||||
| 22 | programs administered under subsection (b) of | ||||||
| 23 | Section 1-56 and subparagraphs (K) through (M) of | ||||||
| 24 | paragraph (1) of subsection (k) of Section 1-75 of | ||||||
| 25 | this Act, the award of contracts for the | ||||||
| 26 | procurement of renewable energy credits shall be | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | suspended or reduced only at the conclusion of the | ||||||
| 2 | program year in which the notice provided for | ||||||
| 3 | under item (iii) of this subparagraph (E-5) is | ||||||
| 4 | made. | ||||||
| 5 | (ee) The contract shall provide that, so long | ||||||
| 6 | as at least one of: (i) the cost recovery | ||||||
| 7 | mechanisms referenced in subsection (k) of Section | ||||||
| 8 | 16-108 and subsection (l) of Section 16-111.5 of | ||||||
| 9 | the Public Utilities Act remains in full force | ||||||
| 10 | without limitation or (ii) the utility is | ||||||
| 11 | otherwise authorized and or entitled to full, | ||||||
| 12 | prompt, and uninterrupted recovery of its costs | ||||||
| 13 | through any other mechanism, then such seller | ||||||
| 14 | shall be entitled to full, prompt, and | ||||||
| 15 | uninterrupted payment under the applicable | ||||||
| 16 | contract notwithstanding the application of this | ||||||
| 17 | subparagraph (E). | ||||||
| 18 | (F) If the limitation on the amount of renewable | ||||||
| 19 | energy resources procured in subparagraph (E) of this | ||||||
| 20 | paragraph (1) prevents the Agency from meeting all of the | ||||||
| 21 | goals in this subsection (c), the Agency's long-term plan | ||||||
| 22 | shall prioritize compliance with the requirements of this | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (c) regarding renewable energy credits in the | ||||||
| 24 | following order: | ||||||
| 25 | (i) renewable energy credits under existing | ||||||
| 26 | contractual obligations as of June 1, 2021; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (i-5) funding for the Illinois Solar for All | ||||||
| 2 | Program, as described in subparagraph (O) of this | ||||||
| 3 | paragraph (1); | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) renewable energy credits necessary to comply | ||||||
| 5 | with the new wind and new photovoltaic procurement | ||||||
| 6 | requirements described in items (i) through (iii) of | ||||||
| 7 | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1); and | ||||||
| 8 | (iii) renewable energy credits necessary to meet | ||||||
| 9 | the remaining requirements of this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 10 | (G) The following provisions shall apply to the | ||||||
| 11 | Agency's procurement of renewable energy credits under | ||||||
| 12 | this subsection (c): | ||||||
| 13 | (i) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable | ||||||
| 14 | resources procurement plan has been approved, the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency shall conduct an initial forward procurement | ||||||
| 16 | for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale | ||||||
| 17 | wind projects within 160 days after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 18 | effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes | ||||||
| 19 | of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 20 | solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000 | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy credits delivered annually from new | ||||||
| 22 | utility-scale wind projects to begin delivery on June | ||||||
| 23 | 1, 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, | ||||||
| 24 | unless the project has delays in the establishment of | ||||||
| 25 | an operating interconnection with the applicable | ||||||
| 26 | transmission or distribution system as a result of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | actions or inactions of the transmission or | ||||||
| 2 | distribution provider, or other causes for force | ||||||
| 3 | majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in | ||||||
| 4 | which case, not later than June 1, 2022. Payments to | ||||||
| 5 | suppliers of renewable energy credits shall commence | ||||||
| 6 | upon delivery. Renewable energy credits procured under | ||||||
| 7 | this initial procurement shall be included in the | ||||||
| 8 | Agency's long-term plan and shall apply to all | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy goals in this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 10 | (ii) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable | ||||||
| 11 | resources procurement plan has been approved, the | ||||||
| 12 | Agency shall conduct an initial forward procurement | ||||||
| 13 | for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale | ||||||
| 14 | solar projects and brownfield site photovoltaic | ||||||
| 15 | projects within one year after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 16 | effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes | ||||||
| 17 | of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 18 | solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000 | ||||||
| 19 | renewable energy credits delivered annually from new | ||||||
| 20 | utility-scale solar projects and brownfield site | ||||||
| 21 | photovoltaic projects to begin delivery on June 1, | ||||||
| 22 | 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, | ||||||
| 23 | unless the project has delays in the establishment of | ||||||
| 24 | an operating interconnection with the applicable | ||||||
| 25 | transmission or distribution system as a result of the | ||||||
| 26 | actions or inactions of the transmission or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | distribution provider, or other causes for force | ||||||
| 2 | majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in | ||||||
| 3 | which case, not later than June 1, 2022. The Agency may | ||||||
| 4 | structure this initial procurement in one or more | ||||||
| 5 | discrete procurement events. Payments to suppliers of | ||||||
| 6 | renewable energy credits shall commence upon delivery. | ||||||
| 7 | Renewable energy credits procured under this initial | ||||||
| 8 | procurement shall be included in the Agency's | ||||||
| 9 | long-term plan and shall apply to all renewable energy | ||||||
| 10 | goals in this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 11 | (iii) Notwithstanding whether the Commission has | ||||||
| 12 | approved the periodic long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 13 | procurement plan revision described in Section | ||||||
| 14 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 15 | conduct at least one subsequent forward procurement | ||||||
| 16 | for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale | ||||||
| 17 | wind projects, new utility-scale solar projects, and | ||||||
| 18 | new brownfield site photovoltaic projects within 240 | ||||||
| 19 | days after the effective date of this amendatory Act | ||||||
| 20 | of the 102nd General Assembly in quantities necessary | ||||||
| 21 | to meet the requirements of subparagraph (C) of this | ||||||
| 22 | paragraph (1) through the delivery year beginning June | ||||||
| 23 | 1, 2021. | ||||||
| 24 | (iv) Notwithstanding whether the Commission has | ||||||
| 25 | approved the periodic long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 26 | procurement plan revision described in Section | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 2 | open capacity for each category in the Adjustable | ||||||
| 3 | Block program within 90 days after the effective date | ||||||
| 4 | of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly | ||||||
| 5 | manner: | ||||||
| 6 | (1) The Agency shall open the first block of | ||||||
| 7 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| 8 | (i) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). The | ||||||
| 9 | first block of annual capacity for item (i) shall | ||||||
| 10 | be for at least 75 megawatts of total nameplate | ||||||
| 11 | capacity. The price of the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 12 | for this block of capacity shall be 4% less than | ||||||
| 13 | the price of the last open block in this category. | ||||||
| 14 | Projects on a waitlist shall be awarded contracts | ||||||
| 15 | first in the order in which they appear on the | ||||||
| 16 | waitlist. Notwithstanding anything to the | ||||||
| 17 | contrary, for those renewable energy credits that | ||||||
| 18 | qualify and are procured under this subitem (1) of | ||||||
| 19 | this item (iv), the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 20 | delivery contract value shall be paid in full, | ||||||
| 21 | based on the estimated generation during the first | ||||||
| 22 | 15 years of operation, by the contracting | ||||||
| 23 | utilities at the time that the facility producing | ||||||
| 24 | the renewable energy credits is interconnected at | ||||||
| 25 | the distribution system level of the utility and | ||||||
| 26 | verified as energized and in compliance by the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Program Administrator. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 2 | receive and retire all renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 3 | generated by the project for the first 15 years of | ||||||
| 4 | operation. Renewable energy credits generated by | ||||||
| 5 | the project thereafter shall not be transferred | ||||||
| 6 | under the renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 7 | contract with the counterparty electric utility. | ||||||
| 8 | (2) The Agency shall open the first block of | ||||||
| 9 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| 10 | (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 11 | The first block of annual capacity for item (ii) | ||||||
| 12 | shall be for at least 75 megawatts of total | ||||||
| 13 | nameplate capacity. | ||||||
| 14 | (A) The price of the renewable energy | ||||||
| 15 | credit for any project on a waitlist for this | ||||||
| 16 | category before the opening of this block | ||||||
| 17 | shall be 4% less than the price of the last | ||||||
| 18 | open block in this category. Projects on the | ||||||
| 19 | waitlist shall be awarded contracts first in | ||||||
| 20 | the order in which they appear on the | ||||||
| 21 | waitlist. Any projects that are less than or | ||||||
| 22 | equal to 25 kilowatts in size on the waitlist | ||||||
| 23 | for this capacity shall be moved to the | ||||||
| 24 | waitlist for paragraph (1) of this item (iv). | ||||||
| 25 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, | ||||||
| 26 | projects that were on the waitlist prior to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | opening of this block shall not be required to | ||||||
| 2 | be in compliance with the requirements of | ||||||
| 3 | subparagraph (Q) of this paragraph (1) of this | ||||||
| 4 | subsection (c). Notwithstanding anything to | ||||||
| 5 | the contrary, for those renewable energy | ||||||
| 6 | credits procured from projects that were on | ||||||
| 7 | the waitlist for this category before the | ||||||
| 8 | opening of this block 20% of the renewable | ||||||
| 9 | energy credit delivery contract value, based | ||||||
| 10 | on the estimated generation during the first | ||||||
| 11 | 15 years of operation, shall be paid by the | ||||||
| 12 | contracting utilities at the time that the | ||||||
| 13 | facility producing the renewable energy | ||||||
| 14 | credits is interconnected at the distribution | ||||||
| 15 | system level of the utility and verified as | ||||||
| 16 | energized by the Program Administrator. The | ||||||
| 17 | remaining portion shall be paid ratably over | ||||||
| 18 | the subsequent 4-year period. The electric | ||||||
| 19 | utility shall receive and retire all renewable | ||||||
| 20 | energy credits generated by the project during | ||||||
| 21 | the first 15 years of operation. Renewable | ||||||
| 22 | energy credits generated by the project | ||||||
| 23 | thereafter shall not be transferred under the | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy credit delivery contract with | ||||||
| 25 | the counterparty electric utility. | ||||||
| 26 | (B) The price of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | for any project not on the waitlist for this | ||||||
| 2 | category before the opening of the block shall | ||||||
| 3 | be determined and published by the Agency. | ||||||
| 4 | Projects not on a waitlist as of the opening | ||||||
| 5 | of this block shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 6 | requirements of subparagraph (Q) of this | ||||||
| 7 | paragraph (1), as applicable. Projects not on | ||||||
| 8 | a waitlist as of the opening of this block | ||||||
| 9 | shall be subject to the contract provisions | ||||||
| 10 | outlined in item (iii) of subparagraph (L) of | ||||||
| 11 | this paragraph (1). The Agency shall strive to | ||||||
| 12 | publish updated prices and an updated | ||||||
| 13 | renewable energy credit delivery contract as | ||||||
| 14 | quickly as possible. | ||||||
| 15 | (3) For opening the first 2 blocks of annual | ||||||
| 16 | capacity for projects participating in item (iii) | ||||||
| 17 | of subparagraph (K) of paragraph (1) of subsection | ||||||
| 18 | (c), projects shall be selected exclusively from | ||||||
| 19 | those projects on the ordinal waitlists of | ||||||
| 20 | community renewable generation projects | ||||||
| 21 | established by the Agency based on the status of | ||||||
| 22 | those ordinal waitlists as of December 31, 2020, | ||||||
| 23 | and only those projects previously determined to | ||||||
| 24 | be eligible for the Agency's April 2019 community | ||||||
| 25 | solar project selection process. | ||||||
| 26 | The first 2 blocks of annual capacity for item | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (iii) shall be for 250 megawatts of total | ||||||
| 2 | nameplate capacity, with both blocks opening | ||||||
| 3 | simultaneously under the schedule outlined in the | ||||||
| 4 | paragraphs below. Projects shall be selected as | ||||||
| 5 | follows: | ||||||
| 6 | (A) The geographic balance of selected | ||||||
| 7 | projects shall follow the Group classification | ||||||
| 8 | found in the Agency's Revised Long-Term | ||||||
| 9 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, with 70% | ||||||
| 10 | of capacity allocated to projects on the Group | ||||||
| 11 | B waitlist and 30% of capacity allocated to | ||||||
| 12 | projects on the Group A waitlist. | ||||||
| 13 | (B) Contract awards for waitlisted | ||||||
| 14 | projects shall be allocated proportionate to | ||||||
| 15 | the total nameplate capacity amount across | ||||||
| 16 | both ordinal waitlists associated with that | ||||||
| 17 | applicant firm or its affiliates, subject to | ||||||
| 18 | the following conditions. | ||||||
| 19 | (i) Each applicant firm having a | ||||||
| 20 | waitlisted project eligible for selection | ||||||
| 21 | shall receive no less than 500 kilowatts | ||||||
| 22 | in awarded capacity across all groups, and | ||||||
| 23 | no approved vendor may receive more than | ||||||
| 24 | 20% of each Group's waitlist allocation. | ||||||
| 25 | (ii) Each applicant firm, upon | ||||||
| 26 | receiving an award of program capacity | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | proportionate to its waitlisted capacity, | ||||||
| 2 | may then determine which waitlisted | ||||||
| 3 | projects it chooses to be selected for a | ||||||
| 4 | contract award up to that capacity amount. | ||||||
| 5 | (iii) Assuming all other program | ||||||
| 6 | requirements are met, applicant firms may | ||||||
| 7 | adjust the nameplate capacity of applicant | ||||||
| 8 | projects without losing waitlist | ||||||
| 9 | eligibility, so long as no project is | ||||||
| 10 | greater than 2,000 kilowatts in size. | ||||||
| 11 | (iv) Assuming all other program | ||||||
| 12 | requirements are met, applicant firms may | ||||||
| 13 | adjust the expected production associated | ||||||
| 14 | with applicant projects, subject to | ||||||
| 15 | verification by the Program Administrator. | ||||||
| 16 | (C) After a review of affiliate | ||||||
| 17 | information and the current ordinal waitlists, | ||||||
| 18 | the Agency shall announce the nameplate | ||||||
| 19 | capacity award amounts associated with | ||||||
| 20 | applicant firms no later than 90 days after | ||||||
| 21 | the effective date of this amendatory Act of | ||||||
| 22 | the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 23 | (D) Applicant firms shall submit their | ||||||
| 24 | portfolio of projects used to satisfy those | ||||||
| 25 | contract awards no less than 90 days after the | ||||||
| 26 | Agency's announcement. The total nameplate | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | capacity of all projects used to satisfy that | ||||||
| 2 | portfolio shall be no greater than the | ||||||
| 3 | Agency's nameplate capacity award amount | ||||||
| 4 | associated with that applicant firm. An | ||||||
| 5 | applicant firm may decline, in whole or in | ||||||
| 6 | part, its nameplate capacity award without | ||||||
| 7 | penalty, with such unmet capacity rolled over | ||||||
| 8 | to the next block opening for project | ||||||
| 9 | selection under item (iii) of subparagraph (K) | ||||||
| 10 | of this subsection (c). Any projects not | ||||||
| 11 | included in an applicant firm's portfolio may | ||||||
| 12 | reapply without prejudice upon the next block | ||||||
| 13 | reopening for project selection under item | ||||||
| 14 | (iii) of subparagraph (K) of this subsection | ||||||
| 15 | (c). | ||||||
| 16 | (E) The renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 17 | contract shall be subject to the contract and | ||||||
| 18 | payment terms outlined in item (iv) of | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (L) of this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 20 | Contract instruments used for this | ||||||
| 21 | subparagraph shall contain the following | ||||||
| 22 | terms: | ||||||
| 23 | (i) Renewable energy credit prices | ||||||
| 24 | shall be fixed, without further adjustment | ||||||
| 25 | under any other provision of this Act or | ||||||
| 26 | for any other reason, at 10% lower than | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | prices applicable to the last open block | ||||||
| 2 | for this category, inclusive of any adders | ||||||
| 3 | available for achieving a minimum of 50% | ||||||
| 4 | of subscribers to the project's nameplate | ||||||
| 5 | capacity being residential or small | ||||||
| 6 | commercial customers with subscriptions of | ||||||
| 7 | below 25 kilowatts in size; | ||||||
| 8 | (ii) A requirement that a minimum of | ||||||
| 9 | 50% of subscribers to the project's | ||||||
| 10 | nameplate capacity be residential or small | ||||||
| 11 | commercial customers with subscriptions of | ||||||
| 12 | below 25 kilowatts in size; | ||||||
| 13 | (iii) Permission for the ability of a | ||||||
| 14 | contract holder to substitute projects | ||||||
| 15 | with other waitlisted projects without | ||||||
| 16 | penalty should a project receive a | ||||||
| 17 | non-binding estimate of costs to construct | ||||||
| 18 | the interconnection facilities and any | ||||||
| 19 | required distribution upgrades associated | ||||||
| 20 | with that project of greater than 30 cents | ||||||
| 21 | per watt AC of that project's nameplate | ||||||
| 22 | capacity. In developing the applicable | ||||||
| 23 | contract instrument, the Agency may | ||||||
| 24 | consider whether other circumstances | ||||||
| 25 | outside of the control of the applicant | ||||||
| 26 | firm should also warrant project | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | substitution rights. | ||||||
| 2 | The Agency shall publish a finalized | ||||||
| 3 | updated renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 4 | contract developed consistent with these terms | ||||||
| 5 | and conditions no less than 30 days before | ||||||
| 6 | applicant firms must submit their portfolio of | ||||||
| 7 | projects pursuant to item (D). | ||||||
| 8 | (F) To be eligible for an award, the | ||||||
| 9 | applicant firm shall certify that not less | ||||||
| 10 | than prevailing wage, as determined pursuant | ||||||
| 11 | to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, was or | ||||||
| 12 | will be paid to employees who are engaged in | ||||||
| 13 | construction activities associated with a | ||||||
| 14 | selected project. | ||||||
| 15 | (4) The Agency shall open the first block of | ||||||
| 16 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| 17 | (iv) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 18 | The first block of annual capacity for item (iv) | ||||||
| 19 | shall be for at least 50 megawatts of total | ||||||
| 20 | nameplate capacity. Renewable energy credit prices | ||||||
| 21 | shall be fixed, without further adjustment under | ||||||
| 22 | any other provision of this Act or for any other | ||||||
| 23 | reason, at the price in the last open block in the | ||||||
| 24 | category described in item (ii) of subparagraph | ||||||
| 25 | (K) of this paragraph (1). Pricing for future | ||||||
| 26 | blocks of annual capacity for this category may be | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | adjusted in the Agency's second revision to its | ||||||
| 2 | Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. | ||||||
| 3 | Projects in this category shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 4 | contract terms outlined in item (iv) of | ||||||
| 5 | subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 6 | (5) The Agency shall open the equivalent of 2 | ||||||
| 7 | years of annual capacity for the category | ||||||
| 8 | described in item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 9 | paragraph (1). The first block of annual capacity | ||||||
| 10 | for item (v) shall be for at least 10 megawatts of | ||||||
| 11 | total nameplate capacity. Notwithstanding the | ||||||
| 12 | provisions of item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 13 | paragraph (1), for the purpose of this initial | ||||||
| 14 | block, the agency shall accept new project | ||||||
| 15 | applications intended to increase the diversity of | ||||||
| 16 | areas hosting community solar projects, the | ||||||
| 17 | business models of projects, and the size of | ||||||
| 18 | projects, as described by the Agency in its | ||||||
| 19 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 20 | that is approved as of the effective date of this | ||||||
| 21 | amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 22 | Projects in this category shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 23 | contract terms outlined in item (iii) of | ||||||
| 24 | subsection (L) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 25 | (6) The Agency shall open the first blocks of | ||||||
| 26 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), | ||||||
| 2 | with allocations of capacity within the block | ||||||
| 3 | generally matching the historical share of block | ||||||
| 4 | capacity allocated between the category described | ||||||
| 5 | in items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 6 | paragraph (1). The first two blocks of annual | ||||||
| 7 | capacity for item (vi) shall be for at least 75 | ||||||
| 8 | megawatts of total nameplate capacity. The price | ||||||
| 9 | of renewable energy credits for the blocks of | ||||||
| 10 | capacity shall be 4% less than the price of the | ||||||
| 11 | last open blocks in the categories described in | ||||||
| 12 | items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 13 | paragraph (1). Pricing for future blocks of annual | ||||||
| 14 | capacity for this category may be adjusted in the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency's second revision to its Long-Term | ||||||
| 16 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. Projects in | ||||||
| 17 | this category shall be subject to the applicable | ||||||
| 18 | contract terms outlined in items (ii) and (iii) of | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 20 | (v) Upon the effective date of this amendatory Act | ||||||
| 21 | of the 102nd General Assembly, for all competitive | ||||||
| 22 | procurements and any procurements of renewable energy | ||||||
| 23 | credit from new utility-scale wind and new | ||||||
| 24 | utility-scale photovoltaic projects, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 25 | procure indexed renewable energy credits and direct | ||||||
| 26 | respondents to offer a strike price. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (1) The purchase price of the indexed | ||||||
| 2 | renewable energy credit payment shall be | ||||||
| 3 | calculated for each settlement period. That | ||||||
| 4 | payment, for any settlement period, shall be equal | ||||||
| 5 | to the difference resulting from subtracting the | ||||||
| 6 | strike price from the index price for that | ||||||
| 7 | settlement period. If this difference results in a | ||||||
| 8 | negative number, the indexed REC counterparty | ||||||
| 9 | shall owe the seller the absolute value multiplied | ||||||
| 10 | by the quantity of energy produced in the relevant | ||||||
| 11 | settlement period. If this difference results in a | ||||||
| 12 | positive number, the seller shall owe the indexed | ||||||
| 13 | REC counterparty this amount multiplied by the | ||||||
| 14 | quantity of energy produced in the relevant | ||||||
| 15 | settlement period. | ||||||
| 16 | (2) Parties shall cash settle every month, | ||||||
| 17 | summing up all settlements (both positive and | ||||||
| 18 | negative, if applicable) for the prior month. | ||||||
| 19 | (3) To ensure funding in the annual budget | ||||||
| 20 | established under subparagraph (E) for indexed | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy credit procurements for each year | ||||||
| 22 | of the term of such contracts, which must have a | ||||||
| 23 | minimum tenure of 20 calendar years, the | ||||||
| 24 | procurement administrator, Agency, Commission | ||||||
| 25 | staff, and procurement monitor shall quantify the | ||||||
| 26 | annual cost of the contract by utilizing an | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | industry-standard, third-party forward price curve | ||||||
| 2 | for energy at the appropriate hub or load zone, | ||||||
| 3 | including the estimated magnitude and timing of | ||||||
| 4 | the price effects related to federal carbon | ||||||
| 5 | controls. Each forward price curve shall contain a | ||||||
| 6 | specific value of the forecasted market price of | ||||||
| 7 | electricity for each annual delivery year of the | ||||||
| 8 | contract. For procurement planning purposes, the | ||||||
| 9 | impact on the annual budget for the cost of | ||||||
| 10 | indexed renewable energy credits for each delivery | ||||||
| 11 | year shall be determined as the expected annual | ||||||
| 12 | contract expenditure for that year, equaling the | ||||||
| 13 | difference between (i) the sum across all relevant | ||||||
| 14 | contracts of the applicable strike price | ||||||
| 15 | multiplied by contract quantity and (ii) the sum | ||||||
| 16 | across all relevant contracts of the forward price | ||||||
| 17 | curve for the applicable load zone for that year | ||||||
| 18 | multiplied by contract quantity. The contracting | ||||||
| 19 | utility shall not assume an obligation in excess | ||||||
| 20 | of the estimated annual cost of the contracts for | ||||||
| 21 | indexed renewable energy credits. Forward curves | ||||||
| 22 | shall be revised on an annual basis as updated | ||||||
| 23 | forward price curves are released and filed with | ||||||
| 24 | the Commission in the proceeding approving the | ||||||
| 25 | Agency's most recent long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 26 | procurement plan. If the expected contract spend | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | is higher or lower than the total quantity of | ||||||
| 2 | contracts multiplied by the forward price curve | ||||||
| 3 | value for that year, the forward price curve shall | ||||||
| 4 | be updated by the procurement administrator, in | ||||||
| 5 | consultation with the Agency, Commission staff, | ||||||
| 6 | and procurement monitors, using then-currently | ||||||
| 7 | available price forecast data and additional | ||||||
| 8 | budget dollars shall be obligated or reobligated | ||||||
| 9 | as appropriate. | ||||||
| 10 | (4) To ensure that indexed renewable energy | ||||||
| 11 | credit prices remain predictable and affordable, | ||||||
| 12 | the Agency may consider the institution of a price | ||||||
| 13 | collar on REC prices paid under indexed renewable | ||||||
| 14 | energy credit procurements establishing floor and | ||||||
| 15 | ceiling REC prices applicable to indexed REC | ||||||
| 16 | contract prices. Any price collars applicable to | ||||||
| 17 | indexed REC procurements shall be proposed by the | ||||||
| 18 | Agency through its long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 19 | procurement plan. | ||||||
| 20 | (vi) All procurements under this subparagraph (G), | ||||||
| 21 | including the procurement of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 22 | from hydropower facilities, shall comply with the | ||||||
| 23 | geographic requirements in subparagraph (I) of this | ||||||
| 24 | paragraph (1) and shall follow the procurement | ||||||
| 25 | processes and procedures described in this Section and | ||||||
| 26 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | extent practicable, and these processes and procedures | ||||||
| 2 | may be expedited to accommodate the schedule | ||||||
| 3 | established by this subparagraph (G). | ||||||
| 4 | (vii) On and after the effective date of this | ||||||
| 5 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, for all | ||||||
| 6 | procurements of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 7 | hydropower facilities, the Agency shall establish | ||||||
| 8 | contract terms designed to optimize existing | ||||||
| 9 | hydropower facilities through modernization or | ||||||
| 10 | retooling and establish new hydropower facilities at | ||||||
| 11 | existing dams. Procurements made under this item (vii) | ||||||
| 12 | shall prioritize projects located in designated | ||||||
| 13 | environmental justice communities, as defined in | ||||||
| 14 | subsection (b) of Section 1-56 of this Act, or in | ||||||
| 15 | projects located in units of local government with | ||||||
| 16 | median incomes that do not exceed 82% of the median | ||||||
| 17 | income of the State. | ||||||
| 18 | (H) The procurement of renewable energy resources for | ||||||
| 19 | a given delivery year shall be reduced as described in | ||||||
| 20 | this subparagraph (H) if an alternative retail electric | ||||||
| 21 | supplier meets the requirements described in this | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraph (H). | ||||||
| 23 | (i) Within 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 24 | effective date of Public Act 99-906), an alternative | ||||||
| 25 | retail electric supplier or its successor shall submit | ||||||
| 26 | an informational filing to the Illinois Commerce | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Commission certifying that, as of December 31, 2015, | ||||||
| 2 | the alternative retail electric supplier owned one or | ||||||
| 3 | more electric generating facilities that generates | ||||||
| 4 | renewable energy resources as defined in Section 1-10 | ||||||
| 5 | of this Act, provided that such facilities are not | ||||||
| 6 | powered by wind or photovoltaics, and the facilities | ||||||
| 7 | generate one renewable energy credit for each | ||||||
| 8 | megawatthour of energy produced from the facility. | ||||||
| 9 | The informational filing shall identify each | ||||||
| 10 | facility that was eligible to satisfy the alternative | ||||||
| 11 | retail electric supplier's obligations under Section | ||||||
| 12 | 16-115D of the Public Utilities Act as described in | ||||||
| 13 | this item (i). | ||||||
| 14 | (ii) For a given delivery year, the alternative | ||||||
| 15 | retail electric supplier may elect to supply its | ||||||
| 16 | retail customers with renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 17 | the facility or facilities described in item (i) of | ||||||
| 18 | this subparagraph (H) that continue to be owned by the | ||||||
| 19 | alternative retail electric supplier. | ||||||
| 20 | (iii) The alternative retail electric supplier | ||||||
| 21 | shall notify the Agency and the applicable utility, no | ||||||
| 22 | later than February 28 of the year preceding the | ||||||
| 23 | applicable delivery year or 15 days after June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| 24 | (the effective date of Public Act 99-906), whichever | ||||||
| 25 | is later, of its election under item (ii) of this | ||||||
| 26 | subparagraph (H) to supply renewable energy credits to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | retail customers of the utility. Such election shall | ||||||
| 2 | identify the amount of renewable energy credits to be | ||||||
| 3 | supplied by the alternative retail electric supplier | ||||||
| 4 | to the utility's retail customers and the source of | ||||||
| 5 | the renewable energy credits identified in the | ||||||
| 6 | informational filing as described in item (i) of this | ||||||
| 7 | subparagraph (H), subject to the following | ||||||
| 8 | limitations: | ||||||
| 9 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, | ||||||
| 10 | the maximum amount of renewable energy credits to | ||||||
| 11 | be supplied by an alternative retail electric | ||||||
| 12 | supplier under this subparagraph (H) shall be 68% | ||||||
| 13 | multiplied by 25% multiplied by 14.5% multiplied | ||||||
| 14 | by the amount of metered electricity | ||||||
| 15 | (megawatt-hours) delivered by the alternative | ||||||
| 16 | retail electric supplier to Illinois retail | ||||||
| 17 | customers during the delivery year ending May 31, | ||||||
| 18 | 2016. | ||||||
| 19 | For delivery years beginning June 1, 2019 and | ||||||
| 20 | each year thereafter, the maximum amount of | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy credits to be supplied by an | ||||||
| 22 | alternative retail electric supplier under this | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (H) shall be 68% multiplied by 50% | ||||||
| 24 | multiplied by 16% multiplied by the amount of | ||||||
| 25 | metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by | ||||||
| 26 | the alternative retail electric supplier to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Illinois retail customers during the delivery year | ||||||
| 2 | ending May 31, 2016, provided that the 16% value | ||||||
| 3 | shall increase by 1.5% each delivery year | ||||||
| 4 | thereafter to 25% by the delivery year beginning | ||||||
| 5 | June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value shall | ||||||
| 6 | apply to each delivery year. | ||||||
| 7 | For each delivery year, the total amount of | ||||||
| 8 | renewable energy credits supplied by all alternative | ||||||
| 9 | retail electric suppliers under this subparagraph (H) | ||||||
| 10 | shall not exceed 9% of the Illinois target renewable | ||||||
| 11 | energy credit quantity. The Illinois target renewable | ||||||
| 12 | energy credit quantity for the delivery year beginning | ||||||
| 13 | June 1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of | ||||||
| 14 | metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered in the | ||||||
| 15 | delivery year immediately preceding that delivery | ||||||
| 16 | year, provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5% | ||||||
| 17 | each delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery | ||||||
| 18 | year beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% | ||||||
| 19 | value shall apply to each delivery year. | ||||||
| 20 | If the requirements set forth in items (i) through | ||||||
| 21 | (iii) of this subparagraph (H) are met, the charges | ||||||
| 22 | that would otherwise be applicable to the retail | ||||||
| 23 | customers of the alternative retail electric supplier | ||||||
| 24 | under paragraph (6) of this subsection (c) for the | ||||||
| 25 | applicable delivery year shall be reduced by the ratio | ||||||
| 26 | of the quantity of renewable energy credits supplied | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | by the alternative retail electric supplier compared | ||||||
| 2 | to that supplier's target renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 3 | quantity. The supplier's target renewable energy | ||||||
| 4 | credit quantity for the delivery year beginning June | ||||||
| 5 | 1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of | ||||||
| 6 | metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by the | ||||||
| 7 | alternative retail supplier in that delivery year, | ||||||
| 8 | provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5% each | ||||||
| 9 | delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery year | ||||||
| 10 | beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value | ||||||
| 11 | shall apply to each delivery year. | ||||||
| 12 | On or before April 1 of each year, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 13 | annually publish a report on its website that | ||||||
| 14 | identifies the aggregate amount of renewable energy | ||||||
| 15 | credits supplied by alternative retail electric | ||||||
| 16 | suppliers under this subparagraph (H). | ||||||
| 17 | (I) The Agency shall design its long-term renewable | ||||||
| 18 | energy procurement plan to maximize the State's interest | ||||||
| 19 | in the health, safety, and welfare of its residents, | ||||||
| 20 | including but not limited to minimizing sulfur dioxide, | ||||||
| 21 | nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and other pollution | ||||||
| 22 | that adversely affects public health in this State, | ||||||
| 23 | increasing fuel and resource diversity in this State, | ||||||
| 24 | enhancing the reliability and resiliency of the | ||||||
| 25 | electricity distribution system in this State, meeting | ||||||
| 26 | goals to limit carbon dioxide emissions under federal or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | State law, and contributing to a cleaner and healthier | ||||||
| 2 | environment for the citizens of this State. In order to | ||||||
| 3 | further these legislative purposes, renewable energy | ||||||
| 4 | credits shall be eligible to be counted toward the | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy requirements of this subsection (c) if | ||||||
| 6 | they are generated from facilities located in this State. | ||||||
| 7 | The Agency may qualify renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 8 | facilities located in states adjacent to Illinois or | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy credits associated with the electricity | ||||||
| 10 | generated by a utility-scale wind energy facility or | ||||||
| 11 | utility-scale photovoltaic facility and transmitted by a | ||||||
| 12 | qualifying direct current project described in subsection | ||||||
| 13 | (b-5) of Section 8-406 of the Public Utilities Act to a | ||||||
| 14 | delivery point on the electric transmission grid located | ||||||
| 15 | in this State or a state adjacent to Illinois, if the | ||||||
| 16 | generator demonstrates and the Agency determines that the | ||||||
| 17 | operation of such facility or facilities will help promote | ||||||
| 18 | the State's interest in the health, safety, and welfare of | ||||||
| 19 | its residents based on the public interest criteria | ||||||
| 20 | described above. For the purposes of this Section, | ||||||
| 21 | renewable resources that are delivered via a high voltage | ||||||
| 22 | direct current converter station located in Illinois shall | ||||||
| 23 | be deemed generated in Illinois at the time and location | ||||||
| 24 | the energy is converted to alternating current by the high | ||||||
| 25 | voltage direct current converter station if the high | ||||||
| 26 | voltage direct current transmission line: (i) after the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 2 | Assembly, was constructed with a project labor agreement; | ||||||
| 3 | (ii) is capable of transmitting electricity at 525kv; | ||||||
| 4 | (iii) has an Illinois converter station located and | ||||||
| 5 | interconnected in the region of the PJM Interconnection, | ||||||
| 6 | LLC; (iv) does not operate as a public utility; and (v) if | ||||||
| 7 | the high voltage direct current transmission line was | ||||||
| 8 | energized after June 1, 2023. To ensure that the public | ||||||
| 9 | interest criteria are applied to the procurement and given | ||||||
| 10 | full effect, the Agency's long-term procurement plan shall | ||||||
| 11 | describe in detail how each public interest factor shall | ||||||
| 12 | be considered and weighted for facilities located in | ||||||
| 13 | states adjacent to Illinois. | ||||||
| 14 | (J) In order to promote the competitive development of | ||||||
| 15 | renewable energy resources in furtherance of the State's | ||||||
| 16 | interest in the health, safety, and welfare of its | ||||||
| 17 | residents, renewable energy credits shall not be eligible | ||||||
| 18 | to be counted toward the renewable energy requirements of | ||||||
| 19 | this subsection (c) if they are sourced from a generating | ||||||
| 20 | unit whose costs were being recovered through rates | ||||||
| 21 | regulated by this State or any other state or states on or | ||||||
| 22 | after January 1, 2017. Each contract executed to purchase | ||||||
| 23 | renewable energy credits under this subsection (c) shall | ||||||
| 24 | provide for the contract's termination if the costs of the | ||||||
| 25 | generating unit supplying the renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 26 | subsequently begin to be recovered through rates regulated | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | by this State or any other state or states; and each | ||||||
| 2 | contract shall further provide that, in that event, the | ||||||
| 3 | supplier of the credits must return 110% of all payments | ||||||
| 4 | received under the contract. Amounts returned under the | ||||||
| 5 | requirements of this subparagraph (J) shall be retained by | ||||||
| 6 | the utility and all of these amounts shall be used for the | ||||||
| 7 | procurement of additional renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 8 | new wind or new photovoltaic resources as defined in this | ||||||
| 9 | subsection (c). The long-term plan shall provide that | ||||||
| 10 | these renewable energy credits shall be procured in the | ||||||
| 11 | next procurement event. | ||||||
| 12 | Notwithstanding the limitations of this subparagraph | ||||||
| 13 | (J), renewable energy credits sourced from generating | ||||||
| 14 | units that are constructed, purchased, owned, or leased by | ||||||
| 15 | an electric utility as part of an approved project, | ||||||
| 16 | program, or pilot under Section 1-56 of this Act shall be | ||||||
| 17 | eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy | ||||||
| 18 | requirements of this subsection (c), regardless of how the | ||||||
| 19 | costs of these units are recovered. As long as a | ||||||
| 20 | generating unit or an identifiable portion of a generating | ||||||
| 21 | unit has not had and does not have its costs recovered | ||||||
| 22 | through rates regulated by this State or any other state, | ||||||
| 23 | HVDC renewable energy credits associated with that | ||||||
| 24 | generating unit or identifiable portion thereof shall be | ||||||
| 25 | eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy | ||||||
| 26 | requirements of this subsection (c). | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (K) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 2 | developed by the Agency in accordance with subparagraph | ||||||
| 3 | (A) of this paragraph (1) shall include an Adjustable | ||||||
| 4 | Block program for the procurement of renewable energy | ||||||
| 5 | credits from new photovoltaic projects that are | ||||||
| 6 | distributed renewable energy generation devices or new | ||||||
| 7 | photovoltaic community renewable generation projects. The | ||||||
| 8 | Adjustable Block program shall be generally designed to | ||||||
| 9 | provide for the steady, predictable, and sustainable | ||||||
| 10 | growth of new solar photovoltaic development in Illinois. | ||||||
| 11 | To this end, the Adjustable Block program shall provide a | ||||||
| 12 | transparent annual schedule of prices and quantities to | ||||||
| 13 | enable the photovoltaic market to scale up and for | ||||||
| 14 | renewable energy credit prices to adjust at a predictable | ||||||
| 15 | rate over time. The prices set by the Adjustable Block | ||||||
| 16 | program can be reflected as a set value or as the product | ||||||
| 17 | of a formula. | ||||||
| 18 | The Adjustable Block program shall include for each | ||||||
| 19 | category of eligible projects for each delivery year: a | ||||||
| 20 | single block of nameplate capacity, a price for renewable | ||||||
| 21 | energy credits within that block, and the terms and | ||||||
| 22 | conditions for securing a spot on a waitlist once the | ||||||
| 23 | block is fully committed or reserved. Except as outlined | ||||||
| 24 | below, the waitlist of projects in a given year will carry | ||||||
| 25 | over to apply to the subsequent year when another block is | ||||||
| 26 | opened. Only projects energized on or after June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall be eligible for the Adjustable Block program. For | ||||||
| 2 | each category for each delivery year the Agency shall | ||||||
| 3 | determine the amount of generation capacity in each block, | ||||||
| 4 | and the purchase price for each block, provided that the | ||||||
| 5 | purchase price provided and the total amount of generation | ||||||
| 6 | in all blocks for all categories shall be sufficient to | ||||||
| 7 | meet the goals in this subsection (c). The Agency shall | ||||||
| 8 | strive to issue a single block sized to provide for | ||||||
| 9 | stability and market growth. The Agency shall establish | ||||||
| 10 | program eligibility requirements that ensure that projects | ||||||
| 11 | that enter the program are sufficiently mature to indicate | ||||||
| 12 | a demonstrable path to completion. The Agency may | ||||||
| 13 | periodically review its prior decisions establishing the | ||||||
| 14 | amount of generation capacity in each block, and the | ||||||
| 15 | purchase price for each block, and may propose, on an | ||||||
| 16 | expedited basis, changes to these previously set values, | ||||||
| 17 | including but not limited to redistributing these amounts | ||||||
| 18 | and the available funds as necessary and appropriate, | ||||||
| 19 | subject to Commission approval as part of the periodic | ||||||
| 20 | plan revision process described in Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 21 | Public Utilities Act. The Agency may define different | ||||||
| 22 | block sizes, purchase prices, or other distinct terms and | ||||||
| 23 | conditions for projects located in different utility | ||||||
| 24 | service territories if the Agency deems it necessary to | ||||||
| 25 | meet the goals in this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 26 | The Adjustable Block program shall include the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | following categories in at least the following amounts: | ||||||
| 2 | (i) At least 20% from distributed renewable energy | ||||||
| 3 | generation devices with a nameplate capacity of no | ||||||
| 4 | more than 25 kilowatts. | ||||||
| 5 | (ii) At least 20% from distributed renewable | ||||||
| 6 | energy generation devices with a nameplate capacity of | ||||||
| 7 | more than 25 kilowatts and no more than 5,000 | ||||||
| 8 | kilowatts. The Agency may create sub-categories within | ||||||
| 9 | this category to account for the differences between | ||||||
| 10 | projects for small commercial customers, large | ||||||
| 11 | commercial customers, and public or non-profit | ||||||
| 12 | customers. | ||||||
| 13 | (iii) At least 30% from photovoltaic community | ||||||
| 14 | renewable generation projects. Capacity for this | ||||||
| 15 | category for the first 2 delivery years after the | ||||||
| 16 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd | ||||||
| 17 | General Assembly shall be allocated to waitlist | ||||||
| 18 | projects as provided in paragraph (3) of item (iv) of | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (G). Starting in the third delivery year | ||||||
| 20 | after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the | ||||||
| 21 | 102nd General Assembly or earlier if the Agency | ||||||
| 22 | determines there is additional capacity needed for to | ||||||
| 23 | meet previous delivery year requirements, the | ||||||
| 24 | following shall apply: | ||||||
| 25 | (1) the Agency shall select projects on a | ||||||
| 26 | first-come, first-serve basis, however the Agency | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | may suggest additional methods to prioritize | ||||||
| 2 | projects that are submitted at the same time, | ||||||
| 3 | including prioritization for projects that commit | ||||||
| 4 | to and demonstrate a meaningful level of labor | ||||||
| 5 | hours performed by apprentices from registered | ||||||
| 6 | apprenticeship programs; | ||||||
| 7 | (2) projects shall have subscriptions of 25 kW | ||||||
| 8 | or less for at least 50% of the facility's | ||||||
| 9 | nameplate capacity and the Agency shall price the | ||||||
| 10 | renewable energy credits with that as a factor; | ||||||
| 11 | (3) projects shall not be colocated with one | ||||||
| 12 | or more other community renewable generation | ||||||
| 13 | projects, as defined in the Agency's first revised | ||||||
| 14 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 15 | approved by the Commission on February 18, 2020, | ||||||
| 16 | such that the aggregate nameplate capacity exceeds | ||||||
| 17 | 5,000 kilowatts; and | ||||||
| 18 | (4) projects greater than 2 MW may not apply | ||||||
| 19 | until after the approval of the Agency's revised | ||||||
| 20 | Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan | ||||||
| 21 | after the effective date of this amendatory Act of | ||||||
| 22 | the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 23 | (iv) At least 15% from distributed renewable | ||||||
| 24 | generation devices or photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 25 | generation projects installed on public school land. | ||||||
| 26 | The Agency may create subcategories within this | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | category to account for the differences between | ||||||
| 2 | project size or location. Projects located within | ||||||
| 3 | environmental justice communities or within | ||||||
| 4 | Organizational Units that fall within Tier 1 or Tier 2 | ||||||
| 5 | shall be given priority. Each of the Agency's periodic | ||||||
| 6 | updates to its long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 7 | procurement plan to incorporate the procurement | ||||||
| 8 | described in this subparagraph (iv) shall also include | ||||||
| 9 | the proposed quantities or blocks, pricing, and | ||||||
| 10 | contract terms applicable to the procurement as | ||||||
| 11 | indicated herein. In each such update and procurement, | ||||||
| 12 | the Agency shall set the renewable energy credit price | ||||||
| 13 | and establish payment terms for the renewable energy | ||||||
| 14 | credits procured pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) | ||||||
| 15 | that make it feasible and affordable for public | ||||||
| 16 | schools to install photovoltaic distributed renewable | ||||||
| 17 | energy devices on their premises, including, but not | ||||||
| 18 | limited to, those public schools subject to the | ||||||
| 19 | prioritization provisions of this subparagraph. For | ||||||
| 20 | the purposes of this item (iv): | ||||||
| 21 | "Environmental Justice Community" shall have the | ||||||
| 22 | same meaning set forth in the Agency's long-term | ||||||
| 23 | renewable resources procurement plan; | ||||||
| 24 | "Organization Unit", "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" shall | ||||||
| 25 | have the meanings set forth for in Section 18-8.15 of | ||||||
| 26 | the School Code; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "Public schools" shall have the meaning set forth | ||||||
| 2 | in Section 1-3 of the School Code and includes public | ||||||
| 3 | institutions of higher education, as defined in the | ||||||
| 4 | Board of Higher Education Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (v) At least 5% from community-driven community | ||||||
| 6 | solar projects intended to provide more direct and | ||||||
| 7 | tangible connection and benefits to the communities | ||||||
| 8 | which they serve or in which they operate and, | ||||||
| 9 | additionally, to increase the variety of community | ||||||
| 10 | solar locations, models, and options in Illinois. As | ||||||
| 11 | part of its long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 12 | plan, the Agency shall develop selection criteria for | ||||||
| 13 | projects participating in this category. Nothing in | ||||||
| 14 | this Section shall preclude the Agency from creating a | ||||||
| 15 | selection process that maximizes community ownership | ||||||
| 16 | and community benefits in selecting projects to | ||||||
| 17 | receive renewable energy credits. Selection criteria | ||||||
| 18 | shall include: | ||||||
| 19 | (1) community ownership or community | ||||||
| 20 | wealth-building; | ||||||
| 21 | (2) additional direct and indirect community | ||||||
| 22 | benefit, beyond project participation as a | ||||||
| 23 | subscriber, including, but not limited to, | ||||||
| 24 | economic, environmental, social, cultural, and | ||||||
| 25 | physical benefits; | ||||||
| 26 | (3) meaningful involvement in project | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | organization and development by community members | ||||||
| 2 | or nonprofit organizations or public entities | ||||||
| 3 | located in or serving the community; | ||||||
| 4 | (4) engagement in project operations and | ||||||
| 5 | management by nonprofit organizations, public | ||||||
| 6 | entities, or community members; and | ||||||
| 7 | (5) whether a project is developed in response | ||||||
| 8 | to a site-specific RFP developed by community | ||||||
| 9 | members or a nonprofit organization or public | ||||||
| 10 | entity located in or serving the community. | ||||||
| 11 | Selection criteria may also prioritize projects | ||||||
| 12 | that: | ||||||
| 13 | (1) are developed in collaboration with or to | ||||||
| 14 | provide complementary opportunities for the Clean | ||||||
| 15 | Jobs Workforce Network Program, the Illinois | ||||||
| 16 | Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, the | ||||||
| 17 | Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, | ||||||
| 18 | the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, or | ||||||
| 19 | the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator | ||||||
| 20 | Program; | ||||||
| 21 | (2) increase the diversity of locations of | ||||||
| 22 | community solar projects in Illinois, including by | ||||||
| 23 | locating in urban areas and population centers; | ||||||
| 24 | (3) are located in Equity Investment Eligible | ||||||
| 25 | Communities; | ||||||
| 26 | (4) are not greenfield projects; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (5) serve only local subscribers; | ||||||
| 2 | (6) have a nameplate capacity that does not | ||||||
| 3 | exceed 500 kW; | ||||||
| 4 | (7) are developed by an equity eligible | ||||||
| 5 | contractor; or | ||||||
| 6 | (8) otherwise meaningfully advance the goals | ||||||
| 7 | of providing more direct and tangible connection | ||||||
| 8 | and benefits to the communities which they serve | ||||||
| 9 | or in which they operate and increasing the | ||||||
| 10 | variety of community solar locations, models, and | ||||||
| 11 | options in Illinois. | ||||||
| 12 | For the purposes of this item (v): | ||||||
| 13 | "Community" means a social unit in which people | ||||||
| 14 | come together regularly to effect change; a social | ||||||
| 15 | unit in which participants are marked by a cooperative | ||||||
| 16 | spirit, a common purpose, or shared interests or | ||||||
| 17 | characteristics; or a space understood by its | ||||||
| 18 | residents to be delineated through geographic | ||||||
| 19 | boundaries or landmarks. | ||||||
| 20 | "Community benefit" means a range of services and | ||||||
| 21 | activities that provide affirmative, economic, | ||||||
| 22 | environmental, social, cultural, or physical value to | ||||||
| 23 | a community; or a mechanism that enables economic | ||||||
| 24 | development, high-quality employment, and education | ||||||
| 25 | opportunities for local workers and residents, or | ||||||
| 26 | formal monitoring and oversight structures such that | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | community members may ensure that those services and | ||||||
| 2 | activities respond to local knowledge and needs. | ||||||
| 3 | "Community ownership" means an arrangement in | ||||||
| 4 | which an electric generating facility is, or over time | ||||||
| 5 | will be, in significant part, owned collectively by | ||||||
| 6 | members of the community to which an electric | ||||||
| 7 | generating facility provides benefits; members of that | ||||||
| 8 | community participate in decisions regarding the | ||||||
| 9 | governance, operation, maintenance, and upgrades of | ||||||
| 10 | and to that facility; and members of that community | ||||||
| 11 | benefit from regular use of that facility. | ||||||
| 12 | Terms and guidance within these criteria that are | ||||||
| 13 | not defined in this item (v) shall be defined by the | ||||||
| 14 | Agency, with stakeholder input, during the development | ||||||
| 15 | of the Agency's long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 16 | procurement plan. The Agency shall develop regular | ||||||
| 17 | opportunities for projects to submit applications for | ||||||
| 18 | projects under this category, and develop selection | ||||||
| 19 | criteria that gives preference to projects that better | ||||||
| 20 | meet individual criteria as well as projects that | ||||||
| 21 | address a higher number of criteria. | ||||||
| 22 | (vi) At least 10% from distributed renewable | ||||||
| 23 | energy generation devices, which includes distributed | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy devices with a nameplate capacity | ||||||
| 25 | under 5,000 kilowatts or photovoltaic community | ||||||
| 26 | renewable generation projects, from applicants that | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | are equity eligible contractors. The Agency may create | ||||||
| 2 | subcategories within this category to account for the | ||||||
| 3 | differences between project size and type. The Agency | ||||||
| 4 | shall propose to increase the percentage in this item | ||||||
| 5 | (vi) over time to 40% based on factors, including, but | ||||||
| 6 | not limited to, the number of equity eligible | ||||||
| 7 | contractors and capacity used in this item (vi) in | ||||||
| 8 | previous delivery years. | ||||||
| 9 | The Agency shall propose a payment structure for | ||||||
| 10 | contracts executed pursuant to this paragraph under | ||||||
| 11 | which, upon a demonstration of qualification or need, | ||||||
| 12 | applicant firms are advanced capital disbursed after | ||||||
| 13 | contract execution but before the contracted project's | ||||||
| 14 | energization. The amount or percentage of capital | ||||||
| 15 | advanced prior to project energization shall be | ||||||
| 16 | sufficient to both cover any increase in development | ||||||
| 17 | costs resulting from prevailing wage requirements or | ||||||
| 18 | project-labor agreements, and designed to overcome | ||||||
| 19 | barriers in access to capital faced by equity eligible | ||||||
| 20 | contractors. The amount or percentage of advanced | ||||||
| 21 | capital may vary by subcategory within this category | ||||||
| 22 | and by an applicant's demonstration of need, with such | ||||||
| 23 | levels to be established through the Long-Term | ||||||
| 24 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan authorized under | ||||||
| 25 | subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of | ||||||
| 26 | this Section. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Contracts developed featuring capital advanced | ||||||
| 2 | prior to a project's energization shall feature | ||||||
| 3 | provisions to ensure both the successful development | ||||||
| 4 | of applicant projects and the delivery of the | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy credits for the full term of the | ||||||
| 6 | contract, including ongoing collateral requirements | ||||||
| 7 | and other provisions deemed necessary by the Agency, | ||||||
| 8 | and may include energization timelines longer than for | ||||||
| 9 | comparable project types. The percentage or amount of | ||||||
| 10 | capital advanced prior to project energization shall | ||||||
| 11 | not operate to increase the overall contract value, | ||||||
| 12 | however contracts executed under this subparagraph may | ||||||
| 13 | feature renewable energy credit prices higher than | ||||||
| 14 | those offered to similar projects participating in | ||||||
| 15 | other categories. Capital advanced prior to | ||||||
| 16 | energization shall serve to reduce the ratable | ||||||
| 17 | payments made after energization under items (ii) and | ||||||
| 18 | (iii) of subparagraph (L) or payments made for each | ||||||
| 19 | renewable energy credit delivery under item (iv) of | ||||||
| 20 | subparagraph (L). | ||||||
| 21 | (vii) The remaining capacity shall be allocated by | ||||||
| 22 | the Agency in order to respond to market demand. The | ||||||
| 23 | Agency shall allocate any discretionary capacity prior | ||||||
| 24 | to the beginning of each delivery year. | ||||||
| 25 | To the extent there is uncontracted capacity from any | ||||||
| 26 | block in any of categories (i) through (vi) at the end of a | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | delivery year, the Agency shall redistribute that capacity | ||||||
| 2 | to one or more other categories giving priority to | ||||||
| 3 | categories with projects on a waitlist. The redistributed | ||||||
| 4 | capacity shall be added to the annual capacity in the | ||||||
| 5 | subsequent delivery year, and the price for renewable | ||||||
| 6 | energy credits shall be the price for the new delivery | ||||||
| 7 | year. Redistributed capacity shall not be considered | ||||||
| 8 | redistributed when determining whether the goals in this | ||||||
| 9 | subsection (K) have been met. | ||||||
| 10 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, as the | ||||||
| 11 | Agency increases the capacity in item (vi) to 40% over | ||||||
| 12 | time, the Agency may reduce the capacity of items (i) | ||||||
| 13 | through (v) proportionate to the capacity of the | ||||||
| 14 | categories of projects in item (vi), to achieve a balance | ||||||
| 15 | of project types. | ||||||
| 16 | The Adjustable Block program shall be designed to | ||||||
| 17 | ensure that renewable energy credits are procured from | ||||||
| 18 | projects in diverse locations and are not concentrated in | ||||||
| 19 | a few regional areas. | ||||||
| 20 | (L) Notwithstanding provisions for advancing capital | ||||||
| 21 | prior to project energization found in item (vi) of | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraph (K), the procurement of photovoltaic | ||||||
| 23 | renewable energy credits under items (i) through (vi) of | ||||||
| 24 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) shall otherwise be | ||||||
| 25 | subject to the following contract and payment terms: | ||||||
| 26 | (i) (Blank). | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (ii) For those renewable energy credits that | ||||||
| 2 | qualify and are procured under item (i) of | ||||||
| 3 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any | ||||||
| 4 | similar category projects that are procured under item | ||||||
| 5 | (vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) that | ||||||
| 6 | qualify and are procured under item (vi), the contract | ||||||
| 7 | length shall be 15 years. The renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 8 | delivery contract value shall be paid in full, based | ||||||
| 9 | on the estimated generation during the first 15 years | ||||||
| 10 | of operation, by the contracting utilities at the time | ||||||
| 11 | that the facility producing the renewable energy | ||||||
| 12 | credits is interconnected at the distribution system | ||||||
| 13 | level of the utility and verified as energized and | ||||||
| 14 | compliant by the Program Administrator. The electric | ||||||
| 15 | utility shall receive and retire all renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | credits generated by the project for the first 15 | ||||||
| 17 | years of operation. Renewable energy credits generated | ||||||
| 18 | by the project thereafter shall not be transferred | ||||||
| 19 | under the renewable energy credit delivery contract | ||||||
| 20 | with the counterparty electric utility. | ||||||
| 21 | (iii) For those renewable energy credits that | ||||||
| 22 | qualify and are procured under item (ii) and (v) of | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) and any like | ||||||
| 24 | projects of a similar category that qualify and are | ||||||
| 25 | procured under item (vi), the contract length shall be | ||||||
| 26 | 15 years. 15% of the renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | contract value, based on the estimated generation | ||||||
| 2 | during the first 15 years of operation, shall be paid | ||||||
| 3 | by the contracting utilities at the time that the | ||||||
| 4 | facility producing the renewable energy credits is | ||||||
| 5 | interconnected at the distribution system level of the | ||||||
| 6 | utility and verified as energized and compliant by the | ||||||
| 7 | Program Administrator. The remaining portion shall be | ||||||
| 8 | paid ratably over the subsequent 6-year period. The | ||||||
| 9 | electric utility shall receive and retire all | ||||||
| 10 | renewable energy credits generated by the project for | ||||||
| 11 | the first 15 years of operation. Renewable energy | ||||||
| 12 | credits generated by the project thereafter shall not | ||||||
| 13 | be transferred under the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 14 | delivery contract with the counterparty electric | ||||||
| 15 | utility. | ||||||
| 16 | (iv) For those renewable energy credits that | ||||||
| 17 | qualify and are procured under items (iii) and (iv) of | ||||||
| 18 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any like | ||||||
| 19 | projects that qualify and are procured under item | ||||||
| 20 | (vi), the renewable energy credit delivery contract | ||||||
| 21 | length shall be 20 years and shall be paid over the | ||||||
| 22 | delivery term, not to exceed during each delivery year | ||||||
| 23 | the contract price multiplied by the estimated annual | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy credit generation amount. If | ||||||
| 25 | generation of renewable energy credits during a | ||||||
| 26 | delivery year exceeds the estimated annual generation | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | amount, the excess renewable energy credits shall be | ||||||
| 2 | carried forward to future delivery years and shall not | ||||||
| 3 | expire during the delivery term. If generation of | ||||||
| 4 | renewable energy credits during a delivery year, | ||||||
| 5 | including carried forward excess renewable energy | ||||||
| 6 | credits, if any, is less than the estimated annual | ||||||
| 7 | generation amount, payments during such delivery year | ||||||
| 8 | will not exceed the quantity generated plus the | ||||||
| 9 | quantity carried forward multiplied by the contract | ||||||
| 10 | price. The electric utility shall receive all | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credits generated by the project | ||||||
| 12 | during the first 20 years of operation and retire all | ||||||
| 13 | renewable energy credits paid for under this item (iv) | ||||||
| 14 | and return at the end of the delivery term all | ||||||
| 15 | renewable energy credits that were not paid for. | ||||||
| 16 | Renewable energy credits generated by the project | ||||||
| 17 | thereafter shall not be transferred under the | ||||||
| 18 | renewable energy credit delivery contract with the | ||||||
| 19 | counterparty electric utility. Notwithstanding the | ||||||
| 20 | preceding, for those projects participating under item | ||||||
| 21 | (iii) of subparagraph (K), the contract price for a | ||||||
| 22 | delivery year shall be based on subscription levels as | ||||||
| 23 | measured on the higher of the first business day of the | ||||||
| 24 | delivery year or the first business day 6 months after | ||||||
| 25 | the first business day of the delivery year. | ||||||
| 26 | Subscription of 90% of nameplate capacity or greater | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall be deemed to be fully subscribed for the | ||||||
| 2 | purposes of this item (iv). For projects receiving a | ||||||
| 3 | 20-year delivery contract, REC prices shall be | ||||||
| 4 | adjusted downward for consistency with the incentive | ||||||
| 5 | levels previously determined to be necessary to | ||||||
| 6 | support projects under 15-year delivery contracts, | ||||||
| 7 | taking into consideration any additional new | ||||||
| 8 | requirements placed on the projects, including, but | ||||||
| 9 | not limited to, labor standards. | ||||||
| 10 | (v) Each contract shall include provisions to | ||||||
| 11 | ensure the delivery of the estimated quantity of | ||||||
| 12 | renewable energy credits and ongoing collateral | ||||||
| 13 | requirements and other provisions deemed appropriate | ||||||
| 14 | by the Agency. | ||||||
| 15 | (vi) The utility shall be the counterparty to the | ||||||
| 16 | contracts executed under this subparagraph (L) that | ||||||
| 17 | are approved by the Commission under the process | ||||||
| 18 | described in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 19 | Act. No contract shall be executed for an amount that | ||||||
| 20 | is less than one renewable energy credit per year. | ||||||
| 21 | (vii) If, at any time, approved applications for | ||||||
| 22 | the Adjustable Block program exceed funds collected by | ||||||
| 23 | the electric utility or would cause the Agency to | ||||||
| 24 | exceed the limitation described in subparagraph (E) of | ||||||
| 25 | this paragraph (1) on the amount of renewable energy | ||||||
| 26 | resources that may be procured, then the Agency may | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | consider future uncommitted funds to be reserved for | ||||||
| 2 | these contracts on a first-come, first-served basis. | ||||||
| 3 | (viii) Nothing in this Section shall require the | ||||||
| 4 | utility to advance any payment or pay any amounts that | ||||||
| 5 | exceed the actual amount of revenues anticipated to be | ||||||
| 6 | collected by the utility under paragraph (6) of this | ||||||
| 7 | subsection (c) and subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of | ||||||
| 8 | the Public Utilities Act inclusive of eligible funds | ||||||
| 9 | collected in prior years and alternative compliance | ||||||
| 10 | payments for use by the utility. | ||||||
| 11 | (ix) Notwithstanding other requirements of this | ||||||
| 12 | subparagraph (L), no modification shall be required to | ||||||
| 13 | Adjustable Block program contracts if they were | ||||||
| 14 | already executed prior to the establishment, approval, | ||||||
| 15 | and implementation of new contract forms as a result | ||||||
| 16 | of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 17 | (x) Contracts may be assignable, but only to | ||||||
| 18 | entities first deemed by the Agency to have met | ||||||
| 19 | program terms and requirements applicable to direct | ||||||
| 20 | program participation. In developing contracts for the | ||||||
| 21 | delivery of renewable energy credits, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 22 | be permitted to establish fees applicable to each | ||||||
| 23 | contract assignment. | ||||||
| 24 | (M) The Agency shall be authorized to retain one or | ||||||
| 25 | more experts or expert consulting firms to develop, | ||||||
| 26 | administer, implement, operate, and evaluate the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Adjustable Block program described in subparagraph (K) of | ||||||
| 2 | this paragraph (1), and the Agency shall retain the | ||||||
| 3 | consultant or consultants in the same manner, to the | ||||||
| 4 | extent practicable, as the Agency retains others to | ||||||
| 5 | administer provisions of this Act, including, but not | ||||||
| 6 | limited to, the procurement administrator. The selection | ||||||
| 7 | of experts and expert consulting firms and the procurement | ||||||
| 8 | process described in this subparagraph (M) are exempt from | ||||||
| 9 | the requirements of Section 20-10 of the Illinois | ||||||
| 10 | Procurement Code, under Section 20-10 of that Code. The | ||||||
| 11 | Agency shall strive to minimize administrative expenses in | ||||||
| 12 | the implementation of the Adjustable Block program. | ||||||
| 13 | The Program Administrator may charge application fees | ||||||
| 14 | to participating firms to cover the cost of program | ||||||
| 15 | administration. Any application fee amounts shall | ||||||
| 16 | initially be determined through the long-term renewable | ||||||
| 17 | resources procurement plan, and modifications to any | ||||||
| 18 | application fee that deviate more than 25% from the | ||||||
| 19 | Commission's approved value must be approved by the | ||||||
| 20 | Commission as a long-term plan revision under Section | ||||||
| 21 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 22 | consider stakeholder feedback when making adjustments to | ||||||
| 23 | application fees and shall notify stakeholders in advance | ||||||
| 24 | of any planned changes. | ||||||
| 25 | In addition to covering the costs of program | ||||||
| 26 | administration, the Agency, in conjunction with its | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Program Administrator, may also use the proceeds of such | ||||||
| 2 | fees charged to participating firms to support public | ||||||
| 3 | education and ongoing regional and national coordination | ||||||
| 4 | with nonprofit organizations, public bodies, and others | ||||||
| 5 | engaged in the implementation of renewable energy | ||||||
| 6 | incentive programs or similar initiatives. This work may | ||||||
| 7 | include developing papers and reports, hosting regional | ||||||
| 8 | and national conferences, and other work deemed necessary | ||||||
| 9 | by the Agency to position the State of Illinois as a | ||||||
| 10 | national leader in renewable energy incentive program | ||||||
| 11 | development and administration. | ||||||
| 12 | The Agency and its consultant or consultants shall | ||||||
| 13 | monitor block activity, share program activity with | ||||||
| 14 | stakeholders and conduct quarterly meetings to discuss | ||||||
| 15 | program activity and market conditions. If necessary, the | ||||||
| 16 | Agency may make prospective administrative adjustments to | ||||||
| 17 | the Adjustable Block program design, such as making | ||||||
| 18 | adjustments to purchase prices as necessary to achieve the | ||||||
| 19 | goals of this subsection (c). Program modifications to any | ||||||
| 20 | block price that do not deviate from the Commission's | ||||||
| 21 | approved value by more than 10% shall take effect | ||||||
| 22 | immediately and are not subject to Commission review and | ||||||
| 23 | approval. Program modifications to any block price that | ||||||
| 24 | deviate more than 10% from the Commission's approved value | ||||||
| 25 | must be approved by the Commission as a long-term plan | ||||||
| 26 | amendment under Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Act. The Agency shall consider stakeholder feedback when | ||||||
| 2 | making adjustments to the Adjustable Block design and | ||||||
| 3 | shall notify stakeholders in advance of any planned | ||||||
| 4 | changes. | ||||||
| 5 | The Agency and its program administrators for both the | ||||||
| 6 | Adjustable Block program and the Illinois Solar for All | ||||||
| 7 | Program, consistent with the requirements of this | ||||||
| 8 | subsection (c) and subsection (b) of Section 1-56 of this | ||||||
| 9 | Act, shall propose the Adjustable Block program terms, | ||||||
| 10 | conditions, and requirements, including the prices to be | ||||||
| 11 | paid for renewable energy credits, where applicable, and | ||||||
| 12 | requirements applicable to participating entities and | ||||||
| 13 | project applications, through the development, review, and | ||||||
| 14 | approval of the Agency's long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 15 | procurement plan described in this subsection (c) and | ||||||
| 16 | paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 17 | Public Utilities Act. Terms, conditions, and requirements | ||||||
| 18 | for program participation shall include the following: | ||||||
| 19 | (i) The Agency shall establish a registration | ||||||
| 20 | process for entities seeking to qualify for | ||||||
| 21 | program-administered incentive funding and establish | ||||||
| 22 | baseline qualifications for vendor approval. The | ||||||
| 23 | Agency must maintain a list of approved entities on | ||||||
| 24 | each program's website, and may revoke a vendor's | ||||||
| 25 | ability to receive program-administered incentive | ||||||
| 26 | funding status upon a determination that the vendor | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | failed to comply with contract terms, the law, or | ||||||
| 2 | other program requirements. | ||||||
| 3 | (ii) The Agency shall establish program | ||||||
| 4 | requirements and minimum contract terms to ensure | ||||||
| 5 | projects are properly installed and produce their | ||||||
| 6 | expected amounts of energy. Program requirements may | ||||||
| 7 | include on-site inspections and photo documentation of | ||||||
| 8 | projects under construction. The Agency may require | ||||||
| 9 | repairs, alterations, or additions to remedy any | ||||||
| 10 | material deficiencies discovered. Vendors who have a | ||||||
| 11 | disproportionately high number of deficient systems | ||||||
| 12 | may lose their eligibility to continue to receive | ||||||
| 13 | State-administered incentive funding through Agency | ||||||
| 14 | programs and procurements. | ||||||
| 15 | (iii) To discourage deceptive marketing or other | ||||||
| 16 | bad faith business practices, the Agency may require | ||||||
| 17 | direct program participants, including agents | ||||||
| 18 | operating on their behalf, to provide standardized | ||||||
| 19 | disclosures to a customer prior to that customer's | ||||||
| 20 | execution of a contract for the development of a | ||||||
| 21 | distributed generation system or a subscription to a | ||||||
| 22 | community solar project. | ||||||
| 23 | (iv) The Agency shall establish one or multiple | ||||||
| 24 | Consumer Complaints Centers to accept complaints | ||||||
| 25 | regarding businesses that participate in, or otherwise | ||||||
| 26 | benefit from, State-administered incentive funding | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | through Agency-administered programs. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 2 | maintain a public database of complaints with any | ||||||
| 3 | confidential or particularly sensitive information | ||||||
| 4 | redacted from public entries. | ||||||
| 5 | (v) Through a filing in the proceeding for the | ||||||
| 6 | approval of its long-term renewable energy resources | ||||||
| 7 | procurement plan, the Agency shall provide an annual | ||||||
| 8 | written report to the Illinois Commerce Commission | ||||||
| 9 | documenting the frequency and nature of complaints and | ||||||
| 10 | any enforcement actions taken in response to those | ||||||
| 11 | complaints. | ||||||
| 12 | (vi) The Agency shall schedule regular meetings | ||||||
| 13 | with representatives of the Office of the Attorney | ||||||
| 14 | General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, consumer | ||||||
| 15 | protection groups, and other interested stakeholders | ||||||
| 16 | to share relevant information about consumer | ||||||
| 17 | protection, project compliance, and complaints | ||||||
| 18 | received. | ||||||
| 19 | (vii) To the extent that complaints received | ||||||
| 20 | implicate the jurisdiction of the Office of the | ||||||
| 21 | Attorney General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, or | ||||||
| 22 | local, State, or federal law enforcement, the Agency | ||||||
| 23 | shall also refer complaints to those entities as | ||||||
| 24 | appropriate. | ||||||
| 25 | (N) The Agency shall establish the terms, conditions, | ||||||
| 26 | and program requirements for photovoltaic community | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | renewable generation projects with a goal to expand access | ||||||
| 2 | to a broader group of energy consumers, to ensure robust | ||||||
| 3 | participation opportunities for residential and small | ||||||
| 4 | commercial customers and those who cannot install | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy on their own properties. Subject to | ||||||
| 6 | reasonable limitations, any plan approved by the | ||||||
| 7 | Commission shall allow subscriptions to community | ||||||
| 8 | renewable generation projects to be portable and | ||||||
| 9 | transferable. For purposes of this subparagraph (N), | ||||||
| 10 | "portable" means that subscriptions may be retained by the | ||||||
| 11 | subscriber even if the subscriber relocates or changes its | ||||||
| 12 | address within the same utility service territory; and | ||||||
| 13 | "transferable" means that a subscriber may assign or sell | ||||||
| 14 | subscriptions to another person within the same utility | ||||||
| 15 | service territory. | ||||||
| 16 | Through the development of its long-term renewable | ||||||
| 17 | resources procurement plan, the Agency may consider | ||||||
| 18 | whether community renewable generation projects utilizing | ||||||
| 19 | technologies other than photovoltaics should be supported | ||||||
| 20 | through State-administered incentive funding, and may | ||||||
| 21 | issue requests for information to gauge market demand. | ||||||
| 22 | Electric utilities shall provide a monetary credit to | ||||||
| 23 | a subscriber's subsequent bill for service for the | ||||||
| 24 | proportional output of a community renewable generation | ||||||
| 25 | project attributable to that subscriber as specified in | ||||||
| 26 | Section 16-107.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | The Agency shall purchase renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 2 | from subscribed shares of photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 3 | generation projects through the Adjustable Block program | ||||||
| 4 | described in subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) or | ||||||
| 5 | through the Illinois Solar for All Program described in | ||||||
| 6 | Section 1-56 of this Act. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 7 | purchase any unsubscribed energy from community renewable | ||||||
| 8 | generation projects that are Qualifying Facilities ("QF") | ||||||
| 9 | under the electric utility's tariff for purchasing the | ||||||
| 10 | output from QFs under Public Utilities Regulatory Policies | ||||||
| 11 | Act of 1978. | ||||||
| 12 | The owners of and any subscribers to a community | ||||||
| 13 | renewable generation project shall not be considered | ||||||
| 14 | public utilities or alternative retail electricity | ||||||
| 15 | suppliers under the Public Utilities Act solely as a | ||||||
| 16 | result of their interest in or subscription to a community | ||||||
| 17 | renewable generation project and shall not be required to | ||||||
| 18 | become an alternative retail electric supplier by | ||||||
| 19 | participating in a community renewable generation project | ||||||
| 20 | with a public utility. | ||||||
| 21 | (O) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the | ||||||
| 22 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan required by | ||||||
| 23 | this subsection (c) shall provide for the Agency to | ||||||
| 24 | procure contracts to continue offering the Illinois Solar | ||||||
| 25 | for All Program described in subsection (b) of Section | ||||||
| 26 | 1-56 of this Act, and the contracts approved by the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Commission shall be executed by the utilities that are | ||||||
| 2 | subject to this subsection (c). The long-term renewable | ||||||
| 3 | resources procurement plan shall allocate up to | ||||||
| 4 | $50,000,000 per delivery year to fund the programs, and | ||||||
| 5 | the plan shall determine the amount of funding to be | ||||||
| 6 | apportioned to the programs identified in subsection (b) | ||||||
| 7 | of Section 1-56 of this Act; provided that for the | ||||||
| 8 | delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2022, and | ||||||
| 9 | June 1, 2023, the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 10 | procurement plan may average the annual budgets over a | ||||||
| 11 | 3-year period to account for program ramp-up. For the | ||||||
| 12 | delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2024, June | ||||||
| 13 | 1, 2027, and June 1, 2030 and additional $10,000,000 shall | ||||||
| 14 | be provided to the Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||||
| 15 | Opportunity to implement the workforce development | ||||||
| 16 | programs and reporting as outlined in Section 16-108.12 of | ||||||
| 17 | the Public Utilities Act. In making the determinations | ||||||
| 18 | required under this subparagraph (O), the Commission shall | ||||||
| 19 | consider the experience and performance under the programs | ||||||
| 20 | and any evaluation reports. The Commission shall also | ||||||
| 21 | provide for an independent evaluation of those programs on | ||||||
| 22 | a periodic basis that are funded under this subparagraph | ||||||
| 23 | (O). | ||||||
| 24 | (P) All programs and procurements under this | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (c) shall be designed to encourage | ||||||
| 26 | participating projects to use a diverse and equitable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | workforce and a diverse set of contractors, including | ||||||
| 2 | minority-owned businesses, disadvantaged businesses, | ||||||
| 3 | trade unions, graduates of any workforce training programs | ||||||
| 4 | administered under this Act, and small businesses. | ||||||
| 5 | The Agency shall develop a method to optimize | ||||||
| 6 | procurement of renewable energy credits from proposed | ||||||
| 7 | utility-scale projects that are located in communities | ||||||
| 8 | eligible to receive Energy Transition Community Grants | ||||||
| 9 | pursuant to Section 10-20 of the Energy Community | ||||||
| 10 | Reinvestment Act. If this requirement conflicts with other | ||||||
| 11 | provisions of law or the Agency determines that full | ||||||
| 12 | compliance with the requirements of this subparagraph (P) | ||||||
| 13 | would be unreasonably costly or administratively | ||||||
| 14 | impractical, the Agency is to propose alternative | ||||||
| 15 | approaches to achieve development of renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | resources in communities eligible to receive Energy | ||||||
| 17 | Transition Community Grants pursuant to Section 10-20 of | ||||||
| 18 | the Energy Community Reinvestment Act or seek an exemption | ||||||
| 19 | from this requirement from the Commission. | ||||||
| 20 | (Q) Each facility listed in subitems (i) through (ix) | ||||||
| 21 | of item (1) of this subparagraph (Q) for which a renewable | ||||||
| 22 | energy credit delivery contract is signed after the | ||||||
| 23 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 24 | Assembly is subject to the following requirements through | ||||||
| 25 | the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 26 | plan: | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (1) Each facility shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 2 | prevailing wage requirements included in the | ||||||
| 3 | Prevailing Wage Act. The Agency shall require | ||||||
| 4 | verification that all construction performed on the | ||||||
| 5 | facility by the renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 6 | contract holder, its contractors, or its | ||||||
| 7 | subcontractors relating to construction of the | ||||||
| 8 | facility is performed by construction employees | ||||||
| 9 | receiving an amount for that work equal to or greater | ||||||
| 10 | than the general prevailing rate, as that term is | ||||||
| 11 | defined in Section 3 of the Prevailing Wage Act. For | ||||||
| 12 | purposes of this item (1), "house of worship" means | ||||||
| 13 | property that is both (1) used exclusively by a | ||||||
| 14 | religious society or body of persons as a place for | ||||||
| 15 | religious exercise or religious worship and (2) | ||||||
| 16 | recognized as exempt from taxation pursuant to Section | ||||||
| 17 | 15-40 of the Property Tax Code. This item (1) shall | ||||||
| 18 | apply to any the following: | ||||||
| 19 | (i) all new utility-scale wind projects; | ||||||
| 20 | (ii) all new utility-scale photovoltaic | ||||||
| 21 | projects and repowered wind projects; | ||||||
| 22 | (iii) all new brownfield photovoltaic | ||||||
| 23 | projects; | ||||||
| 24 | (iv) all new photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 25 | energy facilities that qualify for item (iii) of | ||||||
| 26 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (v) all new community driven community | ||||||
| 2 | photovoltaic projects that qualify for item (v) of | ||||||
| 3 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); | ||||||
| 4 | (vi) all new photovoltaic projects on public | ||||||
| 5 | school land that qualify for item (iv) of | ||||||
| 6 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); | ||||||
| 7 | (vii) all new photovoltaic distributed | ||||||
| 8 | renewable energy generation devices that (1) | ||||||
| 9 | qualify for item (i) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 10 | paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve | ||||||
| 11 | single-family or multi-family residential | ||||||
| 12 | buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where | ||||||
| 13 | the aggregate capacity including collocated | ||||||
| 14 | projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts; | ||||||
| 15 | (viii) all new photovoltaic distributed | ||||||
| 16 | renewable energy generation devices that (1) | ||||||
| 17 | qualify for item (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 18 | paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve | ||||||
| 19 | single-family or multi-family residential | ||||||
| 20 | buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where | ||||||
| 21 | the aggregate capacity including collocated | ||||||
| 22 | projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts; | ||||||
| 23 | (ix) all new, modernized, or retooled | ||||||
| 24 | hydropower facilities. | ||||||
| 25 | (2) Renewable energy credits procured from new | ||||||
| 26 | utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | projects, new brownfield solar projects, repowered | ||||||
| 2 | wind projects, and retooled hydropower facilities | ||||||
| 3 | pursuant to Agency procurement events occurring after | ||||||
| 4 | the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd | ||||||
| 5 | General Assembly must be from facilities built by | ||||||
| 6 | general contractors that must enter into a project | ||||||
| 7 | labor agreement, as defined by this Act, prior to | ||||||
| 8 | construction. The project labor agreement shall be | ||||||
| 9 | filed with the Director in accordance with procedures | ||||||
| 10 | established by the Agency through its long-term | ||||||
| 11 | renewable resources procurement plan. Any information | ||||||
| 12 | submitted to the Agency in this item (2) shall be | ||||||
| 13 | considered commercially sensitive information. At a | ||||||
| 14 | minimum, the project labor agreement must provide the | ||||||
| 15 | names, addresses, and occupations of the owner of the | ||||||
| 16 | plant and the individuals representing the labor | ||||||
| 17 | organization employees participating in the project | ||||||
| 18 | labor agreement consistent with the Project Labor | ||||||
| 19 | Agreements Act. The agreement must also specify the | ||||||
| 20 | terms and conditions as defined by this Act. | ||||||
| 21 | (3) It is the intent of this Section to ensure that | ||||||
| 22 | economic development occurs across Illinois | ||||||
| 23 | communities, that emerging businesses may grow, and | ||||||
| 24 | that there is improved access to the clean energy | ||||||
| 25 | economy by persons who have greater economic burdens | ||||||
| 26 | to success. The Agency shall take into consideration | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the unique cost of compliance of this subparagraph (Q) | ||||||
| 2 | that might be borne by equity eligible contractors, | ||||||
| 3 | shall include such costs when determining the price of | ||||||
| 4 | renewable energy credits in the Adjustable Block | ||||||
| 5 | program, and shall take such costs into consideration | ||||||
| 6 | in a nondiscriminatory manner when comparing bids for | ||||||
| 7 | competitive procurements. The Agency shall consider | ||||||
| 8 | costs associated with compliance whether in the | ||||||
| 9 | development, financing, or construction of projects. | ||||||
| 10 | The Agency shall periodically review the assumptions | ||||||
| 11 | in these costs and may adjust prices, in compliance | ||||||
| 12 | with subparagraph (M) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 13 | (4) The Agency shall create a public resource that | ||||||
| 14 | identifies the holders of REC delivery contracts and | ||||||
| 15 | any contractors, developers, and subcontractors that | ||||||
| 16 | contribute significantly to project completion and | ||||||
| 17 | employ workers performing construction activities for | ||||||
| 18 | utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar | ||||||
| 19 | projects, new brownfield solar projects, repowered | ||||||
| 20 | wind projects, and retooled hydropower facilities and | ||||||
| 21 | that is: | ||||||
| 22 | (i) publicly accessible; | ||||||
| 23 | (ii) easy for people to find and use; | ||||||
| 24 | (iii) populated with information that | ||||||
| 25 | includes, but is not limited to, project names, | ||||||
| 26 | project size, and contact information of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subcontractors who employ workers performing | ||||||
| 2 | construction activities on the projects; and | ||||||
| 3 | (iv) updated regularly. | ||||||
| 4 | Approved vendors shall notify the Agency if | ||||||
| 5 | subcontractors are removed or added to the project | ||||||
| 6 | workforce and the changes shall be reflected in the | ||||||
| 7 | public resource. | ||||||
| 8 | For community solar projects that receive a | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy credit delivery contract under the | ||||||
| 10 | program described in subparagraph (K) of paragraph | ||||||
| 11 | (1), if an approved vendor or the approved vendor's | ||||||
| 12 | contractor intends to solicit bids for the | ||||||
| 13 | construction or development of the project, the | ||||||
| 14 | approved vendor or the contractor shall post the | ||||||
| 15 | solicitation on a public website for the duration of | ||||||
| 16 | the solicitation period and for 30 days after the | ||||||
| 17 | close of the solicitation period. The approved vendor | ||||||
| 18 | shall provide the URL for the public website to the | ||||||
| 19 | Agency and the Agency shall make one URL for each | ||||||
| 20 | approved vendor publicly available on the Agency's | ||||||
| 21 | website. Each bid solicitation by an approved vendor | ||||||
| 22 | shall be posted to the same URL. | ||||||
| 23 | (5) Through its long-term renewable resource | ||||||
| 24 | procurement plan, the Agency shall develop bid | ||||||
| 25 | application requirements or a bid evaluation | ||||||
| 26 | methodology that facilitates the use of registered | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | apprentices on facilities listed in subitems (i), | ||||||
| 2 | (ii), (iii), and (ix) of item (1). | ||||||
| 3 | (6) Through its long-term renewable resource | ||||||
| 4 | procurement plan, the Agency shall develop selection | ||||||
| 5 | criteria for projects listed in subitems (iv) and (v) | ||||||
| 6 | of item (1) that prioritize facilities that commit to | ||||||
| 7 | and demonstrate employment of registered apprentices | ||||||
| 8 | for a meaningful percentage of labor hours. For new | ||||||
| 9 | photovoltaic community renewable energy facilities | ||||||
| 10 | that qualify under item (iii) of subparagraph (K), the | ||||||
| 11 | criteria shall apply when selecting projects submitted | ||||||
| 12 | at the same time. | ||||||
| 13 | (R) In its long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 14 | plan, the Agency shall establish a self-direct renewable | ||||||
| 15 | portfolio standard compliance program for eligible | ||||||
| 16 | self-direct customers that purchase renewable energy | ||||||
| 17 | credits from utility-scale wind and solar projects through | ||||||
| 18 | long-term agreements for purchase of renewable energy | ||||||
| 19 | credits as described in this Section. Such long-term | ||||||
| 20 | agreements may include the purchase of energy or other | ||||||
| 21 | products on a physical or financial basis and may involve | ||||||
| 22 | an alternative retail electric supplier as defined in | ||||||
| 23 | Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. This program | ||||||
| 24 | shall take effect in the delivery year commencing June 1, | ||||||
| 25 | 2023. | ||||||
| 26 | (1) For the purposes of this subparagraph: | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "Eligible self-direct customer" means any retail | ||||||
| 2 | customers of an electric utility that serves 3,000,000 | ||||||
| 3 | or more retail customers in the State and whose total | ||||||
| 4 | highest 30-minute demand was more than 10,000 | ||||||
| 5 | kilowatts, or any retail customers of an electric | ||||||
| 6 | utility that serves less than 3,000,000 retail | ||||||
| 7 | customers but more than 500,000 retail customers in | ||||||
| 8 | the State and whose total highest 15-minute demand was | ||||||
| 9 | more than 10,000 kilowatts. | ||||||
| 10 | "Retail customer" has the meaning set forth in | ||||||
| 11 | Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act and | ||||||
| 12 | multiple retail customer accounts under the same | ||||||
| 13 | corporate parent may aggregate their account demands | ||||||
| 14 | to meet the 10,000 kilowatt threshold. The criteria | ||||||
| 15 | for determining whether this subparagraph is | ||||||
| 16 | applicable to a retail customer shall be based on the | ||||||
| 17 | 12 consecutive billing periods prior to the start of | ||||||
| 18 | the year in which the application is filed. | ||||||
| 19 | (2) For renewable energy credits to count toward | ||||||
| 20 | the self-direct renewable portfolio standard | ||||||
| 21 | compliance program, they must: | ||||||
| 22 | (i) qualify as renewable energy credits as | ||||||
| 23 | defined in Section 1-10 of this Act; | ||||||
| 24 | (ii) be sourced from one or more renewable | ||||||
| 25 | energy generating facilities that comply with the | ||||||
| 26 | geographic requirements as set forth in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subsection | ||||||
| 2 | (c) as interpreted through the Agency's long-term | ||||||
| 3 | renewable resources procurement plan, or, where | ||||||
| 4 | applicable, the geographic requirements that | ||||||
| 5 | governed utility-scale renewable energy credits at | ||||||
| 6 | the time the eligible self-direct customer entered | ||||||
| 7 | into the applicable renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 8 | purchase agreement; | ||||||
| 9 | (iii) be procured through long-term contracts | ||||||
| 10 | with term lengths of at least 10 years either | ||||||
| 11 | directly with the renewable energy generating | ||||||
| 12 | facility or through a bundled power purchase | ||||||
| 13 | agreement, a virtual power purchase agreement, an | ||||||
| 14 | agreement between the renewable generating | ||||||
| 15 | facility, an alternative retail electric supplier, | ||||||
| 16 | and the customer, or such other structure as is | ||||||
| 17 | permissible under this subparagraph (R); | ||||||
| 18 | (iv) be equivalent in volume to at least 40% | ||||||
| 19 | of the eligible self-direct customer's usage, | ||||||
| 20 | determined annually by the eligible self-direct | ||||||
| 21 | customer's usage during the previous delivery | ||||||
| 22 | year, measured to the nearest megawatt-hour; | ||||||
| 23 | (v) be retired by or on behalf of the large | ||||||
| 24 | energy customer; | ||||||
| 25 | (vi) be sourced from new utility-scale wind | ||||||
| 26 | projects or new utility-scale solar projects; and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (vii) if the contracts for renewable energy | ||||||
| 2 | credits are entered into after the effective date | ||||||
| 3 | of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 4 | Assembly, the new utility-scale wind projects or | ||||||
| 5 | new utility-scale solar projects must comply with | ||||||
| 6 | the requirements established in subparagraphs (P) | ||||||
| 7 | and (Q) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) | ||||||
| 8 | and subsection (c-10). | ||||||
| 9 | (3) The self-direct renewable portfolio standard | ||||||
| 10 | compliance program shall be designed to allow eligible | ||||||
| 11 | self-direct customers to procure new renewable energy | ||||||
| 12 | credits from new utility-scale wind projects or new | ||||||
| 13 | utility-scale photovoltaic projects. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 14 | annually determine the amount of utility-scale | ||||||
| 15 | renewable energy credits it will include each year | ||||||
| 16 | from the self-direct renewable portfolio standard | ||||||
| 17 | compliance program, subject to receiving qualifying | ||||||
| 18 | applications. In making this determination, the Agency | ||||||
| 19 | shall evaluate publicly available analyses and studies | ||||||
| 20 | of the potential market size for utility-scale | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy long-term purchase agreements by | ||||||
| 22 | commercial and industrial energy customers and make | ||||||
| 23 | that report publicly available. If demand for | ||||||
| 24 | participation in the self-direct renewable portfolio | ||||||
| 25 | standard compliance program exceeds availability, the | ||||||
| 26 | Agency shall ensure participation is evenly split | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | between commercial and industrial users to the extent | ||||||
| 2 | there is sufficient demand from both customer classes. | ||||||
| 3 | Each renewable energy credit procured pursuant to this | ||||||
| 4 | subparagraph (R) by a self-direct customer shall | ||||||
| 5 | reduce the total volume of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 6 | the Agency is otherwise required to procure from new | ||||||
| 7 | utility-scale projects pursuant to subparagraph (C) of | ||||||
| 8 | paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) on behalf of | ||||||
| 9 | contracting utilities where the eligible self-direct | ||||||
| 10 | customer is located. The self-direct customer shall | ||||||
| 11 | file an annual compliance report with the Agency | ||||||
| 12 | pursuant to terms established by the Agency through | ||||||
| 13 | its long-term renewable resources procurement plan to | ||||||
| 14 | be eligible for participation in this program. | ||||||
| 15 | Customers must provide the Agency with their most | ||||||
| 16 | recent electricity billing statements or other | ||||||
| 17 | information deemed necessary by the Agency to | ||||||
| 18 | demonstrate they are an eligible self-direct customer. | ||||||
| 19 | (4) The Commission shall approve a reduction in | ||||||
| 20 | the volumetric charges collected pursuant to Section | ||||||
| 21 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act for approved | ||||||
| 22 | eligible self-direct customers equivalent to the | ||||||
| 23 | anticipated cost of renewable energy credit deliveries | ||||||
| 24 | under contracts for new utility-scale wind and new | ||||||
| 25 | utility-scale solar entered for each delivery year | ||||||
| 26 | after the large energy customer begins retiring | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | eligible new utility scale renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 2 | for self-compliance. The self-direct credit amount | ||||||
| 3 | shall be determined annually and is equal to the | ||||||
| 4 | estimated portion of the cost authorized by | ||||||
| 5 | subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 6 | (c) that supported the annual procurement of | ||||||
| 7 | utility-scale renewable energy credits in the prior | ||||||
| 8 | delivery year using a methodology described in the | ||||||
| 9 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan, | ||||||
| 10 | expressed on a per kilowatthour basis, and does not | ||||||
| 11 | include (i) costs associated with any contracts | ||||||
| 12 | entered into before the delivery year in which the | ||||||
| 13 | customer files the initial compliance report to be | ||||||
| 14 | eligible for participation in the self-direct program, | ||||||
| 15 | and (ii) costs associated with procuring renewable | ||||||
| 16 | energy credits through existing and future contracts | ||||||
| 17 | through the Adjustable Block Program, subsection (c-5) | ||||||
| 18 | of this Section 1-75, and the Solar for All Program. | ||||||
| 19 | The Agency shall assist the Commission in determining | ||||||
| 20 | the current and future costs. The Agency must | ||||||
| 21 | determine the self-direct credit amount for new and | ||||||
| 22 | existing eligible self-direct customers and submit | ||||||
| 23 | this to the Commission in an annual compliance filing. | ||||||
| 24 | The Commission must approve the self-direct credit | ||||||
| 25 | amount by June 1, 2023 and June 1 of each delivery year | ||||||
| 26 | thereafter. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (5) Customers described in this subparagraph (R) | ||||||
| 2 | shall apply, on a form developed by the Agency, to the | ||||||
| 3 | Agency to be designated as a self-direct eligible | ||||||
| 4 | customer. Once the Agency determines that a | ||||||
| 5 | self-direct customer is eligible for participation in | ||||||
| 6 | the program, the self-direct customer will remain | ||||||
| 7 | eligible until the end of the term of the contract. | ||||||
| 8 | Thereafter, application may be made not less than 12 | ||||||
| 9 | months before the filing date of the long-term | ||||||
| 10 | renewable resources procurement plan described in this | ||||||
| 11 | Act. At a minimum, such application shall contain the | ||||||
| 12 | following: | ||||||
| 13 | (i) the customer's certification that, at the | ||||||
| 14 | time of the customer's application, the customer | ||||||
| 15 | qualifies to be a self-direct eligible customer, | ||||||
| 16 | including documents demonstrating that | ||||||
| 17 | qualification; | ||||||
| 18 | (ii) the customer's certification that the | ||||||
| 19 | customer has entered into or will enter into by | ||||||
| 20 | the beginning of the applicable procurement year, | ||||||
| 21 | one or more bilateral contracts for new wind | ||||||
| 22 | projects or new photovoltaic projects, including | ||||||
| 23 | supporting documentation; | ||||||
| 24 | (iii) certification that the contract or | ||||||
| 25 | contracts for new renewable energy resources are | ||||||
| 26 | long-term contracts with term lengths of at least | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 10 years, including supporting documentation; | ||||||
| 2 | (iv) certification of the quantities of | ||||||
| 3 | renewable energy credits that the customer will | ||||||
| 4 | purchase each year under such contract or | ||||||
| 5 | contracts, including supporting documentation; | ||||||
| 6 | (v) proof that the contract is sufficient to | ||||||
| 7 | produce renewable energy credits to be equivalent | ||||||
| 8 | in volume to at least 40% of the large energy | ||||||
| 9 | customer's usage from the previous delivery year, | ||||||
| 10 | measured to the nearest megawatt-hour; and | ||||||
| 11 | (vi) certification that the customer intends | ||||||
| 12 | to maintain the contract for the duration of the | ||||||
| 13 | length of the contract. | ||||||
| 14 | (6) If a customer receives the self-direct credit | ||||||
| 15 | but fails to properly procure and retire renewable | ||||||
| 16 | energy credits as required under this subparagraph | ||||||
| 17 | (R), the Commission, on petition from the Agency and | ||||||
| 18 | after notice and hearing, may direct such customer's | ||||||
| 19 | utility to recover the cost of the wrongfully received | ||||||
| 20 | self-direct credits plus interest through an adder to | ||||||
| 21 | charges assessed pursuant to Section 16-108 of the | ||||||
| 22 | Public Utilities Act. Self-direct customers who | ||||||
| 23 | knowingly fail to properly procure and retire | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy credits and do not notify the Agency | ||||||
| 25 | are ineligible for continued participation in the | ||||||
| 26 | self-direct renewable portfolio standard compliance | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | program. | ||||||
| 2 | (2) (Blank). | ||||||
| 3 | (3) (Blank). | ||||||
| 4 | (4) The electric utility shall retire all renewable | ||||||
| 5 | energy credits used to comply with the standard. | ||||||
| 6 | (5) Beginning with the 2010 delivery year and ending | ||||||
| 7 | June 1, 2017, an electric utility subject to this | ||||||
| 8 | subsection (c) shall apply the lesser of the maximum | ||||||
| 9 | alternative compliance payment rate or the most recent | ||||||
| 10 | estimated alternative compliance payment rate for its | ||||||
| 11 | service territory for the corresponding compliance period, | ||||||
| 12 | established pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 16-115D | ||||||
| 13 | of the Public Utilities Act to its retail customers that | ||||||
| 14 | take service pursuant to the electric utility's hourly | ||||||
| 15 | pricing tariff or tariffs. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 16 | retain all amounts collected as a result of the | ||||||
| 17 | application of the alternative compliance payment rate or | ||||||
| 18 | rates to such customers, and, beginning in 2011, the | ||||||
| 19 | utility shall include in the information provided under | ||||||
| 20 | item (1) of subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 21 | Public Utilities Act the amounts collected under the | ||||||
| 22 | alternative compliance payment rate or rates for the prior | ||||||
| 23 | year ending May 31. Notwithstanding any limitation on the | ||||||
| 24 | procurement of renewable energy resources imposed by item | ||||||
| 25 | (2) of this subsection (c), the Agency shall increase its | ||||||
| 26 | spending on the purchase of renewable energy resources to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | be procured by the electric utility for the next plan year | ||||||
| 2 | by an amount equal to the amounts collected by the utility | ||||||
| 3 | under the alternative compliance payment rate or rates in | ||||||
| 4 | the prior year ending May 31. | ||||||
| 5 | (6) The electric utility shall be entitled to recover | ||||||
| 6 | all of its costs associated with the procurement of | ||||||
| 7 | renewable energy credits under plans approved under this | ||||||
| 8 | Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 9 | These costs shall include associated reasonable expenses | ||||||
| 10 | for implementing the procurement programs, including, but | ||||||
| 11 | not limited to, the costs of administering and evaluating | ||||||
| 12 | the Adjustable Block program, through an automatic | ||||||
| 13 | adjustment clause tariff in accordance with subsection (k) | ||||||
| 14 | of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (7) Renewable energy credits procured from new | ||||||
| 16 | photovoltaic projects or new distributed renewable energy | ||||||
| 17 | generation devices under this Section after June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| 18 | (the effective date of Public Act 99-906) must be procured | ||||||
| 19 | from devices installed by a qualified person in compliance | ||||||
| 20 | with the requirements of Section 16-128A of the Public | ||||||
| 21 | Utilities Act and any rules or regulations adopted | ||||||
| 22 | thereunder. | ||||||
| 23 | In meeting the renewable energy requirements of this | ||||||
| 24 | subsection (c), to the extent feasible and consistent with | ||||||
| 25 | State and federal law, the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 26 | procurements, Adjustable Block solar program, and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | community renewable generation program shall provide | ||||||
| 2 | employment opportunities for all segments of the | ||||||
| 3 | population and workforce, including minority-owned and | ||||||
| 4 | female-owned business enterprises, and shall not, | ||||||
| 5 | consistent with State and federal law, discriminate based | ||||||
| 6 | on race or socioeconomic status. | ||||||
| 7 | (c-5) Procurement of renewable energy credits from new | ||||||
| 8 | renewable energy facilities installed at or adjacent to the | ||||||
| 9 | sites of electric generating facilities that burn or burned | ||||||
| 10 | coal as their primary fuel source. | ||||||
| 11 | (1) In addition to the procurement of renewable energy | ||||||
| 12 | credits pursuant to long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 13 | procurement plans in accordance with subsection (c) of | ||||||
| 14 | this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 15 | Act, the Agency shall conduct procurement events in | ||||||
| 16 | accordance with this subsection (c-5) for the procurement | ||||||
| 17 | by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail | ||||||
| 18 | customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable | ||||||
| 19 | energy credits from new renewable energy facilities to be | ||||||
| 20 | installed at or adjacent to the sites of electric | ||||||
| 21 | generating facilities that, as of January 1, 2016, burned | ||||||
| 22 | coal as their primary fuel source and meet the other | ||||||
| 23 | criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). For purposes | ||||||
| 24 | of this subsection (c-5), "new renewable energy facility" | ||||||
| 25 | means a new utility-scale solar project as defined in this | ||||||
| 26 | Section 1-75. The renewable energy credits procured | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | pursuant to this subsection (c-5) may be included or | ||||||
| 2 | counted for purposes of compliance with the amounts of | ||||||
| 3 | renewable energy credits required to be procured pursuant | ||||||
| 4 | to subsection (c) of this Section to the extent that there | ||||||
| 5 | are otherwise shortfalls in compliance with such | ||||||
| 6 | requirements. The procurement of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 7 | by electric utilities pursuant to this subsection (c-5) | ||||||
| 8 | shall be funded solely by revenues collected from the Coal | ||||||
| 9 | to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge provided for | ||||||
| 10 | in this subsection (c-5) and subsection (i-5) of Section | ||||||
| 11 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, shall not be funded by | ||||||
| 12 | revenues collected through any of the other funding | ||||||
| 13 | mechanisms provided for in subsection (c) of this Section, | ||||||
| 14 | and shall not be subject to the limitation imposed by | ||||||
| 15 | subsection (c) on charges to retail customers for costs to | ||||||
| 16 | procure renewable energy resources pursuant to subsection | ||||||
| 17 | (c), and shall not be subject to any other requirements or | ||||||
| 18 | limitations of subsection (c). | ||||||
| 19 | (2) The Agency shall conduct 2 procurement events to | ||||||
| 20 | select owners of electric generating facilities meeting | ||||||
| 21 | the eligibility criteria specified in this subsection | ||||||
| 22 | (c-5) to enter into long-term contracts to sell renewable | ||||||
| 23 | energy credits to electric utilities serving more than | ||||||
| 24 | 300,000 retail customers in this State as of January 1, | ||||||
| 25 | 2019. The first procurement event shall be conducted no | ||||||
| 26 | later than March 31, 2022, unless the Agency elects to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | delay it, until no later than May 1, 2022, due to its | ||||||
| 2 | overall volume of work, and shall be to select owners of | ||||||
| 3 | electric generating facilities located in this State and | ||||||
| 4 | south of federal Interstate Highway 80 that meet the | ||||||
| 5 | eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). | ||||||
| 6 | The second procurement event shall be conducted no sooner | ||||||
| 7 | than September 30, 2022 and no later than October 31, 2022 | ||||||
| 8 | and shall be to select owners of electric generating | ||||||
| 9 | facilities located anywhere in this State that meet the | ||||||
| 10 | eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). | ||||||
| 11 | The Agency shall establish and announce a time period, | ||||||
| 12 | which shall begin no later than 30 days prior to the | ||||||
| 13 | scheduled date for the procurement event, during which | ||||||
| 14 | applicants may submit applications to be selected as | ||||||
| 15 | suppliers of renewable energy credits pursuant to this | ||||||
| 16 | subsection (c-5). The eligibility criteria for selection | ||||||
| 17 | as a supplier of renewable energy credits pursuant to this | ||||||
| 18 | subsection (c-5) shall be as follows: | ||||||
| 19 | (A) The applicant owns an electric generating | ||||||
| 20 | facility located in this State that: (i) as of January | ||||||
| 21 | 1, 2016, burned coal as its primary fuel to generate | ||||||
| 22 | electricity; and (ii) has, or had prior to retirement, | ||||||
| 23 | an electric generating capacity of at least 150 | ||||||
| 24 | megawatts. The electric generating facility can be | ||||||
| 25 | either: (i) retired as of the date of the procurement | ||||||
| 26 | event; or (ii) still operating as of the date of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procurement event. | ||||||
| 2 | (B) The applicant is not (i) an electric | ||||||
| 3 | cooperative as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public | ||||||
| 4 | Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in | ||||||
| 5 | subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
| 6 | Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of or | ||||||
| 7 | an entity owned by entities described in (i) or (ii); | ||||||
| 8 | and the coal-fueled electric generating facility was | ||||||
| 9 | at one time owned, in whole or in part, by a public | ||||||
| 10 | utility as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
| 11 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 12 | (C) If participating in the first procurement | ||||||
| 13 | event, the applicant proposes and commits to construct | ||||||
| 14 | and operate, at the site, and if necessary for | ||||||
| 15 | sufficient space on property adjacent to the existing | ||||||
| 16 | property, at which the electric generating facility | ||||||
| 17 | identified in paragraph (A) is located: (i) a new | ||||||
| 18 | renewable energy facility of at least 20 megawatts but | ||||||
| 19 | no more than 100 megawatts of electric generating | ||||||
| 20 | capacity, and (ii) an energy storage facility having a | ||||||
| 21 | storage capacity equal to at least 2 megawatts and at | ||||||
| 22 | most 10 megawatts. If participating in the second | ||||||
| 23 | procurement event, the applicant proposes and commits | ||||||
| 24 | to construct and operate, at the site, and if | ||||||
| 25 | necessary for sufficient space on property adjacent to | ||||||
| 26 | the existing property, at which the electric | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | generating facility identified in paragraph (A) is | ||||||
| 2 | located: (i) a new renewable energy facility of at | ||||||
| 3 | least 5 megawatts but no more than 20 megawatts of | ||||||
| 4 | electric generating capacity, and (ii) an energy | ||||||
| 5 | storage facility having a storage capacity equal to at | ||||||
| 6 | least 0.5 megawatts and at most one megawatt. | ||||||
| 7 | (D) The applicant agrees that the new renewable | ||||||
| 8 | energy facility and the energy storage facility will | ||||||
| 9 | be constructed or installed by a qualified entity or | ||||||
| 10 | entities in compliance with the requirements of | ||||||
| 11 | subsection (g) of Section 16-128A of the Public | ||||||
| 12 | Utilities Act and any rules adopted thereunder. | ||||||
| 13 | (E) The applicant agrees that personnel operating | ||||||
| 14 | the new renewable energy facility and the energy | ||||||
| 15 | storage facility will have the requisite skills, | ||||||
| 16 | knowledge, training, experience, and competence, which | ||||||
| 17 | may be demonstrated by completion or current | ||||||
| 18 | participation and ultimate completion by employees of | ||||||
| 19 | an accredited or otherwise recognized apprenticeship | ||||||
| 20 | program for the employee's particular craft, trade, or | ||||||
| 21 | skill, including through training and education | ||||||
| 22 | courses and opportunities offered by the owner to | ||||||
| 23 | employees of the coal-fueled electric generating | ||||||
| 24 | facility or by previous employment experience | ||||||
| 25 | performing the employee's particular work skill or | ||||||
| 26 | function. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (F) The applicant commits that not less than the | ||||||
| 2 | prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the | ||||||
| 3 | Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the applicant's | ||||||
| 4 | employees engaged in construction activities | ||||||
| 5 | associated with the new renewable energy facility and | ||||||
| 6 | the new energy storage facility and to the employees | ||||||
| 7 | of applicant's contractors engaged in construction | ||||||
| 8 | activities associated with the new renewable energy | ||||||
| 9 | facility and the new energy storage facility, and | ||||||
| 10 | that, on or before the commercial operation date of | ||||||
| 11 | the new renewable energy facility, the applicant shall | ||||||
| 12 | file a report with the Agency certifying that the | ||||||
| 13 | requirements of this subparagraph (F) have been met. | ||||||
| 14 | (G) The applicant commits that if selected, it | ||||||
| 15 | will negotiate a project labor agreement for the | ||||||
| 16 | construction of the new renewable energy facility and | ||||||
| 17 | associated energy storage facility that includes | ||||||
| 18 | provisions requiring the parties to the agreement to | ||||||
| 19 | work together to establish diversity threshold | ||||||
| 20 | requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet | ||||||
| 21 | diversity targets, improve diversity at the applicable | ||||||
| 22 | job site, create diverse apprenticeship opportunities, | ||||||
| 23 | and create opportunities to employ former coal-fired | ||||||
| 24 | power plant workers. | ||||||
| 25 | (H) The applicant commits to enter into a contract | ||||||
| 26 | or contracts for the applicable duration to provide | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | specified numbers of renewable energy credits each | ||||||
| 2 | year from the new renewable energy facility to | ||||||
| 3 | electric utilities that served more than 300,000 | ||||||
| 4 | retail customers in this State as of January 1, 2019, | ||||||
| 5 | at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit. The | ||||||
| 6 | price per renewable energy credit shall be fixed at | ||||||
| 7 | $30 for the applicable duration and the renewable | ||||||
| 8 | energy credits shall not be indexed renewable energy | ||||||
| 9 | credits as provided for in item (v) of subparagraph | ||||||
| 10 | (G) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 | ||||||
| 11 | of this Act. The applicable duration of each contract | ||||||
| 12 | shall be 20 years, unless the applicant is physically | ||||||
| 13 | interconnected to the PJM Interconnection, LLC | ||||||
| 14 | transmission grid and had a generating capacity of at | ||||||
| 15 | least 1,200 megawatts as of January 1, 2021, in which | ||||||
| 16 | case the applicable duration of the contract shall be | ||||||
| 17 | 15 years. | ||||||
| 18 | (I) The applicant's application is certified by an | ||||||
| 19 | officer of the applicant and by an officer of the | ||||||
| 20 | applicant's ultimate parent company, if any. | ||||||
| 21 | (3) An applicant may submit applications to contract | ||||||
| 22 | to supply renewable energy credits from more than one new | ||||||
| 23 | renewable energy facility to be constructed at or adjacent | ||||||
| 24 | to one or more qualifying electric generating facilities | ||||||
| 25 | owned by the applicant. The Agency may select new | ||||||
| 26 | renewable energy facilities to be located at or adjacent | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | to the sites of more than one qualifying electric | ||||||
| 2 | generation facility owned by an applicant to contract with | ||||||
| 3 | electric utilities to supply renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 4 | such facilities. | ||||||
| 5 | (4) The Agency shall assess fees to each applicant to | ||||||
| 6 | recover the Agency's costs incurred in receiving and | ||||||
| 7 | evaluating applications, conducting the procurement event, | ||||||
| 8 | developing contracts for sale, delivery and purchase of | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy credits, and monitoring the | ||||||
| 10 | administration of such contracts, as provided for in this | ||||||
| 11 | subsection (c-5), including fees paid to a procurement | ||||||
| 12 | administrator retained by the Agency for one or more of | ||||||
| 13 | these purposes. | ||||||
| 14 | (5) The Agency shall select the applicants and the new | ||||||
| 15 | renewable energy facilities to contract with electric | ||||||
| 16 | utilities to supply renewable energy credits in accordance | ||||||
| 17 | with this subsection (c-5). In the first procurement | ||||||
| 18 | event, the Agency shall select applicants and new | ||||||
| 19 | renewable energy facilities to supply renewable energy | ||||||
| 20 | credits, at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit, | ||||||
| 21 | aggregating to no less than 400,000 renewable energy | ||||||
| 22 | credits per year for the applicable duration, assuming | ||||||
| 23 | sufficient qualifying applications to supply, in the | ||||||
| 24 | aggregate, at least that amount of renewable energy | ||||||
| 25 | credits per year; and not more than 580,000 renewable | ||||||
| 26 | energy credits per year for the applicable duration. In | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the second procurement event, the Agency shall select | ||||||
| 2 | applicants and new renewable energy facilities to supply | ||||||
| 3 | renewable energy credits, at a price of $30 per renewable | ||||||
| 4 | energy credit, aggregating to no more than 625,000 | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy credits per year less the amount of | ||||||
| 6 | renewable energy credits each year contracted for as a | ||||||
| 7 | result of the first procurement event, for the applicable | ||||||
| 8 | durations. The number of renewable energy credits to be | ||||||
| 9 | procured as specified in this paragraph (5) shall not be | ||||||
| 10 | reduced based on renewable energy credits procured in the | ||||||
| 11 | self-direct renewable energy credit compliance program | ||||||
| 12 | established pursuant to subparagraph (R) of paragraph (1) | ||||||
| 13 | of subsection (c) of Section 1-75. | ||||||
| 14 | (6) The obligation to purchase renewable energy | ||||||
| 15 | credits from the applicants and their new renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | facilities selected by the Agency shall be allocated to | ||||||
| 17 | the electric utilities based on their respective | ||||||
| 18 | percentages of kilowatthours delivered to delivery | ||||||
| 19 | services customers to the aggregate kilowatthour | ||||||
| 20 | deliveries by the electric utilities to delivery services | ||||||
| 21 | customers for the year ended December 31, 2021. In order | ||||||
| 22 | to achieve these allocation percentages between or among | ||||||
| 23 | the electric utilities, the Agency shall require each | ||||||
| 24 | applicant that is selected in the procurement event to | ||||||
| 25 | enter into a contract with each electric utility for the | ||||||
| 26 | sale and purchase of renewable energy credits from each | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | new renewable energy facility to be constructed and | ||||||
| 2 | operated by the applicant, with the sale and purchase | ||||||
| 3 | obligations under the contracts to aggregate to the total | ||||||
| 4 | number of renewable energy credits per year to be supplied | ||||||
| 5 | by the applicant from the new renewable energy facility. | ||||||
| 6 | (7) The Agency shall submit its proposed selection of | ||||||
| 7 | applicants, new renewable energy facilities to be | ||||||
| 8 | constructed, and renewable energy credit amounts for each | ||||||
| 9 | procurement event to the Commission for approval. The | ||||||
| 10 | Commission shall, within 2 business days after receipt of | ||||||
| 11 | the Agency's proposed selections, approve the proposed | ||||||
| 12 | selections if it determines that the applicants and the | ||||||
| 13 | new renewable energy facilities to be constructed meet the | ||||||
| 14 | selection criteria set forth in this subsection (c-5) and | ||||||
| 15 | that the Agency seeks approval for contracts of applicable | ||||||
| 16 | durations aggregating to no more than the maximum amount | ||||||
| 17 | of renewable energy credits per year authorized by this | ||||||
| 18 | subsection (c-5) for the procurement event, at a price of | ||||||
| 19 | $30 per renewable energy credit. | ||||||
| 20 | (8) The Agency, in conjunction with its procurement | ||||||
| 21 | administrator if one is retained, the electric utilities, | ||||||
| 22 | and potential applicants for contracts to produce and | ||||||
| 23 | supply renewable energy credits pursuant to this | ||||||
| 24 | subsection (c-5), shall develop a standard form contract | ||||||
| 25 | for the sale, delivery and purchase of renewable energy | ||||||
| 26 | credits pursuant to this subsection (c-5). Each contract | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | resulting from the first procurement event shall allow for | ||||||
| 2 | a commercial operation date for the new renewable energy | ||||||
| 3 | facility of either June 1, 2023 or June 1, 2024, with such | ||||||
| 4 | dates subject to adjustment as provided in this paragraph. | ||||||
| 5 | Each contract resulting from the second procurement event | ||||||
| 6 | shall provide for a commercial operation date on June 1 | ||||||
| 7 | next occurring up to 48 months after execution of the | ||||||
| 8 | contract. Each contract shall provide that the owner shall | ||||||
| 9 | receive payments for renewable energy credits for the | ||||||
| 10 | applicable durations beginning with the commercial | ||||||
| 11 | operation date of the new renewable energy facility. The | ||||||
| 12 | form contract shall provide for adjustments to the | ||||||
| 13 | commercial operation and payment start dates as needed due | ||||||
| 14 | to any delays in completing the procurement and | ||||||
| 15 | contracting processes, in finalizing interconnection | ||||||
| 16 | agreements and installing interconnection facilities, and | ||||||
| 17 | in obtaining other necessary governmental permits and | ||||||
| 18 | approvals. The form contract shall be, to the maximum | ||||||
| 19 | extent possible, consistent with standard electric | ||||||
| 20 | industry contracts for sale, delivery, and purchase of | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy credits while taking into account the | ||||||
| 22 | specific requirements of this subsection (c-5). The form | ||||||
| 23 | contract shall provide for over-delivery and | ||||||
| 24 | under-delivery of renewable energy credits within | ||||||
| 25 | reasonable ranges during each 12-month period and penalty, | ||||||
| 26 | default, and enforcement provisions for failure of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | selling party to deliver renewable energy credits as | ||||||
| 2 | specified in the contract and to comply with the | ||||||
| 3 | requirements of this subsection (c-5). The standard form | ||||||
| 4 | contract shall specify that all renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 5 | delivered to the electric utility pursuant to the contract | ||||||
| 6 | shall be retired. The Agency shall make the proposed | ||||||
| 7 | contracts available for a reasonable period for comment by | ||||||
| 8 | potential applicants, and shall publish the final form | ||||||
| 9 | contract at least 30 days before the date of the first | ||||||
| 10 | procurement event. | ||||||
| 11 | (9) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative | ||||||
| 12 | Charge. | ||||||
| 13 | (A) By no later than July 1, 2022, each electric | ||||||
| 14 | utility that served more than 300,000 retail customers | ||||||
| 15 | in this State as of January 1, 2019 shall file a tariff | ||||||
| 16 | with the Commission for the billing and collection of | ||||||
| 17 | a Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge | ||||||
| 18 | in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section 16-108 | ||||||
| 19 | of the Public Utilities Act, with such tariff to be | ||||||
| 20 | effective, following review and approval or | ||||||
| 21 | modification by the Commission, beginning January 1, | ||||||
| 22 | 2023. The tariff shall provide for the calculation and | ||||||
| 23 | setting of the electric utility's Coal to Solar and | ||||||
| 24 | Energy Storage Initiative Charge to collect revenues | ||||||
| 25 | estimated to be sufficient, in the aggregate, (i) to | ||||||
| 26 | enable the electric utility to pay for the renewable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | energy credits it has contracted to purchase in the | ||||||
| 2 | delivery year beginning June 1, 2023 and each delivery | ||||||
| 3 | year thereafter from new renewable energy facilities | ||||||
| 4 | located at the sites of qualifying electric generating | ||||||
| 5 | facilities, and (ii) to fund the grant payments to be | ||||||
| 6 | made in each delivery year by the Department of | ||||||
| 7 | Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or any successor | ||||||
| 8 | department or agency, which shall be referred to in | ||||||
| 9 | this subsection (c-5) as the Department, pursuant to | ||||||
| 10 | paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5). The electric | ||||||
| 11 | utility's tariff shall provide for the billing and | ||||||
| 12 | collection of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 13 | Initiative Charge on each kilowatthour of electricity | ||||||
| 14 | delivered to its delivery services customers within | ||||||
| 15 | its service territory and shall provide for an annual | ||||||
| 16 | reconciliation of revenues collected with actual | ||||||
| 17 | costs, in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section | ||||||
| 18 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (B) Each electric utility shall remit on a monthly | ||||||
| 20 | basis to the State Treasurer, for deposit in the Coal | ||||||
| 21 | to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund provided | ||||||
| 22 | for in this subsection (c-5), the electric utility's | ||||||
| 23 | collections of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 24 | Initiative Charge in the amount estimated to be needed | ||||||
| 25 | by the Department for grant payments pursuant to grant | ||||||
| 26 | contracts entered into by the Department pursuant to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5). | ||||||
| 2 | (10) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund. | ||||||
| 3 | (A) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 4 | Initiative Fund is established as a special fund in | ||||||
| 5 | the State treasury. The Coal to Solar and Energy | ||||||
| 6 | Storage Initiative Fund is authorized to receive, by | ||||||
| 7 | statutory deposit, that portion specified in item (B) | ||||||
| 8 | of paragraph (9) of this subsection (c-5) of moneys | ||||||
| 9 | collected by electric utilities through imposition of | ||||||
| 10 | the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge | ||||||
| 11 | required by this subsection (c-5). The Coal to Solar | ||||||
| 12 | and Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be | ||||||
| 13 | administered by the Department to provide grants to | ||||||
| 14 | support the installation and operation of energy | ||||||
| 15 | storage facilities at the sites of qualifying electric | ||||||
| 16 | generating facilities meeting the criteria specified | ||||||
| 17 | in this paragraph (10). | ||||||
| 18 | (B) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 19 | Initiative Fund shall not be subject to sweeps, | ||||||
| 20 | administrative charges, or chargebacks, including, but | ||||||
| 21 | not limited to, those authorized under Section 8h of | ||||||
| 22 | the State Finance Act, that would in any way result in | ||||||
| 23 | the transfer of those funds from the Coal to Solar and | ||||||
| 24 | Energy Storage Initiative Fund to any other fund of | ||||||
| 25 | this State or in having any such funds utilized for any | ||||||
| 26 | purpose other than the express purposes set forth in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | this paragraph (10). | ||||||
| 2 | (C) The Department shall utilize up to | ||||||
| 3 | $280,500,000 in the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 4 | Initiative Fund for grants, assuming sufficient | ||||||
| 5 | qualifying applicants, to support installation of | ||||||
| 6 | energy storage facilities at the sites of up to 3 | ||||||
| 7 | qualifying electric generating facilities located in | ||||||
| 8 | the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., | ||||||
| 9 | region in Illinois and the sites of up to 2 qualifying | ||||||
| 10 | electric generating facilities located in the PJM | ||||||
| 11 | Interconnection, LLC region in Illinois that meet the | ||||||
| 12 | criteria set forth in this subparagraph (C). The | ||||||
| 13 | criteria for receipt of a grant pursuant to this | ||||||
| 14 | subparagraph (C) are as follows: | ||||||
| 15 | (1) the electric generating facility at the | ||||||
| 16 | site has, or had prior to retirement, an electric | ||||||
| 17 | generating capacity of at least 150 megawatts; | ||||||
| 18 | (2) the electric generating facility burns (or | ||||||
| 19 | burned prior to retirement) coal as its primary | ||||||
| 20 | source of fuel; | ||||||
| 21 | (3) if the electric generating facility is | ||||||
| 22 | retired, it was retired subsequent to January 1, | ||||||
| 23 | 2016; | ||||||
| 24 | (4) the owner of the electric generating | ||||||
| 25 | facility has not been selected by the Agency | ||||||
| 26 | pursuant to this subsection (c-5) of this Section | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | to enter into a contract to sell renewable energy | ||||||
| 2 | credits to one or more electric utilities from a | ||||||
| 3 | new renewable energy facility located or to be | ||||||
| 4 | located at or adjacent to the site at which the | ||||||
| 5 | electric generating facility is located; | ||||||
| 6 | (5) the electric generating facility located | ||||||
| 7 | at the site was at one time owned, in whole or in | ||||||
| 8 | part, by a public utility as defined in Section | ||||||
| 9 | 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act; | ||||||
| 10 | (6) the electric generating facility at the | ||||||
| 11 | site is not owned by (i) an electric cooperative | ||||||
| 12 | as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public | ||||||
| 13 | Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in | ||||||
| 14 | subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
| 15 | Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of | ||||||
| 16 | or an entity owned by entities described in items | ||||||
| 17 | (i) or (ii); | ||||||
| 18 | (7) the proposed energy storage facility at | ||||||
| 19 | the site will have energy storage capacity of at | ||||||
| 20 | least 37 megawatts; | ||||||
| 21 | (8) the owner commits to place the energy | ||||||
| 22 | storage facility into commercial operation on | ||||||
| 23 | either June 1, 2023, June 1, 2024, or June 1, 2025, | ||||||
| 24 | with such date subject to adjustment as needed due | ||||||
| 25 | to any delays in completing the grant contracting | ||||||
| 26 | process, in finalizing interconnection agreements | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | and in installing interconnection facilities, and | ||||||
| 2 | in obtaining necessary governmental permits and | ||||||
| 3 | approvals; | ||||||
| 4 | (9) the owner agrees that the new energy | ||||||
| 5 | storage facility will be constructed or installed | ||||||
| 6 | by a qualified entity or entities consistent with | ||||||
| 7 | the requirements of subsection (g) of Section | ||||||
| 8 | 16-128A of the Public Utilities Act and any rules | ||||||
| 9 | adopted under that Section; | ||||||
| 10 | (10) the owner agrees that personnel operating | ||||||
| 11 | the energy storage facility will have the | ||||||
| 12 | requisite skills, knowledge, training, experience, | ||||||
| 13 | and competence, which may be demonstrated by | ||||||
| 14 | completion or current participation and ultimate | ||||||
| 15 | completion by employees of an accredited or | ||||||
| 16 | otherwise recognized apprenticeship program for | ||||||
| 17 | the employee's particular craft, trade, or skill, | ||||||
| 18 | including through training and education courses | ||||||
| 19 | and opportunities offered by the owner to | ||||||
| 20 | employees of the coal-fueled electric generating | ||||||
| 21 | facility or by previous employment experience | ||||||
| 22 | performing the employee's particular work skill or | ||||||
| 23 | function; | ||||||
| 24 | (11) the owner commits that not less than the | ||||||
| 25 | prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the | ||||||
| 26 | Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the owner's | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | employees engaged in construction activities | ||||||
| 2 | associated with the new energy storage facility | ||||||
| 3 | and to the employees of the owner's contractors | ||||||
| 4 | engaged in construction activities associated with | ||||||
| 5 | the new energy storage facility, and that, on or | ||||||
| 6 | before the commercial operation date of the new | ||||||
| 7 | energy storage facility, the owner shall file a | ||||||
| 8 | report with the Department certifying that the | ||||||
| 9 | requirements of this subparagraph (11) have been | ||||||
| 10 | met; and | ||||||
| 11 | (12) the owner commits that if selected to | ||||||
| 12 | receive a grant, it will negotiate a project labor | ||||||
| 13 | agreement for the construction of the new energy | ||||||
| 14 | storage facility that includes provisions | ||||||
| 15 | requiring the parties to the agreement to work | ||||||
| 16 | together to establish diversity threshold | ||||||
| 17 | requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet | ||||||
| 18 | diversity targets, improve diversity at the | ||||||
| 19 | applicable job site, create diverse apprenticeship | ||||||
| 20 | opportunities, and create opportunities to employ | ||||||
| 21 | former coal-fired power plant workers. | ||||||
| 22 | The Department shall accept applications for this | ||||||
| 23 | grant program until March 31, 2022 and shall announce | ||||||
| 24 | the award of grants no later than June 1, 2022. The | ||||||
| 25 | Department shall make the grant payments to a | ||||||
| 26 | recipient in equal annual amounts for 10 years | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | following the date the energy storage facility is | ||||||
| 2 | placed into commercial operation. The annual grant | ||||||
| 3 | payments to a qualifying energy storage facility shall | ||||||
| 4 | be $110,000 per megawatt of energy storage capacity, | ||||||
| 5 | with total annual grant payments pursuant to this | ||||||
| 6 | subparagraph (C) for qualifying energy storage | ||||||
| 7 | facilities not to exceed $28,050,000 in any year. | ||||||
| 8 | (D) Grants of funding for energy storage | ||||||
| 9 | facilities pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this | ||||||
| 10 | paragraph (10), from the Coal to Solar and Energy | ||||||
| 11 | Storage Initiative Fund, shall be memorialized in | ||||||
| 12 | grant contracts between the Department and the | ||||||
| 13 | recipient. The grant contracts shall specify the date | ||||||
| 14 | or dates in each year on which the annual grant | ||||||
| 15 | payments shall be paid. | ||||||
| 16 | (E) All disbursements from the Coal to Solar and | ||||||
| 17 | Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be made only upon | ||||||
| 18 | warrants of the Comptroller drawn upon the Treasurer | ||||||
| 19 | as custodian of the Fund upon vouchers signed by the | ||||||
| 20 | Director of the Department or by the person or persons | ||||||
| 21 | designated by the Director of the Department for that | ||||||
| 22 | purpose. The Comptroller is authorized to draw the | ||||||
| 23 | warrants upon vouchers so signed. The Treasurer shall | ||||||
| 24 | accept all written warrants so signed and shall be | ||||||
| 25 | released from liability for all payments made on those | ||||||
| 26 | warrants. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (11) Diversity, equity, and inclusion plans. | ||||||
| 2 | (A) Each applicant selected in a procurement event | ||||||
| 3 | to contract to supply renewable energy credits in | ||||||
| 4 | accordance with this subsection (c-5) and each owner | ||||||
| 5 | selected by the Department to receive a grant or | ||||||
| 6 | grants to support the construction and operation of a | ||||||
| 7 | new energy storage facility or facilities in | ||||||
| 8 | accordance with this subsection (c-5) shall, within 60 | ||||||
| 9 | days following the Commission's approval of the | ||||||
| 10 | applicant to contract to supply renewable energy | ||||||
| 11 | credits or within 60 days following execution of a | ||||||
| 12 | grant contract with the Department, as applicable, | ||||||
| 13 | submit to the Commission a diversity, equity, and | ||||||
| 14 | inclusion plan setting forth the applicant's or | ||||||
| 15 | owner's numeric goals for the diversity composition of | ||||||
| 16 | its supplier entities for the new renewable energy | ||||||
| 17 | facility or new energy storage facility, as | ||||||
| 18 | applicable, which shall be referred to for purposes of | ||||||
| 19 | this paragraph (11) as the project, and the | ||||||
| 20 | applicant's or owner's action plan and schedule for | ||||||
| 21 | achieving those goals. | ||||||
| 22 | (B) For purposes of this paragraph (11), diversity | ||||||
| 23 | composition shall be based on the percentage, which | ||||||
| 24 | shall be a minimum of 25%, of eligible expenditures | ||||||
| 25 | for contract awards for materials and services (which | ||||||
| 26 | shall be defined in the plan) to business enterprises | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | owned by minority persons, women, or persons with | ||||||
| 2 | disabilities as defined in Section 2 of the Business | ||||||
| 3 | Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with | ||||||
| 4 | Disabilities Act, to LGBTQ business enterprises, to | ||||||
| 5 | veteran-owned business enterprises, and to business | ||||||
| 6 | enterprises located in environmental justice | ||||||
| 7 | communities. The diversity composition goals of the | ||||||
| 8 | plan may include eligible expenditures in areas for | ||||||
| 9 | vendor or supplier opportunities in addition to | ||||||
| 10 | development and construction of the project, and may | ||||||
| 11 | exclude from eligible expenditures materials and | ||||||
| 12 | services with limited market availability, limited | ||||||
| 13 | production and availability from suppliers in the | ||||||
| 14 | United States, such as solar panels and storage | ||||||
| 15 | batteries, and material and services that are subject | ||||||
| 16 | to critical energy infrastructure or cybersecurity | ||||||
| 17 | requirements or restrictions. The plan may provide | ||||||
| 18 | that the diversity composition goals may be met | ||||||
| 19 | through Tier 1 Direct or Tier 2 subcontracting | ||||||
| 20 | expenditures or a combination thereof for the project. | ||||||
| 21 | (C) The plan shall provide for, but not be limited | ||||||
| 22 | to: (i) internal initiatives, including multi-tier | ||||||
| 23 | initiatives, by the applicant or owner, or by its | ||||||
| 24 | engineering, procurement and construction contractor | ||||||
| 25 | if one is used for the project, which for purposes of | ||||||
| 26 | this paragraph (11) shall be referred to as the EPC | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | contractor, to enable diverse businesses to be | ||||||
| 2 | considered fairly for selection to provide materials | ||||||
| 3 | and services; (ii) requirements for the applicant or | ||||||
| 4 | owner or its EPC contractor to proactively solicit and | ||||||
| 5 | utilize diverse businesses to provide materials and | ||||||
| 6 | services; and (iii) requirements for the applicant or | ||||||
| 7 | owner or its EPC contractor to hire a diverse | ||||||
| 8 | workforce for the project. The plan shall include a | ||||||
| 9 | description of the applicant's or owner's diversity | ||||||
| 10 | recruiting efforts both for the project and for other | ||||||
| 11 | areas of the applicant's or owner's business | ||||||
| 12 | operations. The plan shall provide for the imposition | ||||||
| 13 | of financial penalties on the applicant's or owner's | ||||||
| 14 | EPC contractor for failure to exercise best efforts to | ||||||
| 15 | comply with and execute the EPC contractor's diversity | ||||||
| 16 | obligations under the plan. The plan may provide for | ||||||
| 17 | the applicant or owner to set aside a portion of the | ||||||
| 18 | work on the project to serve as an incubation program | ||||||
| 19 | for qualified businesses, as specified in the plan, | ||||||
| 20 | owned by minority persons, women, persons with | ||||||
| 21 | disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and veterans, and | ||||||
| 22 | businesses located in environmental justice | ||||||
| 23 | communities, seeking to enter the renewable energy | ||||||
| 24 | industry. | ||||||
| 25 | (D) The applicant or owner may submit a revised or | ||||||
| 26 | updated plan to the Commission from time to time as | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | circumstances warrant. The applicant or owner shall | ||||||
| 2 | file annual reports with the Commission detailing the | ||||||
| 3 | applicant's or owner's progress in implementing its | ||||||
| 4 | plan and achieving its goals and any modifications the | ||||||
| 5 | applicant or owner has made to its plan to better | ||||||
| 6 | achieve its diversity, equity and inclusion goals. The | ||||||
| 7 | applicant or owner shall file a final report on the | ||||||
| 8 | fifth June 1 following the commercial operation date | ||||||
| 9 | of the new renewable energy resource or new energy | ||||||
| 10 | storage facility, but the applicant or owner shall | ||||||
| 11 | thereafter continue to be subject to applicable | ||||||
| 12 | reporting requirements of Section 5-117 of the Public | ||||||
| 13 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 14 | (c-10) Equity accountability system. It is the purpose of | ||||||
| 15 | this subsection (c-10) to create an equity accountability | ||||||
| 16 | system, which includes the minimum equity standards for all | ||||||
| 17 | renewable energy procurements, the equity category of the | ||||||
| 18 | Adjustable Block Program, and the equity prioritization for | ||||||
| 19 | noncompetitive procurements, that is successful in advancing | ||||||
| 20 | priority access to the clean energy economy for businesses and | ||||||
| 21 | workers from communities that have been excluded from economic | ||||||
| 22 | opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to | ||||||
| 23 | disproportionate levels of pollution, and have | ||||||
| 24 | disproportionately experienced negative public health | ||||||
| 25 | outcomes. Further, it is the purpose of this subsection to | ||||||
| 26 | ensure that this equity accountability system is successful in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | advancing equity across Illinois by providing access to the | ||||||
| 2 | clean energy economy for businesses and workers from | ||||||
| 3 | communities that have been historically excluded from economic | ||||||
| 4 | opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to | ||||||
| 5 | disproportionate levels of pollution, and have | ||||||
| 6 | disproportionately experienced negative public health | ||||||
| 7 | outcomes. | ||||||
| 8 | (1) Minimum equity standards. The Agency shall create | ||||||
| 9 | programs with the purpose of increasing access to and | ||||||
| 10 | development of equity eligible contractors, who are prime | ||||||
| 11 | contractors and subcontractors, across all of the programs | ||||||
| 12 | it manages. All applications for renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 13 | procurements shall comply with specific minimum equity | ||||||
| 14 | commitments. Starting in the delivery year immediately | ||||||
| 15 | following the next long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 16 | procurement plan, at least 10% of the project workforce | ||||||
| 17 | for each entity participating in a procurement program | ||||||
| 18 | outlined in this subsection (c-10) must be done by equity | ||||||
| 19 | eligible persons or equity eligible contractors. The | ||||||
| 20 | Agency shall increase the minimum percentage each delivery | ||||||
| 21 | year thereafter by increments that ensure a statewide | ||||||
| 22 | average of 30% of the project workforce for each entity | ||||||
| 23 | participating in a procurement program is done by equity | ||||||
| 24 | eligible persons or equity eligible contractors by 2030. | ||||||
| 25 | The Agency shall propose a schedule of percentage | ||||||
| 26 | increases to the minimum equity standards in its draft | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | revised renewable energy resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 2 | submitted to the Commission for approval pursuant to | ||||||
| 3 | paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 4 | Public Utilities Act. In determining these annual | ||||||
| 5 | increases, the Agency shall have the discretion to | ||||||
| 6 | establish different minimum equity standards for different | ||||||
| 7 | types of procurements and different regions of the State | ||||||
| 8 | if the Agency finds that doing so will further the | ||||||
| 9 | purposes of this subsection (c-10). The proposed schedule | ||||||
| 10 | of annual increases shall be revisited and updated on an | ||||||
| 11 | annual basis. Revisions shall be developed with | ||||||
| 12 | stakeholder input, including from equity eligible persons, | ||||||
| 13 | equity eligible contractors, clean energy industry | ||||||
| 14 | representatives, and community-based organizations that | ||||||
| 15 | work with such persons and contractors. | ||||||
| 16 | (A) At the start of each delivery year, the Agency | ||||||
| 17 | shall require a compliance plan from each entity | ||||||
| 18 | participating in a procurement program of subsection | ||||||
| 19 | (c) of this Section that demonstrates how they will | ||||||
| 20 | achieve compliance with the minimum equity standard | ||||||
| 21 | percentage for work completed in that delivery year. | ||||||
| 22 | If an entity applies for its approved vendor or | ||||||
| 23 | designee status between delivery years, the Agency | ||||||
| 24 | shall require a compliance plan at the time of | ||||||
| 25 | application. | ||||||
| 26 | (B) Halfway through each delivery year, the Agency | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall require each entity participating in a | ||||||
| 2 | procurement program to confirm that it will achieve | ||||||
| 3 | compliance in that delivery year, when applicable. The | ||||||
| 4 | Agency may offer corrective action plans to entities | ||||||
| 5 | that are not on track to achieve compliance. | ||||||
| 6 | (C) At the end of each delivery year, each entity | ||||||
| 7 | participating and completing work in that delivery | ||||||
| 8 | year in a procurement program of subsection (c) shall | ||||||
| 9 | submit a report to the Agency that demonstrates how it | ||||||
| 10 | achieved compliance with the minimum equity standards | ||||||
| 11 | percentage for that delivery year. | ||||||
| 12 | (D) The Agency shall prohibit participation in | ||||||
| 13 | procurement programs by an approved vendor or | ||||||
| 14 | designee, as applicable, or entities with which an | ||||||
| 15 | approved vendor or designee, as applicable, shares a | ||||||
| 16 | common parent company if an approved vendor or | ||||||
| 17 | designee, as applicable, failed to meet the minimum | ||||||
| 18 | equity standards for the prior delivery year. Waivers | ||||||
| 19 | approved for lack of equity eligible persons or equity | ||||||
| 20 | eligible contractors in a geographic area of a project | ||||||
| 21 | shall not count against the approved vendor or | ||||||
| 22 | designee. The Agency shall offer a corrective action | ||||||
| 23 | plan for any such entities to assist them in obtaining | ||||||
| 24 | compliance and shall allow continued access to | ||||||
| 25 | procurement programs upon an approved vendor or | ||||||
| 26 | designee demonstrating compliance. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (E) The Agency shall pursue efficiencies achieved | ||||||
| 2 | by combining with other approved vendor or designee | ||||||
| 3 | reporting. | ||||||
| 4 | (2) Equity accountability system within the Adjustable | ||||||
| 5 | Block program. The equity category described in item (vi) | ||||||
| 6 | of subparagraph (K) of subsection (c) is only available to | ||||||
| 7 | applicants that are equity eligible contractors. | ||||||
| 8 | (3) Equity accountability system within competitive | ||||||
| 9 | procurements. Through its long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 10 | procurement plan, the Agency shall develop requirements | ||||||
| 11 | for ensuring that competitive procurement processes, | ||||||
| 12 | including utility-scale solar, utility-scale wind, and | ||||||
| 13 | brownfield site photovoltaic projects, advance the equity | ||||||
| 14 | goals of this subsection (c-10). Subject to Commission | ||||||
| 15 | approval, the Agency shall develop bid application | ||||||
| 16 | requirements and a bid evaluation methodology for ensuring | ||||||
| 17 | that utilization of equity eligible contractors, whether | ||||||
| 18 | as bidders or as participants on project development, is | ||||||
| 19 | optimized, including requiring that winning or successful | ||||||
| 20 | applicants for utility-scale projects are or will partner | ||||||
| 21 | with equity eligible contractors and giving preference to | ||||||
| 22 | bids through which a higher portion of contract value | ||||||
| 23 | flows to equity eligible contractors. To the extent | ||||||
| 24 | practicable, entities participating in competitive | ||||||
| 25 | procurements shall also be required to meet all the equity | ||||||
| 26 | accountability requirements for approved vendors and their | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | designees under this subsection (c-10). In developing | ||||||
| 2 | these requirements, the Agency shall also consider whether | ||||||
| 3 | equity goals can be further advanced through additional | ||||||
| 4 | measures. | ||||||
| 5 | (4) In the first revision to the long-term renewable | ||||||
| 6 | energy resources procurement plan and each revision | ||||||
| 7 | thereafter, the Agency shall include the following: | ||||||
| 8 | (A) The current status and number of equity | ||||||
| 9 | eligible contractors listed in the Energy Workforce | ||||||
| 10 | Equity Database designed in subsection (c-25), | ||||||
| 11 | including the number of equity eligible contractors | ||||||
| 12 | with current certifications as issued by the Agency. | ||||||
| 13 | (B) A mechanism for measuring, tracking, and | ||||||
| 14 | reporting project workforce at the approved vendor or | ||||||
| 15 | designee level, as applicable, which shall include a | ||||||
| 16 | measurement methodology and records to be made | ||||||
| 17 | available for audit by the Agency or the Program | ||||||
| 18 | Administrator. | ||||||
| 19 | (C) A program for approved vendors, designees, | ||||||
| 20 | eligible persons, and equity eligible contractors to | ||||||
| 21 | receive trainings, guidance, and other support from | ||||||
| 22 | the Agency or its designee regarding the equity | ||||||
| 23 | category outlined in item (vi) of subparagraph (K) of | ||||||
| 24 | paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and in meeting the | ||||||
| 25 | minimum equity standards of this subsection (c-10). | ||||||
| 26 | (D) A process for certifying equity eligible | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | contractors and equity eligible persons. The | ||||||
| 2 | certification process shall coordinate with the Energy | ||||||
| 3 | Workforce Equity Database set forth in subsection | ||||||
| 4 | (c-25). | ||||||
| 5 | (E) An application for waiver of the minimum | ||||||
| 6 | equity standards of this subsection, which the Agency | ||||||
| 7 | shall have the discretion to grant in rare | ||||||
| 8 | circumstances. The Agency may grant such a waiver | ||||||
| 9 | where the applicant provides evidence of significant | ||||||
| 10 | efforts toward meeting the minimum equity commitment, | ||||||
| 11 | including: use of the Energy Workforce Equity | ||||||
| 12 | Database; efforts to hire or contract with entities | ||||||
| 13 | that hire eligible persons; and efforts to establish | ||||||
| 14 | contracting relationships with eligible contractors. | ||||||
| 15 | The Agency shall support applicants in understanding | ||||||
| 16 | the Energy Workforce Equity Database and other | ||||||
| 17 | resources for pursuing compliance of the minimum | ||||||
| 18 | equity standards. Waivers shall be project-specific, | ||||||
| 19 | unless the Agency deems it necessary to grant a waiver | ||||||
| 20 | across a portfolio of projects, and in effect for no | ||||||
| 21 | longer than one year. Any waiver extension or | ||||||
| 22 | subsequent waiver request from an applicant shall be | ||||||
| 23 | subject to the requirements of this Section and shall | ||||||
| 24 | specify efforts made to reach compliance. When | ||||||
| 25 | considering whether to grant a waiver, and to what | ||||||
| 26 | extent, the Agency shall consider the degree to which | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | similarly situated applicants have been able to meet | ||||||
| 2 | these minimum equity commitments. For repeated waiver | ||||||
| 3 | requests for specific lack of eligible persons or | ||||||
| 4 | eligible contractors available, the Agency shall make | ||||||
| 5 | recommendations to target recruitment to add such | ||||||
| 6 | eligible persons or eligible contractors to the | ||||||
| 7 | database. | ||||||
| 8 | (5) The Agency shall collect information about work on | ||||||
| 9 | projects or portfolios of projects subject to these | ||||||
| 10 | minimum equity standards to ensure compliance with this | ||||||
| 11 | subsection (c-10). Reporting in furtherance of this | ||||||
| 12 | requirement may be combined with other annual reporting | ||||||
| 13 | requirements. Such reporting shall include proof of | ||||||
| 14 | certification of each equity eligible contractor or equity | ||||||
| 15 | eligible person during the applicable time period. | ||||||
| 16 | (6) The Agency shall keep confidential all information | ||||||
| 17 | and communication that provides private or personal | ||||||
| 18 | information. | ||||||
| 19 | (7) Modifications to the equity accountability system. | ||||||
| 20 | As part of the update of the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 21 | procurement plan to be initiated in 2023, or sooner if the | ||||||
| 22 | Agency deems necessary, the Agency shall determine the | ||||||
| 23 | extent to which the equity accountability system described | ||||||
| 24 | in this subsection (c-10) has advanced the goals of this | ||||||
| 25 | amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, including | ||||||
| 26 | through the inclusion of equity eligible persons and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | equity eligible contractors in renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 2 | projects. If the Agency finds that the equity | ||||||
| 3 | accountability system has failed to meet those goals to | ||||||
| 4 | its fullest potential, the Agency may revise the following | ||||||
| 5 | criteria for future Agency procurements: (A) the | ||||||
| 6 | percentage of project workforce, or other appropriate | ||||||
| 7 | workforce measure, certified as equity eligible persons or | ||||||
| 8 | equity eligible contractors; (B) definitions for equity | ||||||
| 9 | investment eligible persons and equity investment eligible | ||||||
| 10 | community; and (C) such other modifications necessary to | ||||||
| 11 | advance the goals of this amendatory Act of the 102nd | ||||||
| 12 | General Assembly effectively. Such revised criteria may | ||||||
| 13 | also establish distinct equity accountability systems for | ||||||
| 14 | different types of procurements or different regions of | ||||||
| 15 | the State if the Agency finds that doing so will further | ||||||
| 16 | the purposes of such programs. Revisions shall be | ||||||
| 17 | developed with stakeholder input, including from equity | ||||||
| 18 | eligible persons, equity eligible contractors, and | ||||||
| 19 | community-based organizations that work with such persons | ||||||
| 20 | and contractors. | ||||||
| 21 | (c-15) Racial discrimination elimination powers and | ||||||
| 22 | process. | ||||||
| 23 | (1) Purpose. It is the purpose of this subsection to | ||||||
| 24 | empower the Agency and other State actors to remedy racial | ||||||
| 25 | discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy as | ||||||
| 26 | effectively and expediently as possible, including through | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the use of race-conscious remedies, such as race-conscious | ||||||
| 2 | contracting and hiring goals, as consistent with State and | ||||||
| 3 | federal law. | ||||||
| 4 | (2) Racial disparity and discrimination review | ||||||
| 5 | process. | ||||||
| 6 | (A) Within one year after awarding contracts using | ||||||
| 7 | the equity actions processes established in this | ||||||
| 8 | Section, the Agency shall publish a report evaluating | ||||||
| 9 | the effectiveness of the equity actions point criteria | ||||||
| 10 | of this Section in increasing participation of equity | ||||||
| 11 | eligible persons and equity eligible contractors. The | ||||||
| 12 | report shall disaggregate participating workers and | ||||||
| 13 | contractors by race and ethnicity. The report shall be | ||||||
| 14 | forwarded to the Governor, the General Assembly, and | ||||||
| 15 | the Illinois Commerce Commission and be made available | ||||||
| 16 | to the public. | ||||||
| 17 | (B) As soon as is practicable thereafter, the | ||||||
| 18 | Agency, in consultation with the Department of | ||||||
| 19 | Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Department of | ||||||
| 20 | Labor, and other agencies that may be relevant, shall | ||||||
| 21 | commission and publish a disparity and availability | ||||||
| 22 | study that measures the presence and impact of | ||||||
| 23 | discrimination on minority businesses and workers in | ||||||
| 24 | Illinois' clean energy economy. The Agency may hire | ||||||
| 25 | consultants and experts to conduct the disparity and | ||||||
| 26 | availability study, with the retention of those | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | consultants and experts exempt from the requirements | ||||||
| 2 | of Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The | ||||||
| 3 | Illinois Power Agency shall forward a copy of its | ||||||
| 4 | findings and recommendations to the Governor, the | ||||||
| 5 | General Assembly, and the Illinois Commerce | ||||||
| 6 | Commission. If the disparity and availability study | ||||||
| 7 | establishes a strong basis in evidence that there is | ||||||
| 8 | discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy, the | ||||||
| 9 | Agency, Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||||
| 10 | Opportunity, Department of Labor, Department of | ||||||
| 11 | Corrections, and other appropriate agencies shall take | ||||||
| 12 | appropriate remedial actions, including race-conscious | ||||||
| 13 | remedial actions as consistent with State and federal | ||||||
| 14 | law, to effectively remedy this discrimination. Such | ||||||
| 15 | remedies may include modification of the equity | ||||||
| 16 | accountability system as described in subsection | ||||||
| 17 | (c-10). | ||||||
| 18 | (c-20) Program data collection. | ||||||
| 19 | (1) Purpose. Data collection, data analysis, and | ||||||
| 20 | reporting are critical to ensure that the benefits of the | ||||||
| 21 | clean energy economy provided to Illinois residents and | ||||||
| 22 | businesses are equitably distributed across the State. The | ||||||
| 23 | Agency shall collect data from program applicants in order | ||||||
| 24 | to track and improve equitable distribution of benefits | ||||||
| 25 | across Illinois communities for all procurements the | ||||||
| 26 | Agency conducts. The Agency shall use this data to, among | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | other things, measure any potential impact of racial | ||||||
| 2 | discrimination on the distribution of benefits and provide | ||||||
| 3 | information necessary to correct any discrimination | ||||||
| 4 | through methods consistent with State and federal law. | ||||||
| 5 | (2) Agency collection of program data. The Agency | ||||||
| 6 | shall collect demographic and geographic data for each | ||||||
| 7 | entity awarded contracts under any Agency-administered | ||||||
| 8 | program. | ||||||
| 9 | (3) Required information to be collected. The Agency | ||||||
| 10 | shall collect the following information from applicants | ||||||
| 11 | and program participants where applicable: | ||||||
| 12 | (A) demographic information, including racial or | ||||||
| 13 | ethnic identity for real persons employed, contracted, | ||||||
| 14 | or subcontracted through the program and owners of | ||||||
| 15 | businesses or entities that apply to receive renewable | ||||||
| 16 | energy credits from the Agency; | ||||||
| 17 | (B) geographic location of the residency of real | ||||||
| 18 | persons employed, contracted, or subcontracted through | ||||||
| 19 | the program and geographic location of the | ||||||
| 20 | headquarters of the business or entity that applies to | ||||||
| 21 | receive renewable energy credits from the Agency; and | ||||||
| 22 | (C) any other information the Agency determines is | ||||||
| 23 | necessary for the purpose of achieving the purpose of | ||||||
| 24 | this subsection. | ||||||
| 25 | (4) Publication of collected information. The Agency | ||||||
| 26 | shall publish, at least annually, information on the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | demographics of program participants on an aggregate | ||||||
| 2 | basis. | ||||||
| 3 | (5) Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to | ||||||
| 4 | limit the authority of the Agency, or other agency or | ||||||
| 5 | department of the State, to require or collect demographic | ||||||
| 6 | information from applicants of other State programs. | ||||||
| 7 | (c-25) Energy Workforce Equity Database. | ||||||
| 8 | (1) The Agency, in consultation with the Department of | ||||||
| 9 | Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall create an Energy | ||||||
| 10 | Workforce Equity Database, and may contract with a third | ||||||
| 11 | party to do so ("database program administrator"). If the | ||||||
| 12 | Department decides to contract with a third party, that | ||||||
| 13 | third party shall be exempt from the requirements of | ||||||
| 14 | Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The Energy | ||||||
| 15 | Workforce Equity Database shall be a searchable database | ||||||
| 16 | of suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors for clean energy | ||||||
| 17 | industries that is: | ||||||
| 18 | (A) publicly accessible; | ||||||
| 19 | (B) easy for people to find and use; | ||||||
| 20 | (C) organized by company specialty or field; | ||||||
| 21 | (D) region-specific; and | ||||||
| 22 | (E) populated with information including, but not | ||||||
| 23 | limited to, contacts for suppliers, vendors, or | ||||||
| 24 | subcontractors who are minority and women-owned | ||||||
| 25 | business enterprise certified or who participate or | ||||||
| 26 | have participated in any of the programs described in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | this Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (2) The Agency shall create an easily accessible, | ||||||
| 3 | public facing online tool using the database information | ||||||
| 4 | that includes, at a minimum, the following: | ||||||
| 5 | (A) a map of environmental justice and equity | ||||||
| 6 | investment eligible communities; | ||||||
| 7 | (B) job postings and recruiting opportunities; | ||||||
| 8 | (C) a means by which recruiting clean energy | ||||||
| 9 | companies can find and interact with current or former | ||||||
| 10 | participants of clean energy workforce training | ||||||
| 11 | programs; | ||||||
| 12 | (D) information on workforce training service | ||||||
| 13 | providers and training opportunities available to | ||||||
| 14 | prospective workers; | ||||||
| 15 | (E) renewable energy company diversity reporting; | ||||||
| 16 | (F) a list of equity eligible contractors with | ||||||
| 17 | their contact information, types of work performed, | ||||||
| 18 | and locations worked in; | ||||||
| 19 | (G) reporting on outcomes of the programs | ||||||
| 20 | described in the workforce programs of the Energy | ||||||
| 21 | Transition Act, including information such as, but not | ||||||
| 22 | limited to, retention rate, graduation rate, and | ||||||
| 23 | placement rates of trainees; and | ||||||
| 24 | (H) information about the Jobs and Environmental | ||||||
| 25 | Justice Grant Program, the Clean Energy Jobs and | ||||||
| 26 | Justice Fund, and other sources of capital. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (3) The Agency shall ensure the database is regularly | ||||||
| 2 | updated to ensure information is current and shall | ||||||
| 3 | coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||||
| 4 | Opportunity to ensure that it includes information on | ||||||
| 5 | individuals and entities that are or have participated in | ||||||
| 6 | the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy | ||||||
| 7 | Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean | ||||||
| 8 | Jobs Training Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor | ||||||
| 9 | Accelerator Program. | ||||||
| 10 | (c-30) Enforcement of minimum equity standards. All | ||||||
| 11 | entities seeking renewable energy credits must submit an | ||||||
| 12 | annual report to demonstrate compliance with each of the | ||||||
| 13 | equity commitments required under subsection (c-10). If the | ||||||
| 14 | Agency concludes the entity has not met or maintained its | ||||||
| 15 | minimum equity standards required under the applicable | ||||||
| 16 | subparagraphs under subsection (c-10), the Agency shall deny | ||||||
| 17 | the entity's ability to participate in procurement programs in | ||||||
| 18 | subsection (c), including by withholding approved vendor or | ||||||
| 19 | designee status. The Agency may require the entity to enter | ||||||
| 20 | into a corrective action plan. An entity that is not | ||||||
| 21 | recertified for failing to meet required equity actions in | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraph (c-10) may reapply once they have a corrective | ||||||
| 23 | action plan and achieve compliance with the minimum equity | ||||||
| 24 | standards. | ||||||
| 25 | (d) Clean coal portfolio standard. | ||||||
| 26 | (1) The procurement plans shall include electricity | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | generated using clean coal. Each utility shall enter into | ||||||
| 2 | one or more sourcing agreements with the initial clean | ||||||
| 3 | coal facility, as provided in paragraph (3) of this | ||||||
| 4 | subsection (d), covering electricity generated by the | ||||||
| 5 | initial clean coal facility representing at least 5% of | ||||||
| 6 | each utility's total supply to serve the load of eligible | ||||||
| 7 | retail customers in 2015 and each year thereafter, as | ||||||
| 8 | described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), subject | ||||||
| 9 | to the limits specified in paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| 10 | subsection (d). It is the goal of the State that by January | ||||||
| 11 | 1, 2025, 25% of the electricity used in the State shall be | ||||||
| 12 | generated by cost-effective clean coal facilities. For | ||||||
| 13 | purposes of this subsection (d), "cost-effective" means | ||||||
| 14 | that the expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements | ||||||
| 15 | do not cause the limit stated in paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| 16 | subsection (d) to be exceeded and do not exceed cost-based | ||||||
| 17 | benchmarks, which shall be developed to assess all | ||||||
| 18 | expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements covering | ||||||
| 19 | electricity generated by clean coal facilities, other than | ||||||
| 20 | the initial clean coal facility, by the procurement | ||||||
| 21 | administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff, | ||||||
| 22 | Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be | ||||||
| 23 | subject to Commission review and approval. | ||||||
| 24 | A utility party to a sourcing agreement shall | ||||||
| 25 | immediately retire any emission credits that it receives | ||||||
| 26 | in connection with the electricity covered by such | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | agreement. | ||||||
| 2 | Utilities shall maintain adequate records documenting | ||||||
| 3 | the purchases under the sourcing agreement to comply with | ||||||
| 4 | this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting with the | ||||||
| 5 | load forecast that must be filed with the Agency by July 15 | ||||||
| 6 | of each year, in accordance with subsection (d) of Section | ||||||
| 7 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 8 | A utility shall be deemed to have complied with the | ||||||
| 9 | clean coal portfolio standard specified in this subsection | ||||||
| 10 | (d) if the utility enters into a sourcing agreement as | ||||||
| 11 | required by this subsection (d). | ||||||
| 12 | (2) For purposes of this subsection (d), the required | ||||||
| 13 | execution of sourcing agreements with the initial clean | ||||||
| 14 | coal facility for a particular year shall be measured as a | ||||||
| 15 | percentage of the actual amount of electricity | ||||||
| 16 | (megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric utility to | ||||||
| 17 | eligible retail customers in the planning year ending | ||||||
| 18 | immediately prior to the agreement's execution. For | ||||||
| 19 | purposes of this subsection (d), the amount paid per | ||||||
| 20 | kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric | ||||||
| 21 | service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For | ||||||
| 22 | purposes of this subsection (d), the total amount paid for | ||||||
| 23 | electric service includes without limitation amounts paid | ||||||
| 24 | for supply, transmission, distribution, surcharges and | ||||||
| 25 | add-on taxes. | ||||||
| 26 | Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (d), the total amount paid under sourcing agreements with | ||||||
| 2 | clean coal facilities pursuant to the procurement plan for | ||||||
| 3 | any given year shall be reduced by an amount necessary to | ||||||
| 4 | limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the | ||||||
| 5 | costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by | ||||||
| 6 | eligible retail customers in connection with electric | ||||||
| 7 | service to: | ||||||
| 8 | (A) in 2010, no more than 0.5% of the amount paid | ||||||
| 9 | per kilowatthour by those customers during the year | ||||||
| 10 | ending May 31, 2009; | ||||||
| 11 | (B) in 2011, the greater of an additional 0.5% of | ||||||
| 12 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 13 | during the year ending May 31, 2010 or 1% of the amount | ||||||
| 14 | paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the | ||||||
| 15 | year ending May 31, 2009; | ||||||
| 16 | (C) in 2012, the greater of an additional 0.5% of | ||||||
| 17 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 18 | during the year ending May 31, 2011 or 1.5% of the | ||||||
| 19 | amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during | ||||||
| 20 | the year ending May 31, 2009; | ||||||
| 21 | (D) in 2013, the greater of an additional 0.5% of | ||||||
| 22 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 23 | during the year ending May 31, 2012 or 2% of the amount | ||||||
| 24 | paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the | ||||||
| 25 | year ending May 31, 2009; and | ||||||
| 26 | (E) thereafter, the total amount paid under | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | sourcing agreements with clean coal facilities | ||||||
| 2 | pursuant to the procurement plan for any single year | ||||||
| 3 | shall be reduced by an amount necessary to limit the | ||||||
| 4 | estimated average net increase due to the cost of | ||||||
| 5 | these resources included in the amounts paid by | ||||||
| 6 | eligible retail customers in connection with electric | ||||||
| 7 | service to no more than the greater of (i) 2.015% of | ||||||
| 8 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 9 | during the year ending May 31, 2009 or (ii) the | ||||||
| 10 | incremental amount per kilowatthour paid for these | ||||||
| 11 | resources in 2013. These requirements may be altered | ||||||
| 12 | only as provided by statute. | ||||||
| 13 | No later than June 30, 2015, the Commission shall | ||||||
| 14 | review the limitation on the total amount paid under | ||||||
| 15 | sourcing agreements, if any, with clean coal facilities | ||||||
| 16 | pursuant to this subsection (d) and report to the General | ||||||
| 17 | Assembly its findings as to whether that limitation unduly | ||||||
| 18 | constrains the amount of electricity generated by | ||||||
| 19 | cost-effective clean coal facilities that is covered by | ||||||
| 20 | sourcing agreements. | ||||||
| 21 | (3) Initial clean coal facility. In order to promote | ||||||
| 22 | development of clean coal facilities in Illinois, each | ||||||
| 23 | electric utility subject to this Section shall execute a | ||||||
| 24 | sourcing agreement to source electricity from a proposed | ||||||
| 25 | clean coal facility in Illinois (the "initial clean coal | ||||||
| 26 | facility") that will have a nameplate capacity of at least | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 500 MW when commercial operation commences, that has a | ||||||
| 2 | final Clean Air Act permit on June 1, 2009 (the effective | ||||||
| 3 | date of Public Act 95-1027), and that will meet the | ||||||
| 4 | definition of clean coal facility in Section 1-10 of this | ||||||
| 5 | Act when commercial operation commences. The sourcing | ||||||
| 6 | agreements with this initial clean coal facility shall be | ||||||
| 7 | subject to both approval of the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 8 | facility by the General Assembly and satisfaction of the | ||||||
| 9 | requirements of paragraph (4) of this subsection (d) and | ||||||
| 10 | shall be executed within 90 days after any such approval | ||||||
| 11 | by the General Assembly. The Agency and the Commission | ||||||
| 12 | shall have authority to inspect all books and records | ||||||
| 13 | associated with the initial clean coal facility during the | ||||||
| 14 | term of such a sourcing agreement. A utility's sourcing | ||||||
| 15 | agreement for electricity produced by the initial clean | ||||||
| 16 | coal facility shall include: | ||||||
| 17 | (A) a formula contractual price (the "contract | ||||||
| 18 | price") approved pursuant to paragraph (4) of this | ||||||
| 19 | subsection (d), which shall: | ||||||
| 20 | (i) be determined using a cost of service | ||||||
| 21 | methodology employing either a level or deferred | ||||||
| 22 | capital recovery component, based on a capital | ||||||
| 23 | structure consisting of 45% equity and 55% debt, | ||||||
| 24 | and a return on equity as may be approved by the | ||||||
| 25 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which in any | ||||||
| 26 | case may not exceed the lower of 11.5% or the rate | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | of return approved by the General Assembly | ||||||
| 2 | pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection (d); | ||||||
| 3 | and | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) provide that all miscellaneous net | ||||||
| 5 | revenue, including but not limited to net revenue | ||||||
| 6 | from the sale of emission allowances, if any, | ||||||
| 7 | substitute natural gas, if any, grants or other | ||||||
| 8 | support provided by the State of Illinois or the | ||||||
| 9 | United States Government, firm transmission | ||||||
| 10 | rights, if any, by-products produced by the | ||||||
| 11 | facility, energy or capacity derived from the | ||||||
| 12 | facility and not covered by a sourcing agreement | ||||||
| 13 | pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) | ||||||
| 14 | or item (5) of subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of | ||||||
| 15 | the Public Utilities Act, whether generated from | ||||||
| 16 | the synthesis gas derived from coal, from SNG, or | ||||||
| 17 | from natural gas, shall be credited against the | ||||||
| 18 | revenue requirement for this initial clean coal | ||||||
| 19 | facility; | ||||||
| 20 | (B) power purchase provisions, which shall: | ||||||
| 21 | (i) provide that the utility party to such | ||||||
| 22 | sourcing agreement shall pay the contract price | ||||||
| 23 | for electricity delivered under such sourcing | ||||||
| 24 | agreement; | ||||||
| 25 | (ii) require delivery of electricity to the | ||||||
| 26 | regional transmission organization market of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | utility that is party to such sourcing agreement; | ||||||
| 2 | (iii) require the utility party to such | ||||||
| 3 | sourcing agreement to buy from the initial clean | ||||||
| 4 | coal facility in each hour an amount of energy | ||||||
| 5 | equal to all clean coal energy made available from | ||||||
| 6 | the initial clean coal facility during such hour | ||||||
| 7 | times a fraction, the numerator of which is such | ||||||
| 8 | utility's retail market sales of electricity | ||||||
| 9 | (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State | ||||||
| 10 | during the prior calendar month and the | ||||||
| 11 | denominator of which is the total retail market | ||||||
| 12 | sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours | ||||||
| 13 | sold) in the State by utilities during such prior | ||||||
| 14 | month and the sales of electricity (expressed in | ||||||
| 15 | kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative | ||||||
| 16 | retail electric suppliers during such prior month | ||||||
| 17 | that are subject to the requirements of this | ||||||
| 18 | subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d) | ||||||
| 19 | of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act, | ||||||
| 20 | provided that the amount purchased by the utility | ||||||
| 21 | in any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of | ||||||
| 22 | this subsection (d); and | ||||||
| 23 | (iv) be considered pre-existing contracts in | ||||||
| 24 | such utility's procurement plans for eligible | ||||||
| 25 | retail customers; | ||||||
| 26 | (C) contract for differences provisions, which | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall: | ||||||
| 2 | (i) require the utility party to such sourcing | ||||||
| 3 | agreement to contract with the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 4 | facility in each hour with respect to an amount of | ||||||
| 5 | energy equal to all clean coal energy made | ||||||
| 6 | available from the initial clean coal facility | ||||||
| 7 | during such hour times a fraction, the numerator | ||||||
| 8 | of which is such utility's retail market sales of | ||||||
| 9 | electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in | ||||||
| 10 | the utility's service territory in the State | ||||||
| 11 | during the prior calendar month and the | ||||||
| 12 | denominator of which is the total retail market | ||||||
| 13 | sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours | ||||||
| 14 | sold) in the State by utilities during such prior | ||||||
| 15 | month and the sales of electricity (expressed in | ||||||
| 16 | kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative | ||||||
| 17 | retail electric suppliers during such prior month | ||||||
| 18 | that are subject to the requirements of this | ||||||
| 19 | subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d) | ||||||
| 20 | of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act, | ||||||
| 21 | provided that the amount paid by the utility in | ||||||
| 22 | any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (d); | ||||||
| 24 | (ii) provide that the utility's payment | ||||||
| 25 | obligation in respect of the quantity of | ||||||
| 26 | electricity determined pursuant to the preceding | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | clause (i) shall be limited to an amount equal to | ||||||
| 2 | (1) the difference between the contract price | ||||||
| 3 | determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) of | ||||||
| 4 | paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) and the | ||||||
| 5 | day-ahead price for electricity delivered to the | ||||||
| 6 | regional transmission organization market of the | ||||||
| 7 | utility that is party to such sourcing agreement | ||||||
| 8 | (or any successor delivery point at which such | ||||||
| 9 | utility's supply obligations are financially | ||||||
| 10 | settled on an hourly basis) (the "reference | ||||||
| 11 | price") on the day preceding the day on which the | ||||||
| 12 | electricity is delivered to the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 13 | facility busbar, multiplied by (2) the quantity of | ||||||
| 14 | electricity determined pursuant to the preceding | ||||||
| 15 | clause (i); and | ||||||
| 16 | (iii) not require the utility to take physical | ||||||
| 17 | delivery of the electricity produced by the | ||||||
| 18 | facility; | ||||||
| 19 | (D) general provisions, which shall: | ||||||
| 20 | (i) specify a term of no more than 30 years, | ||||||
| 21 | commencing on the commercial operation date of the | ||||||
| 22 | facility; | ||||||
| 23 | (ii) provide that utilities shall maintain | ||||||
| 24 | adequate records documenting purchases under the | ||||||
| 25 | sourcing agreements entered into to comply with | ||||||
| 26 | this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | with the load forecast that must be filed with the | ||||||
| 2 | Agency by July 15 of each year, in accordance with | ||||||
| 3 | subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 4 | Utilities Act; | ||||||
| 5 | (iii) provide that all costs associated with | ||||||
| 6 | the initial clean coal facility will be | ||||||
| 7 | periodically reported to the Federal Energy | ||||||
| 8 | Regulatory Commission and to purchasers in | ||||||
| 9 | accordance with applicable laws governing | ||||||
| 10 | cost-based wholesale power contracts; | ||||||
| 11 | (iv) permit the Illinois Power Agency to | ||||||
| 12 | assume ownership of the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 13 | facility, without monetary consideration and | ||||||
| 14 | otherwise on reasonable terms acceptable to the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency, if the Agency so requests no less than 3 | ||||||
| 16 | years prior to the end of the stated contract | ||||||
| 17 | term; | ||||||
| 18 | (v) require the owner of the initial clean | ||||||
| 19 | coal facility to provide documentation to the | ||||||
| 20 | Commission each year, starting in the facility's | ||||||
| 21 | first year of commercial operation, accurately | ||||||
| 22 | reporting the quantity of carbon emissions from | ||||||
| 23 | the facility that have been captured and | ||||||
| 24 | sequestered and report any quantities of carbon | ||||||
| 25 | released from the site or sites at which carbon | ||||||
| 26 | emissions were sequestered in prior years, based | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | on continuous monitoring of such sites. If, in any | ||||||
| 2 | year after the first year of commercial operation, | ||||||
| 3 | the owner of the facility fails to demonstrate | ||||||
| 4 | that the initial clean coal facility captured and | ||||||
| 5 | sequestered at least 50% of the total carbon | ||||||
| 6 | emissions that the facility would otherwise emit | ||||||
| 7 | or that sequestration of emissions from prior | ||||||
| 8 | years has failed, resulting in the release of | ||||||
| 9 | carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the owner of | ||||||
| 10 | the facility must offset excess emissions. Any | ||||||
| 11 | such carbon offsets must be permanent, additional, | ||||||
| 12 | verifiable, real, located within the State of | ||||||
| 13 | Illinois, and legally and practicably enforceable. | ||||||
| 14 | The cost of such offsets for the facility that are | ||||||
| 15 | not recoverable shall not exceed $15 million in | ||||||
| 16 | any given year. No costs of any such purchases of | ||||||
| 17 | carbon offsets may be recovered from a utility or | ||||||
| 18 | its customers. All carbon offsets purchased for | ||||||
| 19 | this purpose and any carbon emission credits | ||||||
| 20 | associated with sequestration of carbon from the | ||||||
| 21 | facility must be permanently retired. The initial | ||||||
| 22 | clean coal facility shall not forfeit its | ||||||
| 23 | designation as a clean coal facility if the | ||||||
| 24 | facility fails to fully comply with the applicable | ||||||
| 25 | carbon sequestration requirements in any given | ||||||
| 26 | year, provided the requisite offsets are | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | purchased. However, the Attorney General, on | ||||||
| 2 | behalf of the People of the State of Illinois, may | ||||||
| 3 | specifically enforce the facility's sequestration | ||||||
| 4 | requirement and the other terms of this contract | ||||||
| 5 | provision. Compliance with the sequestration | ||||||
| 6 | requirements and offset purchase requirements | ||||||
| 7 | specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) | ||||||
| 8 | shall be reviewed annually by an independent | ||||||
| 9 | expert retained by the owner of the initial clean | ||||||
| 10 | coal facility, with the advance written approval | ||||||
| 11 | of the Attorney General. The Commission may, in | ||||||
| 12 | the course of the review specified in item (vii), | ||||||
| 13 | reduce the allowable return on equity for the | ||||||
| 14 | facility if the facility willfully fails to comply | ||||||
| 15 | with the carbon capture and sequestration | ||||||
| 16 | requirements set forth in this item (v); | ||||||
| 17 | (vi) include limits on, and accordingly | ||||||
| 18 | provide for modification of, the amount the | ||||||
| 19 | utility is required to source under the sourcing | ||||||
| 20 | agreement consistent with paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| 21 | subsection (d); | ||||||
| 22 | (vii) require Commission review: (1) to | ||||||
| 23 | determine the justness, reasonableness, and | ||||||
| 24 | prudence of the inputs to the formula referenced | ||||||
| 25 | in subparagraphs (A)(i) through (A)(iii) of | ||||||
| 26 | paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), prior to an | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | adjustment in those inputs including, without | ||||||
| 2 | limitation, the capital structure and return on | ||||||
| 3 | equity, fuel costs, and other operations and | ||||||
| 4 | maintenance costs and (2) to approve the costs to | ||||||
| 5 | be passed through to customers under the sourcing | ||||||
| 6 | agreement by which the utility satisfies its | ||||||
| 7 | statutory obligations. Commission review shall | ||||||
| 8 | occur no less than every 3 years, regardless of | ||||||
| 9 | whether any adjustments have been proposed, and | ||||||
| 10 | shall be completed within 9 months; | ||||||
| 11 | (viii) limit the utility's obligation to such | ||||||
| 12 | amount as the utility is allowed to recover | ||||||
| 13 | through tariffs filed with the Commission, | ||||||
| 14 | provided that neither the clean coal facility nor | ||||||
| 15 | the utility waives any right to assert federal | ||||||
| 16 | pre-emption or any other argument in response to a | ||||||
| 17 | purported disallowance of recovery costs; | ||||||
| 18 | (ix) limit the utility's or alternative retail | ||||||
| 19 | electric supplier's obligation to incur any | ||||||
| 20 | liability until such time as the facility is in | ||||||
| 21 | commercial operation and generating power and | ||||||
| 22 | energy and such power and energy is being | ||||||
| 23 | delivered to the facility busbar; | ||||||
| 24 | (x) provide that the owner or owners of the | ||||||
| 25 | initial clean coal facility, which is the | ||||||
| 26 | counterparty to such sourcing agreement, shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | have the right from time to time to elect whether | ||||||
| 2 | the obligations of the utility party thereto shall | ||||||
| 3 | be governed by the power purchase provisions or | ||||||
| 4 | the contract for differences provisions; | ||||||
| 5 | (xi) append documentation showing that the | ||||||
| 6 | formula rate and contract, insofar as they relate | ||||||
| 7 | to the power purchase provisions, have been | ||||||
| 8 | approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory | ||||||
| 9 | Commission pursuant to Section 205 of the Federal | ||||||
| 10 | Power Act; | ||||||
| 11 | (xii) provide that any changes to the terms of | ||||||
| 12 | the contract, insofar as such changes relate to | ||||||
| 13 | the power purchase provisions, are subject to | ||||||
| 14 | review under the public interest standard applied | ||||||
| 15 | by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | ||||||
| 16 | pursuant to Sections 205 and 206 of the Federal | ||||||
| 17 | Power Act; and | ||||||
| 18 | (xiii) conform with customary lender | ||||||
| 19 | requirements in power purchase agreements used as | ||||||
| 20 | the basis for financing non-utility generators. | ||||||
| 21 | (4) Effective date of sourcing agreements with the | ||||||
| 22 | initial clean coal facility. Any proposed sourcing | ||||||
| 23 | agreement with the initial clean coal facility shall not | ||||||
| 24 | become effective unless the following reports are prepared | ||||||
| 25 | and submitted and authorizations and approvals obtained: | ||||||
| 26 | (i) Facility cost report. The owner of the initial | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | clean coal facility shall submit to the Commission, | ||||||
| 2 | the Agency, and the General Assembly a front-end | ||||||
| 3 | engineering and design study, a facility cost report, | ||||||
| 4 | method of financing (including but not limited to | ||||||
| 5 | structure and associated costs), and an operating and | ||||||
| 6 | maintenance cost quote for the facility (collectively | ||||||
| 7 | "facility cost report"), which shall be prepared in | ||||||
| 8 | accordance with the requirements of this paragraph (4) | ||||||
| 9 | of subsection (d) of this Section, and shall provide | ||||||
| 10 | the Commission and the Agency access to the work | ||||||
| 11 | papers, relied upon documents, and any other backup | ||||||
| 12 | documentation related to the facility cost report. | ||||||
| 13 | (ii) Commission report. Within 6 months following | ||||||
| 14 | receipt of the facility cost report, the Commission, | ||||||
| 15 | in consultation with the Agency, shall submit a report | ||||||
| 16 | to the General Assembly setting forth its analysis of | ||||||
| 17 | the facility cost report. Such report shall include, | ||||||
| 18 | but not be limited to, a comparison of the costs | ||||||
| 19 | associated with electricity generated by the initial | ||||||
| 20 | clean coal facility to the costs associated with | ||||||
| 21 | electricity generated by other types of generation | ||||||
| 22 | facilities, an analysis of the rate impacts on | ||||||
| 23 | residential and small business customers over the life | ||||||
| 24 | of the sourcing agreements, and an analysis of the | ||||||
| 25 | likelihood that the initial clean coal facility will | ||||||
| 26 | commence commercial operation by and be delivering | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | power to the facility's busbar by 2016. To assist in | ||||||
| 2 | the preparation of its report, the Commission, in | ||||||
| 3 | consultation with the Agency, may hire one or more | ||||||
| 4 | experts or consultants, the costs of which shall be | ||||||
| 5 | paid for by the owner of the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 6 | facility. The Commission and Agency may begin the | ||||||
| 7 | process of selecting such experts or consultants prior | ||||||
| 8 | to receipt of the facility cost report. | ||||||
| 9 | (iii) General Assembly approval. The proposed | ||||||
| 10 | sourcing agreements shall not take effect unless, | ||||||
| 11 | based on the facility cost report and the Commission's | ||||||
| 12 | report, the General Assembly enacts authorizing | ||||||
| 13 | legislation approving (A) the projected price, stated | ||||||
| 14 | in cents per kilowatthour, to be charged for | ||||||
| 15 | electricity generated by the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 16 | facility, (B) the projected impact on residential and | ||||||
| 17 | small business customers' bills over the life of the | ||||||
| 18 | sourcing agreements, and (C) the maximum allowable | ||||||
| 19 | return on equity for the project; and | ||||||
| 20 | (iv) Commission review. If the General Assembly | ||||||
| 21 | enacts authorizing legislation pursuant to | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraph (iii) approving a sourcing agreement, the | ||||||
| 23 | Commission shall, within 90 days of such enactment, | ||||||
| 24 | complete a review of such sourcing agreement. During | ||||||
| 25 | such time period, the Commission shall implement any | ||||||
| 26 | directive of the General Assembly, resolve any | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | disputes between the parties to the sourcing agreement | ||||||
| 2 | concerning the terms of such agreement, approve the | ||||||
| 3 | form of such agreement, and issue an order finding | ||||||
| 4 | that the sourcing agreement is prudent and reasonable. | ||||||
| 5 | The facility cost report shall be prepared as follows: | ||||||
| 6 | (A) The facility cost report shall be prepared by | ||||||
| 7 | duly licensed engineering and construction firms | ||||||
| 8 | detailing the estimated capital costs payable to one | ||||||
| 9 | or more contractors or suppliers for the engineering, | ||||||
| 10 | procurement and construction of the components | ||||||
| 11 | comprising the initial clean coal facility and the | ||||||
| 12 | estimated costs of operation and maintenance of the | ||||||
| 13 | facility. The facility cost report shall include: | ||||||
| 14 | (i) an estimate of the capital cost of the | ||||||
| 15 | core plant based on one or more front end | ||||||
| 16 | engineering and design studies for the | ||||||
| 17 | gasification island and related facilities. The | ||||||
| 18 | core plant shall include all civil, structural, | ||||||
| 19 | mechanical, electrical, control, and safety | ||||||
| 20 | systems. | ||||||
| 21 | (ii) an estimate of the capital cost of the | ||||||
| 22 | balance of the plant, including any capital costs | ||||||
| 23 | associated with sequestration of carbon dioxide | ||||||
| 24 | emissions and all interconnects and interfaces | ||||||
| 25 | required to operate the facility, such as | ||||||
| 26 | transmission of electricity, construction or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | backfeed power supply, pipelines to transport | ||||||
| 2 | substitute natural gas or carbon dioxide, potable | ||||||
| 3 | water supply, natural gas supply, water supply, | ||||||
| 4 | water discharge, landfill, access roads, and coal | ||||||
| 5 | delivery. | ||||||
| 6 | The quoted construction costs shall be expressed | ||||||
| 7 | in nominal dollars as of the date that the quote is | ||||||
| 8 | prepared and shall include capitalized financing costs | ||||||
| 9 | during construction, taxes, insurance, and other | ||||||
| 10 | owner's costs, and an assumed escalation in materials | ||||||
| 11 | and labor beyond the date as of which the construction | ||||||
| 12 | cost quote is expressed. | ||||||
| 13 | (B) The front end engineering and design study for | ||||||
| 14 | the gasification island and the cost study for the | ||||||
| 15 | balance of plant shall include sufficient design work | ||||||
| 16 | to permit quantification of major categories of | ||||||
| 17 | materials, commodities and labor hours, and receipt of | ||||||
| 18 | quotes from vendors of major equipment required to | ||||||
| 19 | construct and operate the clean coal facility. | ||||||
| 20 | (C) The facility cost report shall also include an | ||||||
| 21 | operating and maintenance cost quote that will provide | ||||||
| 22 | the estimated cost of delivered fuel, personnel, | ||||||
| 23 | maintenance contracts, chemicals, catalysts, | ||||||
| 24 | consumables, spares, and other fixed and variable | ||||||
| 25 | operations and maintenance costs. The delivered fuel | ||||||
| 26 | cost estimate will be provided by a recognized third | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | party expert or experts in the fuel and transportation | ||||||
| 2 | industries. The balance of the operating and | ||||||
| 3 | maintenance cost quote, excluding delivered fuel | ||||||
| 4 | costs, will be developed based on the inputs provided | ||||||
| 5 | by duly licensed engineering and construction firms | ||||||
| 6 | performing the construction cost quote, potential | ||||||
| 7 | vendors under long-term service agreements and plant | ||||||
| 8 | operating agreements, or recognized third party plant | ||||||
| 9 | operator or operators. | ||||||
| 10 | The operating and maintenance cost quote | ||||||
| 11 | (including the cost of the front end engineering and | ||||||
| 12 | design study) shall be expressed in nominal dollars as | ||||||
| 13 | of the date that the quote is prepared and shall | ||||||
| 14 | include taxes, insurance, and other owner's costs, and | ||||||
| 15 | an assumed escalation in materials and labor beyond | ||||||
| 16 | the date as of which the operating and maintenance | ||||||
| 17 | cost quote is expressed. | ||||||
| 18 | (D) The facility cost report shall also include an | ||||||
| 19 | analysis of the initial clean coal facility's ability | ||||||
| 20 | to deliver power and energy into the applicable | ||||||
| 21 | regional transmission organization markets and an | ||||||
| 22 | analysis of the expected capacity factor for the | ||||||
| 23 | initial clean coal facility. | ||||||
| 24 | (E) Amounts paid to third parties unrelated to the | ||||||
| 25 | owner or owners of the initial clean coal facility to | ||||||
| 26 | prepare the core plant construction cost quote, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | including the front end engineering and design study, | ||||||
| 2 | and the operating and maintenance cost quote will be | ||||||
| 3 | reimbursed through Coal Development Bonds. | ||||||
| 4 | (5) Re-powering and retrofitting coal-fired power | ||||||
| 5 | plants previously owned by Illinois utilities to qualify | ||||||
| 6 | as clean coal facilities. During the 2009 procurement | ||||||
| 7 | planning process and thereafter, the Agency and the | ||||||
| 8 | Commission shall consider sourcing agreements covering | ||||||
| 9 | electricity generated by power plants that were previously | ||||||
| 10 | owned by Illinois utilities and that have been or will be | ||||||
| 11 | converted into clean coal facilities, as defined by | ||||||
| 12 | Section 1-10 of this Act. Pursuant to such procurement | ||||||
| 13 | planning process, the owners of such facilities may | ||||||
| 14 | propose to the Agency sourcing agreements with utilities | ||||||
| 15 | and alternative retail electric suppliers required to | ||||||
| 16 | comply with subsection (d) of this Section and item (5) of | ||||||
| 17 | subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 18 | Act, covering electricity generated by such facilities. In | ||||||
| 19 | the case of sourcing agreements that are power purchase | ||||||
| 20 | agreements, the contract price for electricity sales shall | ||||||
| 21 | be established on a cost of service basis. In the case of | ||||||
| 22 | sourcing agreements that are contracts for differences, | ||||||
| 23 | the contract price from which the reference price is | ||||||
| 24 | subtracted shall be established on a cost of service | ||||||
| 25 | basis. The Agency and the Commission may approve any such | ||||||
| 26 | utility sourcing agreements that do not exceed cost-based | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | benchmarks developed by the procurement administrator, in | ||||||
| 2 | consultation with the Commission staff, Agency staff and | ||||||
| 3 | the procurement monitor, subject to Commission review and | ||||||
| 4 | approval. The Commission shall have authority to inspect | ||||||
| 5 | all books and records associated with these clean coal | ||||||
| 6 | facilities during the term of any such contract. | ||||||
| 7 | (6) Costs incurred under this subsection (d) or | ||||||
| 8 | pursuant to a contract entered into under this subsection | ||||||
| 9 | (d) shall be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in | ||||||
| 10 | amount and the electric utility shall be entitled to full | ||||||
| 11 | cost recovery pursuant to the tariffs filed with the | ||||||
| 12 | Commission. | ||||||
| 13 | (d-5) Zero emission standard. | ||||||
| 14 | (1) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on | ||||||
| 15 | June 1, 2017, the Agency shall, for electric utilities | ||||||
| 16 | that serve at least 100,000 retail customers in this | ||||||
| 17 | State, procure contracts with zero emission facilities | ||||||
| 18 | that are reasonably capable of generating cost-effective | ||||||
| 19 | zero emission credits in an amount approximately equal to | ||||||
| 20 | 16% of the actual amount of electricity delivered by each | ||||||
| 21 | electric utility to retail customers in the State during | ||||||
| 22 | calendar year 2014. For an electric utility serving fewer | ||||||
| 23 | than 100,000 retail customers in this State that | ||||||
| 24 | requested, under Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 25 | Act, that the Agency procure power and energy for all or a | ||||||
| 26 | portion of the utility's Illinois load for the delivery | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | year commencing June 1, 2016, the Agency shall procure | ||||||
| 2 | contracts with zero emission facilities that are | ||||||
| 3 | reasonably capable of generating cost-effective zero | ||||||
| 4 | emission credits in an amount approximately equal to 16% | ||||||
| 5 | of the portion of power and energy to be procured by the | ||||||
| 6 | Agency for the utility. The duration of the contracts | ||||||
| 7 | procured under this subsection (d-5) shall be for a term | ||||||
| 8 | of 10 years ending May 31, 2027. The quantity of zero | ||||||
| 9 | emission credits to be procured under the contracts shall | ||||||
| 10 | be all of the zero emission credits generated by the zero | ||||||
| 11 | emission facility in each delivery year; however, if the | ||||||
| 12 | zero emission facility is owned by more than one entity, | ||||||
| 13 | then the quantity of zero emission credits to be procured | ||||||
| 14 | under the contracts shall be the amount of zero emission | ||||||
| 15 | credits that are generated from the portion of the zero | ||||||
| 16 | emission facility that is owned by the winning supplier. | ||||||
| 17 | The 16% value identified in this paragraph (1) is the | ||||||
| 18 | average of the percentage targets in subparagraph (B) of | ||||||
| 19 | paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section for the 5 | ||||||
| 20 | delivery years beginning June 1, 2017. | ||||||
| 21 | The procurement process shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 22 | following provisions: | ||||||
| 23 | (A) Those zero emission facilities that intend to | ||||||
| 24 | participate in the procurement shall submit to the | ||||||
| 25 | Agency the following eligibility information for each | ||||||
| 26 | zero emission facility on or before the date | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | established by the Agency: | ||||||
| 2 | (i) the in-service date and remaining useful | ||||||
| 3 | life of the zero emission facility; | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) the amount of power generated annually | ||||||
| 5 | for each of the years 2005 through 2015, and the | ||||||
| 6 | projected zero emission credits to be generated | ||||||
| 7 | over the remaining useful life of the zero | ||||||
| 8 | emission facility, which shall be used to | ||||||
| 9 | determine the capability of each facility; | ||||||
| 10 | (iii) the annual zero emission facility cost | ||||||
| 11 | projections, expressed on a per megawatthour | ||||||
| 12 | basis, over the next 6 delivery years, which shall | ||||||
| 13 | include the following: operation and maintenance | ||||||
| 14 | expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which | ||||||
| 15 | shall be allocated using the methodology developed | ||||||
| 16 | by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations; | ||||||
| 17 | fuel expenditures; non-fuel capital expenditures; | ||||||
| 18 | spent fuel expenditures; a return on working | ||||||
| 19 | capital; the cost of operational and market risks | ||||||
| 20 | that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and | ||||||
| 21 | any other costs necessary for continued | ||||||
| 22 | operations, provided that "necessary" means, for | ||||||
| 23 | purposes of this item (iii), that the costs could | ||||||
| 24 | reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations | ||||||
| 25 | of the zero emission facility; and | ||||||
| 26 | (iv) a commitment to continue operating, for | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the duration of the contract or contracts executed | ||||||
| 2 | under the procurement held under this subsection | ||||||
| 3 | (d-5), the zero emission facility that produces | ||||||
| 4 | the zero emission credits to be procured in the | ||||||
| 5 | procurement. | ||||||
| 6 | The information described in item (iii) of this | ||||||
| 7 | subparagraph (A) may be submitted on a confidential | ||||||
| 8 | basis and shall be treated and maintained by the | ||||||
| 9 | Agency, the procurement administrator, and the | ||||||
| 10 | Commission as confidential and proprietary and exempt | ||||||
| 11 | from disclosure under subparagraphs (a) and (g) of | ||||||
| 12 | paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of | ||||||
| 13 | Information Act. The Office of Attorney General shall | ||||||
| 14 | have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of, | ||||||
| 15 | such information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the | ||||||
| 16 | Attorney General Act. | ||||||
| 17 | (B) The price for each zero emission credit | ||||||
| 18 | procured under this subsection (d-5) for each delivery | ||||||
| 19 | year shall be in an amount that equals the Social Cost | ||||||
| 20 | of Carbon, expressed on a price per megawatthour | ||||||
| 21 | basis. However, to ensure that the procurement remains | ||||||
| 22 | affordable to retail customers in this State if | ||||||
| 23 | electricity prices increase, the price in an | ||||||
| 24 | applicable delivery year shall be reduced below the | ||||||
| 25 | Social Cost of Carbon by the amount ("Price | ||||||
| 26 | Adjustment") by which the market price index for the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | applicable delivery year exceeds the baseline market | ||||||
| 2 | price index for the consecutive 12-month period ending | ||||||
| 3 | May 31, 2016. If the Price Adjustment is greater than | ||||||
| 4 | or equal to the Social Cost of Carbon in an applicable | ||||||
| 5 | delivery year, then no payments shall be due in that | ||||||
| 6 | delivery year. The components of this calculation are | ||||||
| 7 | defined as follows: | ||||||
| 8 | (i) Social Cost of Carbon: The Social Cost of | ||||||
| 9 | Carbon is $16.50 per megawatthour, which is based | ||||||
| 10 | on the U.S. Interagency Working Group on Social | ||||||
| 11 | Cost of Carbon's price in the August 2016 | ||||||
| 12 | Technical Update using a 3% discount rate, | ||||||
| 13 | adjusted for inflation for each year of the | ||||||
| 14 | program. Beginning with the delivery year | ||||||
| 15 | commencing June 1, 2023, the price per | ||||||
| 16 | megawatthour shall increase by $1 per | ||||||
| 17 | megawatthour, and continue to increase by an | ||||||
| 18 | additional $1 per megawatthour each delivery year | ||||||
| 19 | thereafter. | ||||||
| 20 | (ii) Baseline market price index: The baseline | ||||||
| 21 | market price index for the consecutive 12-month | ||||||
| 22 | period ending May 31, 2016 is $31.40 per | ||||||
| 23 | megawatthour, which is based on the sum of (aa) | ||||||
| 24 | the average day-ahead energy price across all | ||||||
| 25 | hours of such 12-month period at the PJM | ||||||
| 26 | Interconnection LLC Northern Illinois Hub, (bb) | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 50% multiplied by the Base Residual Auction, or | ||||||
| 2 | its successor, capacity price for the rest of the | ||||||
| 3 | RTO zone group determined by PJM Interconnection | ||||||
| 4 | LLC, divided by 24 hours per day, and (cc) 50% | ||||||
| 5 | multiplied by the Planning Resource Auction, or | ||||||
| 6 | its successor, capacity price for Zone 4 | ||||||
| 7 | determined by the Midcontinent Independent System | ||||||
| 8 | Operator, Inc., divided by 24 hours per day. | ||||||
| 9 | (iii) Market price index: The market price | ||||||
| 10 | index for a delivery year shall be the sum of | ||||||
| 11 | projected energy prices and projected capacity | ||||||
| 12 | prices determined as follows: | ||||||
| 13 | (aa) Projected energy prices: the | ||||||
| 14 | projected energy prices for the applicable | ||||||
| 15 | delivery year shall be calculated once for the | ||||||
| 16 | year using the forward market price for the | ||||||
| 17 | PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois | ||||||
| 18 | Hub. The forward market price shall be | ||||||
| 19 | calculated as follows: the energy forward | ||||||
| 20 | prices for each month of the applicable | ||||||
| 21 | delivery year averaged for each trade date | ||||||
| 22 | during the calendar year immediately preceding | ||||||
| 23 | that delivery year to produce a single energy | ||||||
| 24 | forward price for the delivery year. The | ||||||
| 25 | forward market price calculation shall use | ||||||
| 26 | data published by the Intercontinental | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Exchange, or its successor. | ||||||
| 2 | (bb) Projected capacity prices: | ||||||
| 3 | (I) For the delivery years commencing | ||||||
| 4 | June 1, 2017, June 1, 2018, and June 1, | ||||||
| 5 | 2019, the projected capacity price shall | ||||||
| 6 | be equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied | ||||||
| 7 | by the Base Residual Auction, or its | ||||||
| 8 | successor, price for the rest of the RTO | ||||||
| 9 | zone group as determined by PJM | ||||||
| 10 | Interconnection LLC, divided by 24 hours | ||||||
| 11 | per day and, (2) 50% multiplied by the | ||||||
| 12 | resource auction price determined in the | ||||||
| 13 | resource auction administered by the | ||||||
| 14 | Midcontinent Independent System Operator, | ||||||
| 15 | Inc., in which the largest percentage of | ||||||
| 16 | load cleared for Local Resource Zone 4, | ||||||
| 17 | divided by 24 hours per day, and where | ||||||
| 18 | such price is determined by the | ||||||
| 19 | Midcontinent Independent System Operator, | ||||||
| 20 | Inc. | ||||||
| 21 | (II) For the delivery year commencing | ||||||
| 22 | June 1, 2020, and each year thereafter, | ||||||
| 23 | the projected capacity price shall be | ||||||
| 24 | equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied by | ||||||
| 25 | the Base Residual Auction, or its | ||||||
| 26 | successor, price for the ComEd zone as | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | determined by PJM Interconnection LLC, | ||||||
| 2 | divided by 24 hours per day, and (2) 50% | ||||||
| 3 | multiplied by the resource auction price | ||||||
| 4 | determined in the resource auction | ||||||
| 5 | administered by the Midcontinent | ||||||
| 6 | Independent System Operator, Inc., in | ||||||
| 7 | which the largest percentage of load | ||||||
| 8 | cleared for Local Resource Zone 4, divided | ||||||
| 9 | by 24 hours per day, and where such price | ||||||
| 10 | is determined by the Midcontinent | ||||||
| 11 | Independent System Operator, Inc. | ||||||
| 12 | For purposes of this subsection (d-5): | ||||||
| 13 | "Rest of the RTO" and "ComEd Zone" shall have | ||||||
| 14 | the meaning ascribed to them by PJM | ||||||
| 15 | Interconnection, LLC. | ||||||
| 16 | "RTO" means regional transmission | ||||||
| 17 | organization. | ||||||
| 18 | (C) No later than 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 19 | effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall | ||||||
| 20 | publish its proposed zero emission standard | ||||||
| 21 | procurement plan. The plan shall be consistent with | ||||||
| 22 | the provisions of this paragraph (1) and shall provide | ||||||
| 23 | that winning bids shall be selected based on public | ||||||
| 24 | interest criteria that include, but are not limited | ||||||
| 25 | to, minimizing carbon dioxide emissions that result | ||||||
| 26 | from electricity consumed in Illinois and minimizing | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter | ||||||
| 2 | emissions that adversely affect the citizens of this | ||||||
| 3 | State. In particular, the selection of winning bids | ||||||
| 4 | shall take into account the incremental environmental | ||||||
| 5 | benefits resulting from the procurement, such as any | ||||||
| 6 | existing environmental benefits that are preserved by | ||||||
| 7 | the procurements held under Public Act 99-906 and | ||||||
| 8 | would cease to exist if the procurements were not | ||||||
| 9 | held, including the preservation of zero emission | ||||||
| 10 | facilities. The plan shall also describe in detail how | ||||||
| 11 | each public interest factor shall be considered and | ||||||
| 12 | weighted in the bid selection process to ensure that | ||||||
| 13 | the public interest criteria are applied to the | ||||||
| 14 | procurement and given full effect. | ||||||
| 15 | For purposes of developing the plan, the Agency | ||||||
| 16 | shall consider any reports issued by a State agency, | ||||||
| 17 | board, or commission under House Resolution 1146 of | ||||||
| 18 | the 98th General Assembly and paragraph (4) of | ||||||
| 19 | subsection (d) of this Section, as well as publicly | ||||||
| 20 | available analyses and studies performed by or for | ||||||
| 21 | regional transmission organizations that serve the | ||||||
| 22 | State and their independent market monitors. | ||||||
| 23 | Upon publishing of the zero emission standard | ||||||
| 24 | procurement plan, copies of the plan shall be posted | ||||||
| 25 | and made publicly available on the Agency's website. | ||||||
| 26 | All interested parties shall have 10 days following | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the date of posting to provide comment to the Agency on | ||||||
| 2 | the plan. All comments shall be posted to the Agency's | ||||||
| 3 | website. Following the end of the comment period, but | ||||||
| 4 | no more than 60 days later than June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 5 | effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall | ||||||
| 6 | revise the plan as necessary based on the comments | ||||||
| 7 | received and file its zero emission standard | ||||||
| 8 | procurement plan with the Commission. | ||||||
| 9 | If the Commission determines that the plan will | ||||||
| 10 | result in the procurement of cost-effective zero | ||||||
| 11 | emission credits, then the Commission shall, after | ||||||
| 12 | notice and hearing, but no later than 45 days after the | ||||||
| 13 | Agency filed the plan, approve the plan or approve | ||||||
| 14 | with modification. For purposes of this subsection | ||||||
| 15 | (d-5), "cost effective" means the projected costs of | ||||||
| 16 | procuring zero emission credits from zero emission | ||||||
| 17 | facilities do not cause the limit stated in paragraph | ||||||
| 18 | (2) of this subsection to be exceeded. | ||||||
| 19 | (C-5) As part of the Commission's review and | ||||||
| 20 | acceptance or rejection of the procurement results, | ||||||
| 21 | the Commission shall, in its public notice of | ||||||
| 22 | successful bidders: | ||||||
| 23 | (i) identify how the winning bids satisfy the | ||||||
| 24 | public interest criteria described in subparagraph | ||||||
| 25 | (C) of this paragraph (1) of minimizing carbon | ||||||
| 26 | dioxide emissions that result from electricity | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur | ||||||
| 2 | dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter | ||||||
| 3 | emissions that adversely affect the citizens of | ||||||
| 4 | this State; | ||||||
| 5 | (ii) specifically address how the selection of | ||||||
| 6 | winning bids takes into account the incremental | ||||||
| 7 | environmental benefits resulting from the | ||||||
| 8 | procurement, including any existing environmental | ||||||
| 9 | benefits that are preserved by the procurements | ||||||
| 10 | held under Public Act 99-906 and would have ceased | ||||||
| 11 | to exist if the procurements had not been held, | ||||||
| 12 | such as the preservation of zero emission | ||||||
| 13 | facilities; | ||||||
| 14 | (iii) quantify the environmental benefit of | ||||||
| 15 | preserving the resources identified in item (ii) | ||||||
| 16 | of this subparagraph (C-5), including the | ||||||
| 17 | following: | ||||||
| 18 | (aa) the value of avoided greenhouse gas | ||||||
| 19 | emissions measured as the product of the zero | ||||||
| 20 | emission facilities' output over the contract | ||||||
| 21 | term multiplied by the U.S. Environmental | ||||||
| 22 | Protection Agency eGrid subregion carbon | ||||||
| 23 | dioxide emission rate and the U.S. Interagency | ||||||
| 24 | Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon's price | ||||||
| 25 | in the August 2016 Technical Update using a 3% | ||||||
| 26 | discount rate, adjusted for inflation for each | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | delivery year; and | ||||||
| 2 | (bb) the costs of replacement with other | ||||||
| 3 | zero carbon dioxide resources, including wind | ||||||
| 4 | and photovoltaic, based upon the simple | ||||||
| 5 | average of the following: | ||||||
| 6 | (I) the price, or if there is more | ||||||
| 7 | than one price, the average of the prices, | ||||||
| 8 | paid for renewable energy credits from new | ||||||
| 9 | utility-scale wind projects in the | ||||||
| 10 | procurement events specified in item (i) | ||||||
| 11 | of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 12 | subsection (c) of this Section; and | ||||||
| 13 | (II) the price, or if there is more | ||||||
| 14 | than one price, the average of the prices, | ||||||
| 15 | paid for renewable energy credits from new | ||||||
| 16 | utility-scale solar projects and | ||||||
| 17 | brownfield site photovoltaic projects in | ||||||
| 18 | the procurement events specified in item | ||||||
| 19 | (ii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) | ||||||
| 20 | of subsection (c) of this Section and, | ||||||
| 21 | after January 1, 2015, renewable energy | ||||||
| 22 | credits from photovoltaic distributed | ||||||
| 23 | generation projects in procurement events | ||||||
| 24 | held under subsection (c) of this Section. | ||||||
| 25 | Each utility shall enter into binding contractual | ||||||
| 26 | arrangements with the winning suppliers. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | The procurement described in this subsection | ||||||
| 2 | (d-5), including, but not limited to, the execution of | ||||||
| 3 | all contracts procured, shall be completed no later | ||||||
| 4 | than May 10, 2017. Based on the effective date of | ||||||
| 5 | Public Act 99-906, the Agency and Commission may, as | ||||||
| 6 | appropriate, modify the various dates and timelines | ||||||
| 7 | under this subparagraph and subparagraphs (C) and (D) | ||||||
| 8 | of this paragraph (1). The procurement and plan | ||||||
| 9 | approval processes required by this subsection (d-5) | ||||||
| 10 | shall be conducted in conjunction with the procurement | ||||||
| 11 | and plan approval processes required by subsection (c) | ||||||
| 12 | of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 13 | Utilities Act, to the extent practicable. | ||||||
| 14 | Notwithstanding whether a procurement event is | ||||||
| 15 | conducted under Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 16 | Utilities Act, the Agency shall immediately initiate a | ||||||
| 17 | procurement process on June 1, 2017 (the effective | ||||||
| 18 | date of Public Act 99-906). | ||||||
| 19 | (D) Following the procurement event described in | ||||||
| 20 | this paragraph (1) and consistent with subparagraph | ||||||
| 21 | (B) of this paragraph (1), the Agency shall calculate | ||||||
| 22 | the payments to be made under each contract for the | ||||||
| 23 | next delivery year based on the market price index for | ||||||
| 24 | that delivery year. The Agency shall publish the | ||||||
| 25 | payment calculations no later than May 25, 2017 and | ||||||
| 26 | every May 25 thereafter. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (E) Notwithstanding the requirements of this | ||||||
| 2 | subsection (d-5), the contracts executed under this | ||||||
| 3 | subsection (d-5) shall provide that the zero emission | ||||||
| 4 | facility may, as applicable, suspend or terminate | ||||||
| 5 | performance under the contracts in the following | ||||||
| 6 | instances: | ||||||
| 7 | (i) A zero emission facility shall be excused | ||||||
| 8 | from its performance under the contract for any | ||||||
| 9 | cause beyond the control of the resource, | ||||||
| 10 | including, but not restricted to, acts of God, | ||||||
| 11 | flood, drought, earthquake, storm, fire, | ||||||
| 12 | lightning, epidemic, war, riot, civil disturbance | ||||||
| 13 | or disobedience, labor dispute, labor or material | ||||||
| 14 | shortage, sabotage, acts of public enemy, | ||||||
| 15 | explosions, orders, regulations or restrictions | ||||||
| 16 | imposed by governmental, military, or lawfully | ||||||
| 17 | established civilian authorities, which, in any of | ||||||
| 18 | the foregoing cases, by exercise of commercially | ||||||
| 19 | reasonable efforts the zero emission facility | ||||||
| 20 | could not reasonably have been expected to avoid, | ||||||
| 21 | and which, by the exercise of commercially | ||||||
| 22 | reasonable efforts, it has been unable to | ||||||
| 23 | overcome. In such event, the zero emission | ||||||
| 24 | facility shall be excused from performance for the | ||||||
| 25 | duration of the event, including, but not limited | ||||||
| 26 | to, delivery of zero emission credits, and no | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | payment shall be due to the zero emission facility | ||||||
| 2 | during the duration of the event. | ||||||
| 3 | (ii) A zero emission facility shall be | ||||||
| 4 | permitted to terminate the contract if legislation | ||||||
| 5 | is enacted into law by the General Assembly that | ||||||
| 6 | imposes or authorizes a new tax, special | ||||||
| 7 | assessment, or fee on the generation of | ||||||
| 8 | electricity, the ownership or leasehold of a | ||||||
| 9 | generating unit, or the privilege or occupation of | ||||||
| 10 | such generation, ownership, or leasehold of | ||||||
| 11 | generation units by a zero emission facility. | ||||||
| 12 | However, the provisions of this item (ii) do not | ||||||
| 13 | apply to any generally applicable tax, special | ||||||
| 14 | assessment or fee, or requirements imposed by | ||||||
| 15 | federal law. | ||||||
| 16 | (iii) A zero emission facility shall be | ||||||
| 17 | permitted to terminate the contract in the event | ||||||
| 18 | that the resource requires capital expenditures in | ||||||
| 19 | excess of $40,000,000 that were neither known nor | ||||||
| 20 | reasonably foreseeable at the time it executed the | ||||||
| 21 | contract and that a prudent owner or operator of | ||||||
| 22 | such resource would not undertake. | ||||||
| 23 | (iv) A zero emission facility shall be | ||||||
| 24 | permitted to terminate the contract in the event | ||||||
| 25 | the Nuclear Regulatory Commission terminates the | ||||||
| 26 | resource's license. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (F) If the zero emission facility elects to | ||||||
| 2 | terminate a contract under subparagraph (E) of this | ||||||
| 3 | paragraph (1), then the Commission shall reopen the | ||||||
| 4 | docket in which the Commission approved the zero | ||||||
| 5 | emission standard procurement plan under subparagraph | ||||||
| 6 | (C) of this paragraph (1) and, after notice and | ||||||
| 7 | hearing, enter an order acknowledging the contract | ||||||
| 8 | termination election if such termination is consistent | ||||||
| 9 | with the provisions of this subsection (d-5). | ||||||
| 10 | (2) For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the amount | ||||||
| 11 | paid per kilowatthour means the total amount paid for | ||||||
| 12 | electric service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. | ||||||
| 13 | For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the total amount | ||||||
| 14 | paid for electric service includes, without limitation, | ||||||
| 15 | amounts paid for supply, transmission, distribution, | ||||||
| 16 | surcharges, and add-on taxes. | ||||||
| 17 | Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection | ||||||
| 18 | (d-5), the contracts executed under this subsection (d-5) | ||||||
| 19 | shall provide that the total of zero emission credits | ||||||
| 20 | procured under a procurement plan shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 21 | limitations of this paragraph (2). For each delivery year, | ||||||
| 22 | the contractual volume receiving payments in such year | ||||||
| 23 | shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the | ||||||
| 24 | amount necessary to limit the net increase that delivery | ||||||
| 25 | year to the costs of those credits included in the amounts | ||||||
| 26 | paid by eligible retail customers in connection with | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | electric service to no more than 1.65% of the amount paid | ||||||
| 2 | per kilowatthour by eligible retail customers during the | ||||||
| 3 | year ending May 31, 2009. The result of this computation | ||||||
| 4 | shall apply to and reduce the procurement for all retail | ||||||
| 5 | customers, and all those customers shall pay the same | ||||||
| 6 | single, uniform cents per kilowatthour charge under | ||||||
| 7 | subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 8 | Act. To arrive at a maximum dollar amount of zero emission | ||||||
| 9 | credits to be paid for the particular delivery year, the | ||||||
| 10 | resulting per kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the | ||||||
| 11 | actual amount of kilowatthours of electricity delivered by | ||||||
| 12 | the electric utility in the delivery year immediately | ||||||
| 13 | prior to the procurement, to all retail customers in its | ||||||
| 14 | service territory. Unpaid contractual volume for any | ||||||
| 15 | delivery year shall be paid in any subsequent delivery | ||||||
| 16 | year in which such payments can be made without exceeding | ||||||
| 17 | the amount specified in this paragraph (2). The | ||||||
| 18 | calculations required by this paragraph (2) shall be made | ||||||
| 19 | only once for each procurement plan year. Once the | ||||||
| 20 | determination as to the amount of zero emission credits to | ||||||
| 21 | be paid is made based on the calculations set forth in this | ||||||
| 22 | paragraph (2), no subsequent rate impact determinations | ||||||
| 23 | shall be made and no adjustments to those contract amounts | ||||||
| 24 | shall be allowed. All costs incurred under those contracts | ||||||
| 25 | and in implementing this subsection (d-5) shall be | ||||||
| 26 | recovered by the electric utility as provided in this | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Section. | ||||||
| 2 | No later than June 30, 2019, the Commission shall | ||||||
| 3 | review the limitation on the amount of zero emission | ||||||
| 4 | credits procured under this subsection (d-5) and report to | ||||||
| 5 | the General Assembly its findings as to whether that | ||||||
| 6 | limitation unduly constrains the procurement of | ||||||
| 7 | cost-effective zero emission credits. | ||||||
| 8 | (3) Six years after the execution of a contract under | ||||||
| 9 | this subsection (d-5), the Agency shall determine whether | ||||||
| 10 | the actual zero emission credit payments received by the | ||||||
| 11 | supplier over the 6-year period exceed the Average ZEC | ||||||
| 12 | Payment. In addition, at the end of the term of a contract | ||||||
| 13 | executed under this subsection (d-5), or at the time, if | ||||||
| 14 | any, a zero emission facility's contract is terminated | ||||||
| 15 | under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 16 | (d-5), then the Agency shall determine whether the actual | ||||||
| 17 | zero emission credit payments received by the supplier | ||||||
| 18 | over the term of the contract exceed the Average ZEC | ||||||
| 19 | Payment, after taking into account any amounts previously | ||||||
| 20 | credited back to the utility under this paragraph (3). If | ||||||
| 21 | the Agency determines that the actual zero emission credit | ||||||
| 22 | payments received by the supplier over the relevant period | ||||||
| 23 | exceed the Average ZEC Payment, then the supplier shall | ||||||
| 24 | credit the difference back to the utility. The amount of | ||||||
| 25 | the credit shall be remitted to the applicable electric | ||||||
| 26 | utility no later than 120 days after the Agency's | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | determination, which the utility shall reflect as a credit | ||||||
| 2 | on its retail customer bills as soon as practicable; | ||||||
| 3 | however, the credit remitted to the utility shall not | ||||||
| 4 | exceed the total amount of payments received by the | ||||||
| 5 | facility under its contract. | ||||||
| 6 | For purposes of this Section, the Average ZEC Payment | ||||||
| 7 | shall be calculated by multiplying the quantity of zero | ||||||
| 8 | emission credits delivered under the contract times the | ||||||
| 9 | average contract price. The average contract price shall | ||||||
| 10 | be determined by subtracting the amount calculated under | ||||||
| 11 | subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3) from the amount | ||||||
| 12 | calculated under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (3), | ||||||
| 13 | as follows: | ||||||
| 14 | (A) The average of the Social Cost of Carbon, as | ||||||
| 15 | defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this | ||||||
| 16 | subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract. | ||||||
| 17 | (B) The average of the market price indices, as | ||||||
| 18 | defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this | ||||||
| 19 | subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract, | ||||||
| 20 | minus the baseline market price index, as defined in | ||||||
| 21 | subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 22 | (d-5). | ||||||
| 23 | If the subtraction yields a negative number, then the | ||||||
| 24 | Average ZEC Payment shall be zero. | ||||||
| 25 | (4) Cost-effective zero emission credits procured from | ||||||
| 26 | zero emission facilities shall satisfy the applicable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | definitions set forth in Section 1-10 of this Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (5) The electric utility shall retire all zero | ||||||
| 3 | emission credits used to comply with the requirements of | ||||||
| 4 | this subsection (d-5). | ||||||
| 5 | (6) Electric utilities shall be entitled to recover | ||||||
| 6 | all of the costs associated with the procurement of zero | ||||||
| 7 | emission credits through an automatic adjustment clause | ||||||
| 8 | tariff in accordance with subsection (k) and (m) of | ||||||
| 9 | Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, and the | ||||||
| 10 | contracts executed under this subsection (d-5) shall | ||||||
| 11 | provide that the utilities' payment obligations under such | ||||||
| 12 | contracts shall be reduced if an adjustment is required | ||||||
| 13 | under subsection (m) of Section 16-108 of the Public | ||||||
| 14 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 15 | (7) This subsection (d-5) shall become inoperative on | ||||||
| 16 | January 1, 2028. | ||||||
| 17 | (d-10) Nuclear Plant Assistance; carbon mitigation | ||||||
| 18 | credits. | ||||||
| 19 | (1) The General Assembly finds: | ||||||
| 20 | (A) The health, welfare, and prosperity of all | ||||||
| 21 | Illinois citizens require that the State of Illinois act | ||||||
| 22 | to avoid and not increase carbon emissions from electric | ||||||
| 23 | generation sources while continuing to ensure affordable, | ||||||
| 24 | stable, and reliable electricity to all citizens. | ||||||
| 25 | (B) Absent immediate action by the State to preserve | ||||||
| 26 | existing carbon-free energy resources, those resources may | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | retire, and the electric generation needs of Illinois' | ||||||
| 2 | retail customers may be met instead by facilities that | ||||||
| 3 | emit significant amounts of carbon pollution and other | ||||||
| 4 | harmful air pollutants at a high social and economic cost | ||||||
| 5 | until Illinois is able to develop other forms of clean | ||||||
| 6 | energy. | ||||||
| 7 | (C) The General Assembly finds that nuclear power | ||||||
| 8 | generation is necessary for the State's transition to 100% | ||||||
| 9 | clean energy, and ensuring continued operation of nuclear | ||||||
| 10 | plants advances environmental and public health interests | ||||||
| 11 | through providing carbon-free electricity while reducing | ||||||
| 12 | the air pollution profile of the Illinois energy | ||||||
| 13 | generation fleet. | ||||||
| 14 | (D) The clean energy attributes of nuclear generation | ||||||
| 15 | facilities support the State in its efforts to achieve | ||||||
| 16 | 100% clean energy. | ||||||
| 17 | (E) The State currently invests in various forms of | ||||||
| 18 | clean energy, including, but not limited to, renewable | ||||||
| 19 | energy, energy efficiency, and low-emission vehicles, | ||||||
| 20 | among others. | ||||||
| 21 | (F) The Environmental Protection Agency commissioned | ||||||
| 22 | an independent audit which provided a detailed assessment | ||||||
| 23 | of the financial condition of the Illinois nuclear fleet | ||||||
| 24 | to evaluate its financial viability and whether the | ||||||
| 25 | environmental benefits of such resources were at risk. The | ||||||
| 26 | report identified the risk of losing the environmental | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | benefits of several specific nuclear units. The report | ||||||
| 2 | also identified that the LaSalle County Generating Station | ||||||
| 3 | will continue to operate through 2026 and therefore is not | ||||||
| 4 | eligible to participate in the carbon mitigation credit | ||||||
| 5 | program. | ||||||
| 6 | (G) Nuclear plants provide carbon-free energy, which | ||||||
| 7 | helps to avoid many health-related negative impacts for | ||||||
| 8 | Illinois residents. | ||||||
| 9 | (H) The procurement of carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 10 | representing the environmental benefits of carbon-free | ||||||
| 11 | generation will further the State's efforts at achieving | ||||||
| 12 | 100% clean energy and decarbonizing the electricity sector | ||||||
| 13 | in a safe, reliable, and affordable manner. Further, the | ||||||
| 14 | procurement of carbon emission credits will enhance the | ||||||
| 15 | health and welfare of Illinois residents through decreased | ||||||
| 16 | reliance on more highly polluting generation. | ||||||
| 17 | (I) The General Assembly therefore finds it necessary | ||||||
| 18 | to establish carbon mitigation credits to ensure decreased | ||||||
| 19 | reliance on more carbon-intensive energy resources, for | ||||||
| 20 | transitioning to a fully decarbonized electricity sector, | ||||||
| 21 | and to help ensure health and welfare of the State's | ||||||
| 22 | residents. | ||||||
| 23 | (2) As used in this subsection: | ||||||
| 24 | "Baseline costs" means costs used to establish a customer | ||||||
| 25 | protection cap that have been evaluated through an independent | ||||||
| 26 | audit of a carbon-free energy resource conducted by the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Environmental Protection Agency that evaluated projected | ||||||
| 2 | annual costs for operation and maintenance expenses; fully | ||||||
| 3 | allocated overhead costs, which shall be allocated using the | ||||||
| 4 | methodology developed by the Institute for Nuclear Power | ||||||
| 5 | Operations; fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures; | ||||||
| 6 | spent fuel expenditures; a return on working capital; the cost | ||||||
| 7 | of operational and market risks that could be avoided by | ||||||
| 8 | ceasing operation; and any other costs necessary for continued | ||||||
| 9 | operations, provided that "necessary" means, for purposes of | ||||||
| 10 | this definition, that the costs could reasonably be avoided | ||||||
| 11 | only by ceasing operations of the carbon-free energy resource. | ||||||
| 12 | "Carbon mitigation credit" means a tradable credit that | ||||||
| 13 | represents the carbon emission reduction attributes of one | ||||||
| 14 | megawatt-hour of energy produced from a carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 15 | resource. | ||||||
| 16 | "Carbon-free energy resource" means a generation facility | ||||||
| 17 | that: (1) is fueled by nuclear power; and (2) is | ||||||
| 18 | interconnected to PJM Interconnection, LLC. | ||||||
| 19 | (3) Procurement. | ||||||
| 20 | (A) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on | ||||||
| 21 | June 1, 2022, the Agency shall, for electric utilities | ||||||
| 22 | serving at least 3,000,000 retail customers in the State, | ||||||
| 23 | seek to procure contracts for no more than approximately | ||||||
| 24 | 54,500,000 cost-effective carbon mitigation credits from | ||||||
| 25 | carbon-free energy resources because such credits are | ||||||
| 26 | necessary to support current levels of carbon-free energy | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | generation and ensure the State meets its carbon dioxide | ||||||
| 2 | emissions reduction goals. The Agency shall not make a | ||||||
| 3 | partial award of a contract for carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 4 | covering a fractional amount of a carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 5 | resource's projected output. | ||||||
| 6 | (B) Each carbon-free energy resource that intends to | ||||||
| 7 | participate in a procurement shall be required to submit | ||||||
| 8 | to the Agency the following information for the resource | ||||||
| 9 | on or before the date established by the Agency: | ||||||
| 10 | (i) the in-service date and remaining useful life | ||||||
| 11 | of the carbon-free energy resource; | ||||||
| 12 | (ii) the amount of power generated annually for | ||||||
| 13 | each of the past 10 years, which shall be used to | ||||||
| 14 | determine the capability of each facility; | ||||||
| 15 | (iii) a commitment to be reflected in any contract | ||||||
| 16 | entered into pursuant to this subsection (d-10) to | ||||||
| 17 | continue operating the carbon-free energy resource at | ||||||
| 18 | a capacity factor of at least 88% annually on average | ||||||
| 19 | for the duration of the contract or contracts executed | ||||||
| 20 | under the procurement held under this subsection | ||||||
| 21 | (d-10), except in an instance described in | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subsection (d-5) | ||||||
| 23 | of this Section or made impracticable as a result of | ||||||
| 24 | compliance with law or regulation; | ||||||
| 25 | (iv) financial need and the risk of loss of the | ||||||
| 26 | environmental benefits of such resource, which shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | include the following information: | ||||||
| 2 | (I) the carbon-free energy resource's cost | ||||||
| 3 | projections, expressed on a per megawatt-hour | ||||||
| 4 | basis, over the next 5 delivery years, which shall | ||||||
| 5 | include the following: operation and maintenance | ||||||
| 6 | expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which | ||||||
| 7 | shall be allocated using the methodology developed | ||||||
| 8 | by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations; | ||||||
| 9 | fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures; | ||||||
| 10 | spent fuel expenditures; a return on working | ||||||
| 11 | capital; the cost of operational and market risks | ||||||
| 12 | that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and | ||||||
| 13 | any other costs necessary for continued | ||||||
| 14 | operations, provided that "necessary" means, for | ||||||
| 15 | purposes of this subitem (I), that the costs could | ||||||
| 16 | reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations | ||||||
| 17 | of the carbon-free energy resource; and | ||||||
| 18 | (II) the carbon-free energy resource's revenue | ||||||
| 19 | projections, including energy, capacity, ancillary | ||||||
| 20 | services, any other direct State support, known or | ||||||
| 21 | anticipated federal attribute credits, known or | ||||||
| 22 | anticipated tax credits, and any other direct | ||||||
| 23 | federal support. | ||||||
| 24 | The information described in this subparagraph (B) may | ||||||
| 25 | be submitted on a confidential basis and shall be treated | ||||||
| 26 | and maintained by the Agency, the procurement | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | administrator, and the Commission as confidential and | ||||||
| 2 | proprietary and exempt from disclosure under subparagraphs | ||||||
| 3 | (a) and (g) of paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of | ||||||
| 4 | Information Act. The Office of the Attorney General shall | ||||||
| 5 | have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of, such | ||||||
| 6 | information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney | ||||||
| 7 | General Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (C) The Agency shall solicit bids for the contracts | ||||||
| 9 | described in this subsection (d-10) from carbon-free | ||||||
| 10 | energy resources that have satisfied the requirements of | ||||||
| 11 | subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3). The contracts | ||||||
| 12 | procured pursuant to a procurement event shall reflect, | ||||||
| 13 | and be subject to, the following terms, requirements, and | ||||||
| 14 | limitations: | ||||||
| 15 | (i) Contracts are for delivery of carbon | ||||||
| 16 | mitigation credits, and are not energy or capacity | ||||||
| 17 | sales contracts requiring physical delivery. Pursuant | ||||||
| 18 | to item (iii), contract payments shall fully deduct | ||||||
| 19 | the value of any monetized federal production tax | ||||||
| 20 | credits, credits issued pursuant to a federal clean | ||||||
| 21 | energy standard, and other federal credits if | ||||||
| 22 | applicable. | ||||||
| 23 | (ii) Contracts for carbon mitigation credits shall | ||||||
| 24 | commence with the delivery year beginning on June 1, | ||||||
| 25 | 2022 and shall be for a term of 5 delivery years | ||||||
| 26 | concluding on May 31, 2027. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (iii) The price per carbon mitigation credit to be | ||||||
| 2 | paid under a contract for a given delivery year shall | ||||||
| 3 | be equal to an accepted bid price less the sum of: | ||||||
| 4 | (I) one of the following energy price indices, | ||||||
| 5 | selected by the bidder at the time of the bid for | ||||||
| 6 | the term of the contract: | ||||||
| 7 | (aa) the weighted-average hourly day-ahead | ||||||
| 8 | price for the applicable delivery year at the | ||||||
| 9 | busbar of all resources procured pursuant to | ||||||
| 10 | this subsection (d-10), weighted by actual | ||||||
| 11 | production from the resources; or | ||||||
| 12 | (bb) the projected energy price for the | ||||||
| 13 | PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois Hub | ||||||
| 14 | for the applicable delivery year determined | ||||||
| 15 | according to subitem (aa) of item (iii) of | ||||||
| 16 | subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 17 | subsection (d-5). | ||||||
| 18 | (II) the Base Residual Auction Capacity Price | ||||||
| 19 | for the ComEd zone as determined by PJM | ||||||
| 20 | Interconnection, LLC, divided by 24 hours per day, | ||||||
| 21 | for the applicable delivery year for the first 3 | ||||||
| 22 | delivery years, and then any subsequent delivery | ||||||
| 23 | years unless the PJM Interconnection, LLC applies | ||||||
| 24 | the Minimum Offer Price Rule to participating | ||||||
| 25 | carbon-free energy resources because they supply | ||||||
| 26 | carbon mitigation credits pursuant to this Section | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | at which time, upon notice by the carbon-free | ||||||
| 2 | energy resource to the Commission and subject to | ||||||
| 3 | the Commission's confirmation, the value under | ||||||
| 4 | this subitem shall be zero, as further described | ||||||
| 5 | in the carbon mitigation credit procurement plan; | ||||||
| 6 | and | ||||||
| 7 | (III) any value of monetized federal tax | ||||||
| 8 | credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy | ||||||
| 9 | provided to the carbon-free energy resource from | ||||||
| 10 | any unit of government that is not already | ||||||
| 11 | reflected in energy prices. | ||||||
| 12 | If the price-per-megawatt-hour calculation | ||||||
| 13 | performed under item (iii) of this subparagraph (C) | ||||||
| 14 | for a given delivery year results in a net positive | ||||||
| 15 | value, then the electric utility counterparty to the | ||||||
| 16 | contract shall multiply such net value by the | ||||||
| 17 | applicable contract quantity and remit the amount to | ||||||
| 18 | the supplier. | ||||||
| 19 | To protect retail customers from retail rate | ||||||
| 20 | impacts that may arise upon the initiation of carbon | ||||||
| 21 | policy changes, if the price-per-megawatt-hour | ||||||
| 22 | calculation performed under item (iii) of this | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (C) for a given delivery year results in | ||||||
| 24 | a net negative value, then the supplier counterparty | ||||||
| 25 | to the contract shall multiply such net value by the | ||||||
| 26 | applicable contract quantity and remit such amount to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the electric utility counterparty. The electric | ||||||
| 2 | utility shall reflect such amounts remitted by | ||||||
| 3 | suppliers as a credit on its retail customer bills as | ||||||
| 4 | soon as practicable. | ||||||
| 5 | (iv) To ensure that retail customers in Northern | ||||||
| 6 | Illinois do not pay more for carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 7 | than the value such credits provide, and | ||||||
| 8 | notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection | ||||||
| 9 | (d-10), the Agency shall not accept bids for contracts | ||||||
| 10 | that exceed a customer protection cap equal to the | ||||||
| 11 | baseline costs of carbon-free energy resources. | ||||||
| 12 | The baseline costs for the applicable year shall | ||||||
| 13 | be the following: | ||||||
| 14 | (I) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 15 | 2022, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 16 | to $30.30 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 17 | (II) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 18 | 2023, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 19 | to $32.50 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 20 | (III) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 21 | 2024, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 22 | to $33.43 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 23 | (IV) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 24 | 2025, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 25 | to $33.50 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 26 | (V) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 2026, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 2 | to $34.50 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 3 | An Environmental Protection Agency consultant | ||||||
| 4 | forecast, included in a report issued April 14, 2021, | ||||||
| 5 | projects that a carbon-free energy resource has the | ||||||
| 6 | opportunity to earn on average approximately $30.28 | ||||||
| 7 | per megawatt-hour, for the sale of energy and capacity | ||||||
| 8 | during the time period between 2022 and 2027. | ||||||
| 9 | Therefore, the sale of carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 10 | provides the opportunity to receive an additional | ||||||
| 11 | amount per megawatt-hour in addition to the projected | ||||||
| 12 | prices for energy and capacity. | ||||||
| 13 | Although actual energy and capacity prices may | ||||||
| 14 | vary from year-to-year, the General Assembly finds | ||||||
| 15 | that this customer protection cap will help ensure | ||||||
| 16 | that the cost of carbon mitigation credits will be | ||||||
| 17 | less than its value, based upon the social cost of | ||||||
| 18 | carbon identified in the Technical Support Document | ||||||
| 19 | issued in February 2021 by the U.S. Interagency | ||||||
| 20 | Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases and | ||||||
| 21 | the PJM Interconnection, LLC carbon dioxide marginal | ||||||
| 22 | emission rate for 2020, and that a carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 23 | resource receiving payment for carbon mitigation | ||||||
| 24 | credits receives no more than necessary to keep those | ||||||
| 25 | units in operation. | ||||||
| 26 | (D) No later than 7 days after the effective date of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the | ||||||
| 2 | Agency shall publish its proposed carbon mitigation credit | ||||||
| 3 | procurement plan. The Plan shall provide that winning bids | ||||||
| 4 | shall be selected by taking into consideration which | ||||||
| 5 | resources best match public interest criteria that | ||||||
| 6 | include, but are not limited to, minimizing carbon dioxide | ||||||
| 7 | emissions that result from electricity consumed in | ||||||
| 8 | Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, | ||||||
| 9 | and particulate matter emissions that adversely affect the | ||||||
| 10 | citizens of this State. The selection of winning bids | ||||||
| 11 | shall also take into account the incremental environmental | ||||||
| 12 | benefits resulting from the procurement or procurements, | ||||||
| 13 | such as any existing environmental benefits that are | ||||||
| 14 | preserved by a procurement held under this subsection | ||||||
| 15 | (d-10) and would cease to exist if the procurement were | ||||||
| 16 | not held, including the preservation of carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 17 | resources. For those bidders having the same public | ||||||
| 18 | interest criteria score, the relative ranking of such | ||||||
| 19 | bidders shall be determined by price. The Plan shall | ||||||
| 20 | describe in detail how each public interest factor shall | ||||||
| 21 | be considered and weighted in the bid selection process to | ||||||
| 22 | ensure that the public interest criteria are applied to | ||||||
| 23 | the procurement. The Plan shall, to the extent practical | ||||||
| 24 | and permissible by federal law, ensure that successful | ||||||
| 25 | bidders make commercially reasonable efforts to apply for | ||||||
| 26 | federal tax credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | programs that support carbon-free generation and for which | ||||||
| 2 | the successful bidder is eligible. Upon publishing of the | ||||||
| 3 | carbon mitigation credit procurement plan, copies of the | ||||||
| 4 | plan shall be posted and made publicly available on the | ||||||
| 5 | Agency's website. All interested parties shall have 7 days | ||||||
| 6 | following the date of posting to provide comment to the | ||||||
| 7 | Agency on the plan. All comments shall be posted to the | ||||||
| 8 | Agency's website. Following the end of the comment period, | ||||||
| 9 | but no more than 19 days later than the effective date of | ||||||
| 10 | this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the | ||||||
| 11 | Agency shall revise the plan as necessary based on the | ||||||
| 12 | comments received and file its carbon mitigation credit | ||||||
| 13 | procurement plan with the Commission. | ||||||
| 14 | (E) If the Commission determines that the plan is | ||||||
| 15 | likely to result in the procurement of cost-effective | ||||||
| 16 | carbon mitigation credits, then the Commission shall, | ||||||
| 17 | after notice and hearing and opportunity for comment, but | ||||||
| 18 | no later than 42 days after the Agency filed the plan, | ||||||
| 19 | approve the plan or approve it with modification. For | ||||||
| 20 | purposes of this subsection (d-10), "cost-effective" means | ||||||
| 21 | carbon mitigation credits that are procured from | ||||||
| 22 | carbon-free energy resources at prices that are within the | ||||||
| 23 | limits specified in this paragraph (3). As part of the | ||||||
| 24 | Commission's review and acceptance or rejection of the | ||||||
| 25 | procurement results, the Commission shall, in its public | ||||||
| 26 | notice of successful bidders: | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (i) identify how the selected carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 2 | resources satisfy the public interest criteria | ||||||
| 3 | described in this paragraph (3) of minimizing carbon | ||||||
| 4 | dioxide emissions that result from electricity | ||||||
| 5 | consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide, | ||||||
| 6 | nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions that | ||||||
| 7 | adversely affect the citizens of this State; | ||||||
| 8 | (ii) specifically address how the selection of | ||||||
| 9 | carbon-free energy resources takes into account the | ||||||
| 10 | incremental environmental benefits resulting from the | ||||||
| 11 | procurement, including any existing environmental | ||||||
| 12 | benefits that are preserved by the procurements held | ||||||
| 13 | under this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 14 | Assembly and would have ceased to exist if the | ||||||
| 15 | procurements had not been held, such as the | ||||||
| 16 | preservation of carbon-free energy resources; | ||||||
| 17 | (iii) quantify the environmental benefit of | ||||||
| 18 | preserving the carbon-free energy resources procured | ||||||
| 19 | pursuant to this subsection (d-10), including the | ||||||
| 20 | following: | ||||||
| 21 | (I) an assessment value of avoided greenhouse | ||||||
| 22 | gas emissions measured as the product of the | ||||||
| 23 | carbon-free energy resources' output over the | ||||||
| 24 | contract term, using generally accepted | ||||||
| 25 | methodologies for the valuation of avoided | ||||||
| 26 | emissions; and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (II) an assessment of costs of replacement | ||||||
| 2 | with other carbon-free energy resources and | ||||||
| 3 | renewable energy resources, including wind and | ||||||
| 4 | photovoltaic generation, based upon an assessment | ||||||
| 5 | of the prices paid for renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 6 | through programs and procurements conducted | ||||||
| 7 | pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this | ||||||
| 8 | Act, and the additional storage necessary to | ||||||
| 9 | produce the same or similar capability of matching | ||||||
| 10 | customer usage patterns. | ||||||
| 11 | (F) The procurements described in this paragraph (3), | ||||||
| 12 | including, but not limited to, the execution of all | ||||||
| 13 | contracts procured, shall be completed no later than | ||||||
| 14 | December 3, 2021. The procurement and plan approval | ||||||
| 15 | processes required by this paragraph (3) shall be | ||||||
| 16 | conducted in conjunction with the procurement and plan | ||||||
| 17 | approval processes required by Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 18 | Public Utilities Act, to the extent practicable. However, | ||||||
| 19 | the Agency and Commission may, as appropriate, modify the | ||||||
| 20 | various dates and timelines under this subparagraph and | ||||||
| 21 | subparagraphs (D) and (E) of this paragraph (3) to meet | ||||||
| 22 | the December 3, 2021 contract execution deadline. | ||||||
| 23 | Following the completion of such procurements, and | ||||||
| 24 | consistent with this paragraph (3), the Agency shall | ||||||
| 25 | calculate the payments to be made under each contract in a | ||||||
| 26 | timely fashion. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (F-1) Costs incurred by the electric utility pursuant | ||||||
| 2 | to a contract authorized by this subsection (d-10) shall | ||||||
| 3 | be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in amount, and | ||||||
| 4 | the electric utility shall be entitled to full cost | ||||||
| 5 | recovery pursuant to a tariff or tariffs filed with the | ||||||
| 6 | Commission. | ||||||
| 7 | (G) The counterparty electric utility shall retire all | ||||||
| 8 | carbon mitigation credits used to comply with the | ||||||
| 9 | requirements of this subsection (d-10). | ||||||
| 10 | (H) If a carbon-free energy resource is sold to | ||||||
| 11 | another owner, the rights, obligations, and commitments | ||||||
| 12 | under this subsection (d-10) shall continue to the | ||||||
| 13 | subsequent owner. | ||||||
| 14 | (I) This subsection (d-10) shall become inoperative on | ||||||
| 15 | January 1, 2028. | ||||||
| 16 | (e) The draft procurement plans are subject to public | ||||||
| 17 | comment, as required by Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 18 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (f) The Agency shall submit the final procurement plan to | ||||||
| 20 | the Commission. The Agency shall revise a procurement plan if | ||||||
| 21 | the Commission determines that it does not meet the standards | ||||||
| 22 | set forth in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (g) The Agency shall assess fees to each affected utility | ||||||
| 24 | to recover the costs incurred in preparation of the annual | ||||||
| 25 | procurement plan for the utility. | ||||||
| 26 | (h) The Agency shall assess fees to each bidder to recover | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the costs incurred in connection with a competitive | ||||||
| 2 | procurement process. | ||||||
| 3 | (i) A renewable energy credit, carbon emission credit, | ||||||
| 4 | zero emission credit, or carbon mitigation credit can only be | ||||||
| 5 | used once to comply with a single portfolio or other standard | ||||||
| 6 | as set forth in subsection (c), subsection (d), or subsection | ||||||
| 7 | (d-5) of this Section, respectively. A renewable energy | ||||||
| 8 | credit, carbon emission credit, zero emission credit, or | ||||||
| 9 | carbon mitigation credit cannot be used to satisfy the | ||||||
| 10 | requirements of more than one standard. If more than one type | ||||||
| 11 | of credit is issued for the same megawatt hour of energy, only | ||||||
| 12 | one credit can be used to satisfy the requirements of a single | ||||||
| 13 | standard. After such use, the credit must be retired together | ||||||
| 14 | with any other credits issued for the same megawatt hour of | ||||||
| 15 | energy. | ||||||
| 16 | (Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21; 103-380, eff. 1-1-24; | ||||||
| 17 | 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25.) | ||||||
| 18 | (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 104-458) | ||||||
| 19 | Sec. 1-75. Planning and Procurement Bureau. The Planning | ||||||
| 20 | and Procurement Bureau has the following duties and | ||||||
| 21 | responsibilities: | ||||||
| 22 | (a) The Planning and Procurement Bureau shall each year, | ||||||
| 23 | beginning in 2008, develop procurement plans and conduct | ||||||
| 24 | competitive procurement processes in accordance with the | ||||||
| 25 | requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | for the eligible retail customers of electric utilities that | ||||||
| 2 | on December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least | ||||||
| 3 | 100,000 customers in Illinois. Beginning with the delivery | ||||||
| 4 | year commencing on June 1, 2017, the Planning and Procurement | ||||||
| 5 | Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the procurement | ||||||
| 6 | of zero emission credits from zero emission facilities in | ||||||
| 7 | accordance with the requirements of subsection (d-5) of this | ||||||
| 8 | Section. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory | ||||||
| 9 | Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Planning and | ||||||
| 10 | Procurement Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the | ||||||
| 11 | procurement of carbon mitigation credits from carbon-free | ||||||
| 12 | energy resources in accordance with the requirements of | ||||||
| 13 | subsection (d-10) of this Section. The Planning and | ||||||
| 14 | Procurement Bureau shall also develop procurement plans and | ||||||
| 15 | conduct competitive procurement processes in accordance with | ||||||
| 16 | the requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 17 | Act for the eligible retail customers of small | ||||||
| 18 | multi-jurisdictional electric utilities that (i) on December | ||||||
| 19 | 31, 2005 served less than 100,000 customers in Illinois and | ||||||
| 20 | (ii) request a procurement plan for their Illinois | ||||||
| 21 | jurisdictional load. This Section shall not apply to a small | ||||||
| 22 | multi-jurisdictional utility until such time as a small | ||||||
| 23 | multi-jurisdictional utility requests the Agency to prepare a | ||||||
| 24 | procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. For | ||||||
| 25 | the purposes of this Section, the term "eligible retail | ||||||
| 26 | customers" has the same definition as found in Section | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 16-111.5(a) of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 2 | Beginning with the plan or plans to be implemented in the | ||||||
| 3 | 2017 delivery year, the Agency shall no longer include the | ||||||
| 4 | procurement of renewable energy resources in the annual | ||||||
| 5 | procurement plans required by this subsection (a), except as | ||||||
| 6 | provided in subsection (q) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 7 | Utilities Act, and shall instead develop a long-term renewable | ||||||
| 8 | resources procurement plan in accordance with subsection (c) | ||||||
| 9 | of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 10 | Act. | ||||||
| 11 | In accordance with subsection (c-5) of this Section, the | ||||||
| 12 | Planning and Procurement Bureau shall oversee the procurement | ||||||
| 13 | by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail | ||||||
| 14 | customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable | ||||||
| 15 | energy credits from new utility-scale solar projects to be | ||||||
| 16 | installed, along with energy storage facilities, at or | ||||||
| 17 | adjacent to the sites of electric generating facilities that, | ||||||
| 18 | as of January 1, 2016, burned coal as their primary fuel | ||||||
| 19 | source. | ||||||
| 20 | (1) The Agency shall each year, beginning in 2008, as | ||||||
| 21 | needed, issue a request for qualifications for experts or | ||||||
| 22 | expert consulting firms to develop the procurement plans | ||||||
| 23 | in accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 24 | Utilities Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert | ||||||
| 25 | consulting firm must have: | ||||||
| 26 | (A) direct previous experience assembling | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | large-scale power supply plans or portfolios for | ||||||
| 2 | end-use customers; | ||||||
| 3 | (B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics, | ||||||
| 4 | engineering, risk management, or a related area of | ||||||
| 5 | study; | ||||||
| 6 | (C) 10 years of experience in the electricity | ||||||
| 7 | sector, including managing supply risk; | ||||||
| 8 | (D) expertise in wholesale electricity market | ||||||
| 9 | rules, including those established by the Federal | ||||||
| 10 | Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission | ||||||
| 11 | organizations; | ||||||
| 12 | (E) expertise in credit protocols and familiarity | ||||||
| 13 | with contract protocols; | ||||||
| 14 | (F) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the | ||||||
| 15 | required functions and responsibilities; and | ||||||
| 16 | (G) the absence of a conflict of interest and | ||||||
| 17 | inappropriate bias for or against potential bidders or | ||||||
| 18 | the affected electric utilities. | ||||||
| 19 | (2) The Agency shall each year, as needed, issue a | ||||||
| 20 | request for qualifications for a procurement administrator | ||||||
| 21 | to conduct the competitive procurement processes in | ||||||
| 22 | accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 23 | Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert consulting | ||||||
| 24 | firm must have: | ||||||
| 25 | (A) direct previous experience administering a | ||||||
| 26 | large-scale competitive procurement process; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics, | ||||||
| 2 | engineering, or a related area of study; | ||||||
| 3 | (C) 10 years of experience in the electricity | ||||||
| 4 | sector, including risk management experience; | ||||||
| 5 | (D) expertise in wholesale electricity market | ||||||
| 6 | rules, including those established by the Federal | ||||||
| 7 | Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission | ||||||
| 8 | organizations; | ||||||
| 9 | (E) expertise in credit and contract protocols; | ||||||
| 10 | (F) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the | ||||||
| 11 | required functions and responsibilities; and | ||||||
| 12 | (G) the absence of a conflict of interest and | ||||||
| 13 | inappropriate bias for or against potential bidders or | ||||||
| 14 | the affected electric utilities. | ||||||
| 15 | (3) The Agency shall provide affected utilities and | ||||||
| 16 | other interested parties with the lists of qualified | ||||||
| 17 | experts or expert consulting firms identified through the | ||||||
| 18 | request for qualifications processes that are under | ||||||
| 19 | consideration to develop the procurement plans and to | ||||||
| 20 | serve as the procurement administrator. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 21 | also provide each qualified expert's or expert consulting | ||||||
| 22 | firm's response to the request for qualifications. All | ||||||
| 23 | information provided under this subparagraph shall also be | ||||||
| 24 | provided to the Commission. The Agency may provide by rule | ||||||
| 25 | for fees associated with supplying the information to | ||||||
| 26 | utilities and other interested parties. These parties | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall, within 5 business days, notify the Agency in | ||||||
| 2 | writing if they object to any experts or expert consulting | ||||||
| 3 | firms on the lists. Objections shall be based on: | ||||||
| 4 | (A) failure to satisfy qualification criteria; | ||||||
| 5 | (B) identification of a conflict of interest; or | ||||||
| 6 | (C) evidence of inappropriate bias for or against | ||||||
| 7 | potential bidders or the affected utilities. | ||||||
| 8 | The Agency shall remove experts or expert consulting | ||||||
| 9 | firms from the lists within 10 days if there is a | ||||||
| 10 | reasonable basis for an objection and provide the updated | ||||||
| 11 | lists to the affected utilities and other interested | ||||||
| 12 | parties. If the Agency fails to remove an expert or expert | ||||||
| 13 | consulting firm from a list, an objecting party may seek | ||||||
| 14 | review by the Commission within 5 days thereafter by | ||||||
| 15 | filing a petition, and the Commission shall render a | ||||||
| 16 | ruling on the petition within 10 days. There is no right of | ||||||
| 17 | appeal of the Commission's ruling. | ||||||
| 18 | (4) The Agency shall issue requests for proposals to | ||||||
| 19 | the qualified experts or expert consulting firms to | ||||||
| 20 | develop a procurement plan for the affected utilities and | ||||||
| 21 | to serve as procurement administrator. | ||||||
| 22 | (5) The Agency shall select an expert or expert | ||||||
| 23 | consulting firm to develop procurement plans based on the | ||||||
| 24 | proposals submitted and shall award contracts of up to 5 | ||||||
| 25 | years to those selected. | ||||||
| 26 | (6) The Agency shall select an expert or expert | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | consulting firm, with approval of the Commission, to serve | ||||||
| 2 | as procurement administrator based on the proposals | ||||||
| 3 | submitted. If the Commission rejects, within 5 days, the | ||||||
| 4 | Agency's selection, the Agency shall submit another | ||||||
| 5 | recommendation within 3 days based on the proposals | ||||||
| 6 | submitted. The Agency shall award a 5-year contract to the | ||||||
| 7 | expert or expert consulting firm so selected with | ||||||
| 8 | Commission approval. | ||||||
| 9 | (b) The experts or expert consulting firms retained by the | ||||||
| 10 | Agency shall, as appropriate, prepare procurement plans, and | ||||||
| 11 | conduct a competitive procurement process as prescribed in | ||||||
| 12 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, to ensure | ||||||
| 13 | adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally | ||||||
| 14 | sustainable electric service at the lowest total cost over | ||||||
| 15 | time, taking into account any benefits of price stability, for | ||||||
| 16 | eligible retail customers of electric utilities that on | ||||||
| 17 | December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least | ||||||
| 18 | 100,000 customers in the State of Illinois, and for eligible | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois retail customers of small multi-jurisdictional | ||||||
| 20 | electric utilities that (i) on December 31, 2005 served less | ||||||
| 21 | than 100,000 customers in Illinois and (ii) request a | ||||||
| 22 | procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. | ||||||
| 23 | (c) Renewable portfolio standard. | ||||||
| 24 | (1)(A) The Agency shall develop a long-term renewable | ||||||
| 25 | resources procurement plan that shall include procurement | ||||||
| 26 | programs and competitive procurement events necessary to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | meet the goals set forth in this subsection (c). The | ||||||
| 2 | initial long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 3 | shall be released for comment no later than 160 days after | ||||||
| 4 | June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-906). | ||||||
| 5 | The Agency shall review, and may revise on an expedited | ||||||
| 6 | basis, the long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 7 | at least every 2 years, which shall be conducted in | ||||||
| 8 | conjunction with the procurement plan under Section | ||||||
| 9 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the extent | ||||||
| 10 | practicable to minimize administrative expense. No later | ||||||
| 11 | than 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory | ||||||
| 12 | Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 13 | release for comment a revision to the long-term renewable | ||||||
| 14 | resources procurement plan, updating elements of the most | ||||||
| 15 | recently approved plan as needed to comply with this | ||||||
| 16 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, and any | ||||||
| 17 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan update | ||||||
| 18 | published by the Agency but not yet approved by the | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois Commerce Commission shall be withdrawn. The | ||||||
| 20 | long-term renewable resources procurement plans shall be | ||||||
| 21 | subject to review and approval by the Commission under | ||||||
| 22 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (B) Subject to subparagraph (F) of this paragraph (1), | ||||||
| 24 | the long-term renewable resources procurement plan shall | ||||||
| 25 | attempt to meet the goals for procurement of renewable | ||||||
| 26 | energy credits at levels of at least the following overall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | percentages: 13% by the 2017 delivery year; increasing by | ||||||
| 2 | at least 1.5% each delivery year thereafter to at least | ||||||
| 3 | 25% by the 2025 delivery year; increasing by at least 3% | ||||||
| 4 | each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by the 2030 | ||||||
| 5 | delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40% for each | ||||||
| 6 | delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall attempt to | ||||||
| 7 | procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 8 | determine the annual increase between delivery year 2030 | ||||||
| 9 | and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account energy | ||||||
| 10 | demand, other energy resources, and other public policy | ||||||
| 11 | goals. In the event of a conflict between these goals and | ||||||
| 12 | the new wind, new photovoltaic, new geothermal heating and | ||||||
| 13 | cooling, and hydropower procurement requirements described | ||||||
| 14 | in items (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (C) of this | ||||||
| 15 | paragraph (1), the long-term plan shall prioritize | ||||||
| 16 | compliance with the new wind, new photovoltaic, new | ||||||
| 17 | geothermal heating and cooling, and hydropower procurement | ||||||
| 18 | requirements described in items (i) through (iii) of | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1) over the annual | ||||||
| 20 | percentage targets described in this subparagraph (B). The | ||||||
| 21 | Agency shall not comply with the annual percentage targets | ||||||
| 22 | described in this subparagraph (B) by procuring renewable | ||||||
| 23 | energy credits that are unlikely to lead to the | ||||||
| 24 | development of new renewable resources or new, modernized, | ||||||
| 25 | or retooled hydropower facilities. | ||||||
| 26 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2017, the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the | ||||||
| 2 | prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B), | ||||||
| 3 | cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at | ||||||
| 4 | least 13% of each utility's load for eligible retail | ||||||
| 5 | customers and 13% of the applicable portion of each | ||||||
| 6 | utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible | ||||||
| 7 | retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 50% | ||||||
| 8 | of the utility's load for retail customers who are not | ||||||
| 9 | eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017. | ||||||
| 10 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the | ||||||
| 11 | procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the | ||||||
| 12 | prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B), | ||||||
| 13 | cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at | ||||||
| 14 | least 14.5% of each utility's load for eligible retail | ||||||
| 15 | customers and 14.5% of the applicable portion of each | ||||||
| 16 | utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible | ||||||
| 17 | retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 75% | ||||||
| 18 | of the utility's load for retail customers who are not | ||||||
| 19 | eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017. | ||||||
| 20 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2019, and for | ||||||
| 21 | each year thereafter, the procurement plans shall attempt | ||||||
| 22 | to include, subject to the prioritization outlined in this | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (B), cost-effective renewable energy | ||||||
| 24 | resources equal to a minimum percentage of each utility's | ||||||
| 25 | load for all retail customers as follows: 16% by June 1, | ||||||
| 26 | 2019; increasing by 1.5% each year thereafter to 25% by | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | June 1, 2025; and 25% by June 1, 2026; increasing by at | ||||||
| 2 | least 3% each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by | ||||||
| 3 | the 2030 delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40% | ||||||
| 4 | for each delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 5 | attempt to procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency | ||||||
| 6 | shall determine the annual increase between delivery year | ||||||
| 7 | 2030 and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account | ||||||
| 8 | energy demand, other energy resources, and other public | ||||||
| 9 | policy goals. | ||||||
| 10 | For each delivery year, the Agency shall first | ||||||
| 11 | recognize each utility's obligations for that delivery | ||||||
| 12 | year under existing contracts. Any renewable energy | ||||||
| 13 | credits under existing contracts, including renewable | ||||||
| 14 | energy credits as part of renewable energy resources, | ||||||
| 15 | shall be used to meet the goals set forth in this | ||||||
| 16 | subsection (c) for the delivery year. | ||||||
| 17 | (C) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 18 | described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (1) shall | ||||||
| 19 | include the procurement of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 20 | new projects pursuant to the following terms: | ||||||
| 21 | (i) At least 10,000,000 renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 22 | delivered annually by the end of the 2021 delivery | ||||||
| 23 | year, and increasing ratably to reach 45,000,000 | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy credits delivered annually from new | ||||||
| 25 | wind and solar projects, from repowered wind projects, | ||||||
| 26 | or from retooled hydropower facilities by the end of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | delivery year 2030 such that the goals in subparagraph | ||||||
| 2 | (B) of this paragraph (1) are met entirely by | ||||||
| 3 | procurements of renewable energy credits from new wind | ||||||
| 4 | and photovoltaic projects. Of that amount, to the | ||||||
| 5 | extent possible, the Agency shall endeavor to procure | ||||||
| 6 | 45% from new and repowered wind and hydropower | ||||||
| 7 | projects and shall procure at least 55% from | ||||||
| 8 | photovoltaic projects. Of the amount to be procured | ||||||
| 9 | from photovoltaic projects, the Agency shall procure: | ||||||
| 10 | at least 50% from solar photovoltaic projects using | ||||||
| 11 | the program outlined in subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 12 | paragraph (1) from distributed renewable energy | ||||||
| 13 | generation devices or community renewable generation | ||||||
| 14 | projects; at least 47% from utility-scale solar | ||||||
| 15 | projects; at least 3% from brownfield site | ||||||
| 16 | photovoltaic projects that are not community renewable | ||||||
| 17 | generation projects. The Agency may propose | ||||||
| 18 | adjustments to these percentages, including | ||||||
| 19 | establishing percentage-based goals for the | ||||||
| 20 | procurement of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 21 | modernized or retooled hydropower facilities and | ||||||
| 22 | repowered wind projects, through its long-term | ||||||
| 23 | renewable resources plan described in subparagraph (A) | ||||||
| 24 | of this paragraph (1) as necessary based on developer | ||||||
| 25 | interest, market conditions, budget considerations, | ||||||
| 26 | resource adequacy needs, or other factors. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Notwithstanding the percentage-based goals as | ||||||
| 2 | described in this Section, the Agency shall develop a | ||||||
| 3 | Geothermal Homes and Businesses Program for the | ||||||
| 4 | procurement of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 5 | geothermal heating and cooling systems. | ||||||
| 6 | In developing the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 7 | procurement plan, the Agency shall consider other | ||||||
| 8 | approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, | ||||||
| 9 | that can be used to procure renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 10 | from brownfield site photovoltaic projects and thereby | ||||||
| 11 | help return blighted or contaminated land to | ||||||
| 12 | productive use while enhancing public health and the | ||||||
| 13 | well-being of Illinois residents, including those in | ||||||
| 14 | environmental justice communities, as defined using | ||||||
| 15 | existing methodologies and findings used by the Agency | ||||||
| 16 | and its Administrator in its Illinois Solar for All | ||||||
| 17 | Program. The Agency shall also consider other | ||||||
| 18 | approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, | ||||||
| 19 | to procure renewable energy credits from new and | ||||||
| 20 | existing hydropower facilities to support the | ||||||
| 21 | development and maintenance of these facilities. The | ||||||
| 22 | Agency shall explore options to convert existing dams | ||||||
| 23 | but shall not consider approaches to develop new dams | ||||||
| 24 | where they do not already exist. To encourage the | ||||||
| 25 | continued operation of utility-scale wind projects, | ||||||
| 26 | the Agency shall consider and may propose other | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | approaches in addition to competitive procurements to | ||||||
| 2 | procure renewable energy credits from repowered wind | ||||||
| 3 | projects. | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) In any given delivery year, if forecasted | ||||||
| 5 | expenses are less than the maximum budget available | ||||||
| 6 | under subparagraph (E) of this paragraph (1), the | ||||||
| 7 | Agency shall continue to procure new renewable energy | ||||||
| 8 | credits until that budget is exhausted in the manner | ||||||
| 9 | outlined in item (i) of this subparagraph (C). | ||||||
| 10 | (iii) For purposes of this Section: | ||||||
| 11 | "New wind projects" means wind renewable energy | ||||||
| 12 | facilities that are energized after June 1, 2017 for | ||||||
| 13 | the delivery year commencing June 1, 2017. | ||||||
| 14 | "New photovoltaic projects" means photovoltaic | ||||||
| 15 | renewable energy facilities that are energized after | ||||||
| 16 | June 1, 2017. Photovoltaic projects developed under | ||||||
| 17 | Section 1-56 of this Act shall not apply towards the | ||||||
| 18 | new photovoltaic project requirements in this | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (C). | ||||||
| 20 | "Repowered wind projects" means utility-scale wind | ||||||
| 21 | projects featuring the removal, replacement, or | ||||||
| 22 | expansion of turbines at an existing project site, as | ||||||
| 23 | defined in the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 24 | procurement plan, after the effective date of this | ||||||
| 25 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 26 | Renewable energy credit contract awards used to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | support repowered wind projects shall only cover the | ||||||
| 2 | incremental increase in facility electricity | ||||||
| 3 | production resultant from repowering. | ||||||
| 4 | "Geothermal heating and cooling system" means a | ||||||
| 5 | system located in this State that meets all of the | ||||||
| 6 | following requirements: | ||||||
| 7 | (I) the system exchanges thermal energy from | ||||||
| 8 | groundwater or a shallow ground source to generate | ||||||
| 9 | thermal energy through an electric geothermal heat | ||||||
| 10 | pump or a system of electric geothermal heat pumps | ||||||
| 11 | interconnected with any geothermal extraction | ||||||
| 12 | facility that is (1) a closed loop or a series of | ||||||
| 13 | closed loop systems in which fluid is permanently | ||||||
| 14 | confined within a pipe or tubing and does not come | ||||||
| 15 | in contact with the outside environment or (2) an | ||||||
| 16 | open loop system in which ground or surface water | ||||||
| 17 | is circulated in an environmentally safe manner | ||||||
| 18 | directly into the facility and returned to the | ||||||
| 19 | same aquifer or surface water source; | ||||||
| 20 | (II) the system meets or exceeds federal | ||||||
| 21 | Energy Star product specification standards for | ||||||
| 22 | Geothermal Heat Pumps established on January 1, | ||||||
| 23 | 2012, as clarified by the Environmental Protection | ||||||
| 24 | Agency guidance document released on February 28, | ||||||
| 25 | 2012 entitled "Clarification to the Geothermal | ||||||
| 26 | Heat Pump Verification Testing Requirements and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Basic Model Group Definition", or any successor | ||||||
| 2 | standards that meet or exceed these standards; | ||||||
| 3 | (III) the system replaces or displaces less | ||||||
| 4 | efficient space or water heating systems, | ||||||
| 5 | regardless of fuel type; | ||||||
| 6 | (IV) the system replaces or displaces less | ||||||
| 7 | efficient space cooling systems, when applicable; | ||||||
| 8 | (V) the system does not feed electricity back | ||||||
| 9 | to the grid, as defined at the level of the | ||||||
| 10 | geothermal heat pump; and | ||||||
| 11 | (VI) the system became operational on or after | ||||||
| 12 | the effective date of this amendatory Act of the | ||||||
| 13 | 104th General Assembly. | ||||||
| 14 | For purposes of calculating whether the Agency has | ||||||
| 15 | procured enough new wind and solar renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | credits required by this subparagraph (C), renewable | ||||||
| 17 | energy facilities that have a multi-year renewable | ||||||
| 18 | energy credit delivery contract with the utility | ||||||
| 19 | through at least delivery year 2030 shall be | ||||||
| 20 | considered new, however no renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 21 | from contracts entered into before June 1, 2021 shall | ||||||
| 22 | be used to calculate whether the Agency has procured | ||||||
| 23 | the correct proportion of new wind and new solar | ||||||
| 24 | contracts described in this subparagraph (C) for | ||||||
| 25 | delivery year 2021 and thereafter. | ||||||
| 26 | (iv) The Agency may implement additional measures, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | including eligibility requirements, to ensure that new | ||||||
| 2 | wind projects and new photovoltaic projects supported | ||||||
| 3 | through renewable energy credit contract awards are a | ||||||
| 4 | result of a contract award and are otherwise developed | ||||||
| 5 | pursuant to the financial certainty provided through a | ||||||
| 6 | contract award. | ||||||
| 7 | (D) Renewable energy credits shall be cost effective. | ||||||
| 8 | For purposes of this subsection (c), "cost effective" | ||||||
| 9 | means that the costs of procuring renewable energy | ||||||
| 10 | resources do not cause the limit stated in subparagraph | ||||||
| 11 | (E) of this paragraph (1) to be exceeded and, for | ||||||
| 12 | renewable energy credits procured through a competitive | ||||||
| 13 | procurement event, do not exceed benchmarks based on | ||||||
| 14 | market prices for like products in the region. For | ||||||
| 15 | purposes of this subsection (c), "like products" means | ||||||
| 16 | contracts for renewable energy credits from the same or | ||||||
| 17 | substantially similar technology, same or substantially | ||||||
| 18 | similar vintage (new or existing), the same or | ||||||
| 19 | substantially similar quantity, and the same or | ||||||
| 20 | substantially similar contract length and structure. | ||||||
| 21 | Benchmarks shall reflect development, financing, or | ||||||
| 22 | related costs resulting from requirements imposed through | ||||||
| 23 | other provisions of State law, including, but not limited | ||||||
| 24 | to, requirements in subparagraphs (P) and (Q) of this | ||||||
| 25 | paragraph (1) and the Renewable Energy Facilities | ||||||
| 26 | Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Confidential | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | benchmarks shall be developed by the procurement | ||||||
| 2 | administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff, | ||||||
| 3 | Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be | ||||||
| 4 | subject to Commission review and approval. If price | ||||||
| 5 | benchmarks for like products in the region are not | ||||||
| 6 | available, the procurement administrator shall establish | ||||||
| 7 | price benchmarks based on publicly available data on | ||||||
| 8 | regional technology costs and expected current and future | ||||||
| 9 | regional energy prices. The benchmarks in this Section | ||||||
| 10 | shall not be used to curtail or otherwise reduce | ||||||
| 11 | contractual obligations entered into by or through the | ||||||
| 12 | Agency prior to June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public | ||||||
| 13 | Act 99-906). | ||||||
| 14 | (E) For purposes of this subsection (c), the required | ||||||
| 15 | procurement of cost-effective renewable energy resources | ||||||
| 16 | for a particular year commencing prior to June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| 17 | shall be measured as a percentage of the actual amount of | ||||||
| 18 | electricity (megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric | ||||||
| 19 | utility to eligible retail customers in the delivery year | ||||||
| 20 | ending immediately prior to the procurement, and, for | ||||||
| 21 | delivery years commencing on and after June 1, 2017, the | ||||||
| 22 | required procurement of cost-effective renewable energy | ||||||
| 23 | resources for a particular year shall be measured as a | ||||||
| 24 | percentage of the actual amount of electricity | ||||||
| 25 | (megawatt-hours) delivered by the electric utility in the | ||||||
| 26 | delivery year ending immediately prior to the procurement, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | to all retail customers in its service territory. For | ||||||
| 2 | purposes of this subsection (c), the amount paid per | ||||||
| 3 | kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric | ||||||
| 4 | service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For | ||||||
| 5 | purposes of this subsection (c), the total amount paid for | ||||||
| 6 | electric service includes without limitation amounts paid | ||||||
| 7 | for supply, transmission, capacity, distribution, | ||||||
| 8 | surcharges, and add-on taxes. | ||||||
| 9 | Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection | ||||||
| 10 | (c), and except as provided in subparagraph (E-5) of | ||||||
| 11 | paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) or except as | ||||||
| 12 | otherwise authorized by the Commission in its approval of | ||||||
| 13 | the integrated resource plan under Section 16-202 of the | ||||||
| 14 | Public Utilities Act, the total of renewable energy | ||||||
| 15 | resources procured under the procurement plan for any | ||||||
| 16 | single year shall be subject to the limitations of this | ||||||
| 17 | subparagraph (E). Such procurement shall be reduced for | ||||||
| 18 | all retail customers based on the amount necessary to | ||||||
| 19 | limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the | ||||||
| 20 | costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by | ||||||
| 21 | eligible retail customers in connection with electric | ||||||
| 22 | service to no more than 4.25% of the amount paid per | ||||||
| 23 | kilowatthour by those customers during the year ending May | ||||||
| 24 | 31, 2009, adjusted annually for inflation starting with | ||||||
| 25 | the first adjustment in the delivery year commencing June | ||||||
| 26 | 1, 2026. For the purposes of this Section, the inflation | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | adjustment shall not be accrued or applied retroactively | ||||||
| 2 | prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of the | ||||||
| 3 | 104th General Assembly and shall apply prospectively | ||||||
| 4 | starting in 2025. The limitation shall be increased by an | ||||||
| 5 | additional 1.65 percentage points of the amount paid per | ||||||
| 6 | kilowatthour by eligible retail customers during the year | ||||||
| 7 | ending May 31, 2009 starting with the delivery year | ||||||
| 8 | commencing June 1, 2027. To arrive at a maximum dollar | ||||||
| 9 | amount of renewable energy resources to be procured for | ||||||
| 10 | the particular delivery year, the resulting per | ||||||
| 11 | kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the actual amount | ||||||
| 12 | of kilowatthours of electricity delivered, or applicable | ||||||
| 13 | portion of such amount as specified in paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 14 | this subsection (c), as applicable, by the electric | ||||||
| 15 | utility in the delivery year immediately prior to the | ||||||
| 16 | procurement to all retail customers in its service | ||||||
| 17 | territory. The calculations required by this subparagraph | ||||||
| 18 | (E) shall be made only once for each delivery year at the | ||||||
| 19 | time that the renewable energy resources are procured. | ||||||
| 20 | Once the determination as to the amount of renewable | ||||||
| 21 | energy resources to procure is made based on the | ||||||
| 22 | calculations set forth in this subparagraph (E) and the | ||||||
| 23 | contracts procuring those amounts are executed between the | ||||||
| 24 | seller and applicable electric utility, no subsequent rate | ||||||
| 25 | impact determinations shall be made and no adjustments to | ||||||
| 26 | those contract amounts shall be allowed. As provided in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (E-5) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 2 | (c), the seller shall be entitled to full, prompt, and | ||||||
| 3 | uninterrupted payment under the applicable contract | ||||||
| 4 | notwithstanding the application of this subparagraph (E), | ||||||
| 5 | and all costs incurred under such contracts shall be fully | ||||||
| 6 | recoverable by the electric utility as provided in this | ||||||
| 7 | Section. | ||||||
| 8 | (E-5) If, for a particular delivery year, the | ||||||
| 9 | limitation on the amount of renewable energy resources to | ||||||
| 10 | be procured, as calculated pursuant to subparagraph (E) of | ||||||
| 11 | paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), would result in an | ||||||
| 12 | insufficient collection of funds to fully pay amounts due | ||||||
| 13 | to a seller under existing contracts executed under this | ||||||
| 14 | Section or executed under Section 1-56 of this Act, then | ||||||
| 15 | the following provisions shall apply to ensure full and | ||||||
| 16 | uninterrupted payment is made to such seller or sellers: | ||||||
| 17 | (i) If the electric utility has retained unspent | ||||||
| 18 | funds in an interest-bearing account as prescribed in | ||||||
| 19 | subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of the Public | ||||||
| 20 | Utilities Act, then the utility shall use those funds | ||||||
| 21 | to remit full payment to the sellers to ensure prompt | ||||||
| 22 | and uninterrupted payment of existing contractual | ||||||
| 23 | obligation. | ||||||
| 24 | (ii) If the funds described in item (i) of this | ||||||
| 25 | subparagraph (E-5) are insufficient to satisfy all | ||||||
| 26 | existing contractual obligations, then the electric | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | utility shall, nonetheless, remit full payment to the | ||||||
| 2 | sellers to ensure prompt and uninterrupted payment of | ||||||
| 3 | existing contractual obligations, provided that the | ||||||
| 4 | full costs shall be recoverable by the utility in | ||||||
| 5 | accordance with part (ee) of item (iv) of this | ||||||
| 6 | subsection (E-5). | ||||||
| 7 | (iii) The Agency shall promptly notify the | ||||||
| 8 | Commission that existing contractual obligations are | ||||||
| 9 | reasonably expected to exceed the maximum collection | ||||||
| 10 | authorized under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 11 | this subsection (c) for the applicable delivery year. | ||||||
| 12 | The Agency shall also explain and confirm how the | ||||||
| 13 | operation of items (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph | ||||||
| 14 | (E-5) ensures that the electric utility will continue | ||||||
| 15 | to make prompt and uninterrupted payment under | ||||||
| 16 | existing contractual obligations. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 17 | provide this information to the Commission through a | ||||||
| 18 | notice filed in the Commission docket approving the | ||||||
| 19 | Agency's operative Long-Term Renewable Resources | ||||||
| 20 | Procurement Plan that includes the applicable delivery | ||||||
| 21 | year. | ||||||
| 22 | (iv) The Agency shall suspend or reduce new | ||||||
| 23 | contract awards for the procurement of renewable | ||||||
| 24 | energy credits until an Agency determination is made | ||||||
| 25 | under subparagraph (E) that additional procurements | ||||||
| 26 | would not cause the rate impact limitation of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (E) to be exceeded. At least once | ||||||
| 2 | annually after the notice provided for in item (iii) | ||||||
| 3 | of this subparagraph (E-5) is made, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 4 | analyze existing contract obligations, projected | ||||||
| 5 | prices for indexed renewable energy credit contracts | ||||||
| 6 | executed under item (v) of subparagraph (G) of | ||||||
| 7 | paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of | ||||||
| 8 | this Act, and expected collections authorized under | ||||||
| 9 | subparagraph (E) to determine whether and to what | ||||||
| 10 | extent the limitations of subparagraph (E) would be | ||||||
| 11 | exceeded by additional renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 12 | procurement contract awards. | ||||||
| 13 | (aa) If the Agency determines that additional | ||||||
| 14 | renewable energy credit procurement contract | ||||||
| 15 | awards could be made without exceeding the | ||||||
| 16 | limitations of subparagraph (E), then the | ||||||
| 17 | procurements shall be authorized at a scale | ||||||
| 18 | determined not to exceed the limitations of | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (E) in a manner consistent with the | ||||||
| 20 | priorities of this Section. | ||||||
| 21 | (bb) If the Agency determines that additional | ||||||
| 22 | renewable energy credit procurement contract | ||||||
| 23 | awards cannot be made without exceeding the | ||||||
| 24 | limitations of subparagraph (E), then the Agency | ||||||
| 25 | shall suspend any new contract awards for the | ||||||
| 26 | procurement of renewable energy credits until a | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | new rate impact determination is made under | ||||||
| 2 | subparagraph (E). | ||||||
| 3 | (cc) Agency determinations made under this | ||||||
| 4 | item (iv) shall be detailed and comprehensive and, | ||||||
| 5 | if not made through the Agency's Long-Term | ||||||
| 6 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, shall be | ||||||
| 7 | filed as a compliance filing in the most recent | ||||||
| 8 | docketed proceeding approving the Agency's | ||||||
| 9 | Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. | ||||||
| 10 | (dd) With respect to the procurement of | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credits authorized through | ||||||
| 12 | programs administered under subsection (b) of | ||||||
| 13 | Section 1-56 and subparagraphs (K) through (M) of | ||||||
| 14 | paragraph (1) of subsection (k) of Section 1-75 of | ||||||
| 15 | this Act, the award of contracts for the | ||||||
| 16 | procurement of renewable energy credits shall be | ||||||
| 17 | suspended or reduced only at the conclusion of the | ||||||
| 18 | program year in which the notice provided for | ||||||
| 19 | under item (iii) of this subparagraph (E-5) is | ||||||
| 20 | made. | ||||||
| 21 | (ee) The contract shall provide that, so long | ||||||
| 22 | as at least one of: (i) the cost recovery | ||||||
| 23 | mechanisms referenced in subsection (k) of Section | ||||||
| 24 | 16-108 and subsection (l) of Section 16-111.5 of | ||||||
| 25 | the Public Utilities Act remains in full force | ||||||
| 26 | without limitation or (ii) the utility is | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | otherwise authorized and or entitled to full, | ||||||
| 2 | prompt, and uninterrupted recovery of its costs | ||||||
| 3 | through any other mechanism, then such seller | ||||||
| 4 | shall be entitled to full, prompt, and | ||||||
| 5 | uninterrupted payment under the applicable | ||||||
| 6 | contract notwithstanding the application of this | ||||||
| 7 | subparagraph (E). | ||||||
| 8 | (F) If the limitation on the amount of renewable | ||||||
| 9 | energy resources procured in subparagraph (E) of this | ||||||
| 10 | paragraph (1) prevents the Agency from meeting all of the | ||||||
| 11 | goals in this subsection (c), the Agency's long-term plan | ||||||
| 12 | shall prioritize compliance with the requirements of this | ||||||
| 13 | subsection (c) regarding renewable energy credits in the | ||||||
| 14 | following order: | ||||||
| 15 | (i) renewable energy credits under existing | ||||||
| 16 | contractual obligations as of June 1, 2021; | ||||||
| 17 | (i-5) funding for the Illinois Solar for All | ||||||
| 18 | Program, as described in subparagraph (O) of this | ||||||
| 19 | paragraph (1); | ||||||
| 20 | (ii) renewable energy credits necessary to comply | ||||||
| 21 | with the new wind and new photovoltaic procurement | ||||||
| 22 | requirements described in items (i) through (iii) of | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1); and | ||||||
| 24 | (iii) renewable energy credits necessary to meet | ||||||
| 25 | the remaining requirements of this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 26 | (G) The following provisions shall apply to the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Agency's procurement of renewable energy credits under | ||||||
| 2 | this subsection (c): | ||||||
| 3 | (i) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable | ||||||
| 4 | resources procurement plan has been approved, the | ||||||
| 5 | Agency shall conduct an initial forward procurement | ||||||
| 6 | for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale | ||||||
| 7 | wind projects within 160 days after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 8 | effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes | ||||||
| 9 | of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 10 | solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000 | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credits delivered annually from new | ||||||
| 12 | utility-scale wind projects to begin delivery on June | ||||||
| 13 | 1, 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, | ||||||
| 14 | unless the project has delays in the establishment of | ||||||
| 15 | an operating interconnection with the applicable | ||||||
| 16 | transmission or distribution system as a result of the | ||||||
| 17 | actions or inactions of the transmission or | ||||||
| 18 | distribution provider, or other causes for force | ||||||
| 19 | majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in | ||||||
| 20 | which case, not later than June 1, 2022. Payments to | ||||||
| 21 | suppliers of renewable energy credits shall commence | ||||||
| 22 | upon delivery. Renewable energy credits procured under | ||||||
| 23 | this initial procurement shall be included in the | ||||||
| 24 | Agency's long-term plan and shall apply to all | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy goals in this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 26 | (ii) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | resources procurement plan has been approved, the | ||||||
| 2 | Agency shall conduct an initial forward procurement | ||||||
| 3 | for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale | ||||||
| 4 | solar projects and brownfield site photovoltaic | ||||||
| 5 | projects within one year after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 6 | effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes | ||||||
| 7 | of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 8 | solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000 | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy credits delivered annually from new | ||||||
| 10 | utility-scale solar projects and brownfield site | ||||||
| 11 | photovoltaic projects to begin delivery on June 1, | ||||||
| 12 | 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, | ||||||
| 13 | unless the project has delays in the establishment of | ||||||
| 14 | an operating interconnection with the applicable | ||||||
| 15 | transmission or distribution system as a result of the | ||||||
| 16 | actions or inactions of the transmission or | ||||||
| 17 | distribution provider, or other causes for force | ||||||
| 18 | majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in | ||||||
| 19 | which case, not later than June 1, 2022. The Agency may | ||||||
| 20 | structure this initial procurement in one or more | ||||||
| 21 | discrete procurement events. Payments to suppliers of | ||||||
| 22 | renewable energy credits shall commence upon delivery. | ||||||
| 23 | Renewable energy credits procured under this initial | ||||||
| 24 | procurement shall be included in the Agency's | ||||||
| 25 | long-term plan and shall apply to all renewable energy | ||||||
| 26 | goals in this subsection (c). | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (iii) Notwithstanding whether the Commission has | ||||||
| 2 | approved the periodic long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 3 | procurement plan revision described in Section | ||||||
| 4 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 5 | conduct at least one subsequent forward procurement | ||||||
| 6 | for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale | ||||||
| 7 | wind projects, new utility-scale solar projects, and | ||||||
| 8 | new brownfield site photovoltaic projects within 240 | ||||||
| 9 | days after the effective date of this amendatory Act | ||||||
| 10 | of the 102nd General Assembly in quantities necessary | ||||||
| 11 | to meet the requirements of subparagraph (C) of this | ||||||
| 12 | paragraph (1) through the delivery year beginning June | ||||||
| 13 | 1, 2021. | ||||||
| 14 | (iv) Notwithstanding whether the Commission has | ||||||
| 15 | approved the periodic long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 16 | procurement plan revision described in Section | ||||||
| 17 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 18 | open capacity for each category in the Adjustable | ||||||
| 19 | Block program within 90 days after the effective date | ||||||
| 20 | of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly | ||||||
| 21 | manner: | ||||||
| 22 | (1) The Agency shall open the first block of | ||||||
| 23 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| 24 | (i) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). The | ||||||
| 25 | first block of annual capacity for item (i) shall | ||||||
| 26 | be for at least 75 megawatts of total nameplate | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | capacity. The price of the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 2 | for this block of capacity shall be 4% less than | ||||||
| 3 | the price of the last open block in this category. | ||||||
| 4 | Projects on a waitlist shall be awarded contracts | ||||||
| 5 | first in the order in which they appear on the | ||||||
| 6 | waitlist. Notwithstanding anything to the | ||||||
| 7 | contrary, for those renewable energy credits that | ||||||
| 8 | qualify and are procured under this subitem (1) of | ||||||
| 9 | this item (iv), the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 10 | delivery contract value shall be paid in full, | ||||||
| 11 | based on the estimated generation during the first | ||||||
| 12 | 15 years of operation, by the contracting | ||||||
| 13 | utilities at the time that the facility producing | ||||||
| 14 | the renewable energy credits is interconnected at | ||||||
| 15 | the distribution system level of the utility and | ||||||
| 16 | verified as energized and in compliance by the | ||||||
| 17 | Program Administrator. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 18 | receive and retire all renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 19 | generated by the project for the first 15 years of | ||||||
| 20 | operation. Renewable energy credits generated by | ||||||
| 21 | the project thereafter shall not be transferred | ||||||
| 22 | under the renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 23 | contract with the counterparty electric utility. | ||||||
| 24 | (2) The Agency shall open the first block of | ||||||
| 25 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| 26 | (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | The first block of annual capacity for item (ii) | ||||||
| 2 | shall be for at least 75 megawatts of total | ||||||
| 3 | nameplate capacity. | ||||||
| 4 | (A) The price of the renewable energy | ||||||
| 5 | credit for any project on a waitlist for this | ||||||
| 6 | category before the opening of this block | ||||||
| 7 | shall be 4% less than the price of the last | ||||||
| 8 | open block in this category. Projects on the | ||||||
| 9 | waitlist shall be awarded contracts first in | ||||||
| 10 | the order in which they appear on the | ||||||
| 11 | waitlist. Any projects that are less than or | ||||||
| 12 | equal to 25 kilowatts in size on the waitlist | ||||||
| 13 | for this capacity shall be moved to the | ||||||
| 14 | waitlist for paragraph (1) of this item (iv). | ||||||
| 15 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, | ||||||
| 16 | projects that were on the waitlist prior to | ||||||
| 17 | opening of this block shall not be required to | ||||||
| 18 | be in compliance with the requirements of | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (Q) of this paragraph (1) of this | ||||||
| 20 | subsection (c). Notwithstanding anything to | ||||||
| 21 | the contrary, for those renewable energy | ||||||
| 22 | credits procured from projects that were on | ||||||
| 23 | the waitlist for this category before the | ||||||
| 24 | opening of this block 20% of the renewable | ||||||
| 25 | energy credit delivery contract value, based | ||||||
| 26 | on the estimated generation during the first | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 15 years of operation, shall be paid by the | ||||||
| 2 | contracting utilities at the time that the | ||||||
| 3 | facility producing the renewable energy | ||||||
| 4 | credits is interconnected at the distribution | ||||||
| 5 | system level of the utility and verified as | ||||||
| 6 | energized by the Program Administrator. The | ||||||
| 7 | remaining portion shall be paid ratably over | ||||||
| 8 | the subsequent 4-year period. The electric | ||||||
| 9 | utility shall receive and retire all renewable | ||||||
| 10 | energy credits generated by the project during | ||||||
| 11 | the first 15 years of operation. Renewable | ||||||
| 12 | energy credits generated by the project | ||||||
| 13 | thereafter shall not be transferred under the | ||||||
| 14 | renewable energy credit delivery contract with | ||||||
| 15 | the counterparty electric utility. | ||||||
| 16 | (B) The price of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 17 | for any project not on the waitlist for this | ||||||
| 18 | category before the opening of the block shall | ||||||
| 19 | be determined and published by the Agency. | ||||||
| 20 | Projects not on a waitlist as of the opening | ||||||
| 21 | of this block shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 22 | requirements of subparagraph (Q) of this | ||||||
| 23 | paragraph (1), as applicable. Projects not on | ||||||
| 24 | a waitlist as of the opening of this block | ||||||
| 25 | shall be subject to the contract provisions | ||||||
| 26 | outlined in item (iii) of subparagraph (L) of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | this paragraph (1). The Agency shall strive to | ||||||
| 2 | publish updated prices and an updated | ||||||
| 3 | renewable energy credit delivery contract as | ||||||
| 4 | quickly as possible. | ||||||
| 5 | (3) For opening the first 2 blocks of annual | ||||||
| 6 | capacity for projects participating in item (iii) | ||||||
| 7 | of subparagraph (K) of paragraph (1) of subsection | ||||||
| 8 | (c), projects shall be selected exclusively from | ||||||
| 9 | those projects on the ordinal waitlists of | ||||||
| 10 | community renewable generation projects | ||||||
| 11 | established by the Agency based on the status of | ||||||
| 12 | those ordinal waitlists as of December 31, 2020, | ||||||
| 13 | and only those projects previously determined to | ||||||
| 14 | be eligible for the Agency's April 2019 community | ||||||
| 15 | solar project selection process. | ||||||
| 16 | The first 2 blocks of annual capacity for item | ||||||
| 17 | (iii) shall be for 250 megawatts of total | ||||||
| 18 | nameplate capacity, with both blocks opening | ||||||
| 19 | simultaneously under the schedule outlined in the | ||||||
| 20 | paragraphs below. Projects shall be selected as | ||||||
| 21 | follows: | ||||||
| 22 | (A) The geographic balance of selected | ||||||
| 23 | projects shall follow the Group classification | ||||||
| 24 | found in the Agency's Revised Long-Term | ||||||
| 25 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, with 70% | ||||||
| 26 | of capacity allocated to projects on the Group | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | B waitlist and 30% of capacity allocated to | ||||||
| 2 | projects on the Group A waitlist. | ||||||
| 3 | (B) Contract awards for waitlisted | ||||||
| 4 | projects shall be allocated proportionate to | ||||||
| 5 | the total nameplate capacity amount across | ||||||
| 6 | both ordinal waitlists associated with that | ||||||
| 7 | applicant firm or its affiliates, subject to | ||||||
| 8 | the following conditions. | ||||||
| 9 | (i) Each applicant firm having a | ||||||
| 10 | waitlisted project eligible for selection | ||||||
| 11 | shall receive no less than 500 kilowatts | ||||||
| 12 | in awarded capacity across all groups, and | ||||||
| 13 | no approved vendor may receive more than | ||||||
| 14 | 20% of each Group's waitlist allocation. | ||||||
| 15 | (ii) Each applicant firm, upon | ||||||
| 16 | receiving an award of program capacity | ||||||
| 17 | proportionate to its waitlisted capacity, | ||||||
| 18 | may then determine which waitlisted | ||||||
| 19 | projects it chooses to be selected for a | ||||||
| 20 | contract award up to that capacity amount. | ||||||
| 21 | (iii) Assuming all other program | ||||||
| 22 | requirements are met, applicant firms may | ||||||
| 23 | adjust the nameplate capacity of applicant | ||||||
| 24 | projects without losing waitlist | ||||||
| 25 | eligibility, so long as no project is | ||||||
| 26 | greater than 2,000 kilowatts in size. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (iv) Assuming all other program | ||||||
| 2 | requirements are met, applicant firms may | ||||||
| 3 | adjust the expected production associated | ||||||
| 4 | with applicant projects, subject to | ||||||
| 5 | verification by the Program Administrator. | ||||||
| 6 | (C) After a review of affiliate | ||||||
| 7 | information and the current ordinal waitlists, | ||||||
| 8 | the Agency shall announce the nameplate | ||||||
| 9 | capacity award amounts associated with | ||||||
| 10 | applicant firms no later than 90 days after | ||||||
| 11 | the effective date of this amendatory Act of | ||||||
| 12 | the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 13 | (D) Applicant firms shall submit their | ||||||
| 14 | portfolio of projects used to satisfy those | ||||||
| 15 | contract awards no less than 90 days after the | ||||||
| 16 | Agency's announcement. The total nameplate | ||||||
| 17 | capacity of all projects used to satisfy that | ||||||
| 18 | portfolio shall be no greater than the | ||||||
| 19 | Agency's nameplate capacity award amount | ||||||
| 20 | associated with that applicant firm. An | ||||||
| 21 | applicant firm may decline, in whole or in | ||||||
| 22 | part, its nameplate capacity award without | ||||||
| 23 | penalty, with such unmet capacity rolled over | ||||||
| 24 | to the next block opening for project | ||||||
| 25 | selection under item (iii) of subparagraph (K) | ||||||
| 26 | of this subsection (c). Any projects not | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | included in an applicant firm's portfolio may | ||||||
| 2 | reapply without prejudice upon the next block | ||||||
| 3 | reopening for project selection under item | ||||||
| 4 | (iii) of subparagraph (K) of this subsection | ||||||
| 5 | (c). | ||||||
| 6 | (E) The renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 7 | contract shall be subject to the contract and | ||||||
| 8 | payment terms outlined in item (iv) of | ||||||
| 9 | subparagraph (L) of this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 10 | Contract instruments used for this | ||||||
| 11 | subparagraph shall contain the following | ||||||
| 12 | terms: | ||||||
| 13 | (i) Renewable energy credit prices | ||||||
| 14 | shall be fixed, without further adjustment | ||||||
| 15 | under any other provision of this Act or | ||||||
| 16 | for any other reason, at 10% lower than | ||||||
| 17 | prices applicable to the last open block | ||||||
| 18 | for this category, inclusive of any adders | ||||||
| 19 | available for achieving a minimum of 50% | ||||||
| 20 | of subscribers to the project's nameplate | ||||||
| 21 | capacity being residential or small | ||||||
| 22 | commercial customers with subscriptions of | ||||||
| 23 | below 25 kilowatts in size; | ||||||
| 24 | (ii) A requirement that a minimum of | ||||||
| 25 | 50% of subscribers to the project's | ||||||
| 26 | nameplate capacity be residential or small | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | commercial customers with subscriptions of | ||||||
| 2 | below 25 kilowatts in size; | ||||||
| 3 | (iii) Permission for the ability of a | ||||||
| 4 | contract holder to substitute projects | ||||||
| 5 | with other waitlisted projects without | ||||||
| 6 | penalty should a project receive a | ||||||
| 7 | non-binding estimate of costs to construct | ||||||
| 8 | the interconnection facilities and any | ||||||
| 9 | required distribution upgrades associated | ||||||
| 10 | with that project of greater than 30 cents | ||||||
| 11 | per watt AC of that project's nameplate | ||||||
| 12 | capacity. In developing the applicable | ||||||
| 13 | contract instrument, the Agency may | ||||||
| 14 | consider whether other circumstances | ||||||
| 15 | outside of the control of the applicant | ||||||
| 16 | firm should also warrant project | ||||||
| 17 | substitution rights. | ||||||
| 18 | The Agency shall publish a finalized | ||||||
| 19 | updated renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 20 | contract developed consistent with these terms | ||||||
| 21 | and conditions no less than 30 days before | ||||||
| 22 | applicant firms must submit their portfolio of | ||||||
| 23 | projects pursuant to item (D). | ||||||
| 24 | (F) To be eligible for an award, the | ||||||
| 25 | applicant firm shall certify that not less | ||||||
| 26 | than prevailing wage, as determined pursuant | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, was or | ||||||
| 2 | will be paid to employees who are engaged in | ||||||
| 3 | construction activities associated with a | ||||||
| 4 | selected project. | ||||||
| 5 | (4) The Agency shall open the first block of | ||||||
| 6 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| 7 | (iv) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 8 | The first block of annual capacity for item (iv) | ||||||
| 9 | shall be for at least 50 megawatts of total | ||||||
| 10 | nameplate capacity. Renewable energy credit prices | ||||||
| 11 | shall be fixed, without further adjustment under | ||||||
| 12 | any other provision of this Act or for any other | ||||||
| 13 | reason, at the price in the last open block in the | ||||||
| 14 | category described in item (ii) of subparagraph | ||||||
| 15 | (K) of this paragraph (1). Pricing for future | ||||||
| 16 | blocks of annual capacity for this category may be | ||||||
| 17 | adjusted in the Agency's second revision to its | ||||||
| 18 | Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. | ||||||
| 19 | Projects in this category shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 20 | contract terms outlined in item (iv) of | ||||||
| 21 | subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 22 | (5) The Agency shall open the equivalent of 2 | ||||||
| 23 | years of annual capacity for the category | ||||||
| 24 | described in item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 25 | paragraph (1). The first block of annual capacity | ||||||
| 26 | for item (v) shall be for at least 10 megawatts of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | total nameplate capacity. Notwithstanding the | ||||||
| 2 | provisions of item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 3 | paragraph (1), for the purpose of this initial | ||||||
| 4 | block, the agency shall accept new project | ||||||
| 5 | applications intended to increase the diversity of | ||||||
| 6 | areas hosting community solar projects, the | ||||||
| 7 | business models of projects, and the size of | ||||||
| 8 | projects, as described by the Agency in its | ||||||
| 9 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 10 | that is approved as of the effective date of this | ||||||
| 11 | amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 12 | Projects in this category shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 13 | contract terms outlined in item (iii) of | ||||||
| 14 | subsection (L) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 15 | (6) The Agency shall open the first blocks of | ||||||
| 16 | annual capacity for the category described in item | ||||||
| 17 | (vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), | ||||||
| 18 | with allocations of capacity within the block | ||||||
| 19 | generally matching the historical share of block | ||||||
| 20 | capacity allocated between the category described | ||||||
| 21 | in items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 22 | paragraph (1). The first two blocks of annual | ||||||
| 23 | capacity for item (vi) shall be for at least 75 | ||||||
| 24 | megawatts of total nameplate capacity. The price | ||||||
| 25 | of renewable energy credits for the blocks of | ||||||
| 26 | capacity shall be 4% less than the price of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | last open blocks in the categories described in | ||||||
| 2 | items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 3 | paragraph (1). Pricing for future blocks of annual | ||||||
| 4 | capacity for this category may be adjusted in the | ||||||
| 5 | Agency's second revision to its Long-Term | ||||||
| 6 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. Projects in | ||||||
| 7 | this category shall be subject to the applicable | ||||||
| 8 | contract terms outlined in items (ii) and (iii) of | ||||||
| 9 | subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 10 | (v) Upon the effective date of this amendatory Act | ||||||
| 11 | of the 102nd General Assembly, for all competitive | ||||||
| 12 | procurements and any procurements of renewable energy | ||||||
| 13 | credit from new utility-scale wind and new | ||||||
| 14 | utility-scale photovoltaic projects, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 15 | procure indexed renewable energy credits and direct | ||||||
| 16 | respondents to offer a strike price. | ||||||
| 17 | (1) The purchase price of the indexed | ||||||
| 18 | renewable energy credit payment shall be | ||||||
| 19 | calculated for each settlement period. That | ||||||
| 20 | payment, for any settlement period, shall be equal | ||||||
| 21 | to the difference resulting from subtracting the | ||||||
| 22 | strike price from the index price for that | ||||||
| 23 | settlement period. If this difference results in a | ||||||
| 24 | negative number, the indexed REC counterparty | ||||||
| 25 | shall owe the seller the absolute value multiplied | ||||||
| 26 | by the quantity of energy produced in the relevant | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | settlement period. If this difference results in a | ||||||
| 2 | positive number, the seller shall owe the indexed | ||||||
| 3 | REC counterparty this amount multiplied by the | ||||||
| 4 | quantity of energy produced in the relevant | ||||||
| 5 | settlement period. | ||||||
| 6 | (2) Parties shall cash settle every month, | ||||||
| 7 | summing up all settlements (both positive and | ||||||
| 8 | negative, if applicable) for the prior month. | ||||||
| 9 | (3) To ensure funding in the annual budget | ||||||
| 10 | established under subparagraph (E) for indexed | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credit procurements for each year | ||||||
| 12 | of the term of such contracts, which must have a | ||||||
| 13 | minimum tenure of 20 calendar years, the | ||||||
| 14 | procurement administrator, Agency, Commission | ||||||
| 15 | staff, and procurement monitor shall quantify the | ||||||
| 16 | annual cost of the contract by utilizing one or | ||||||
| 17 | more industry-standard, third-party forward price | ||||||
| 18 | curves for energy at the appropriate hub or load | ||||||
| 19 | zone, including the estimated magnitude and timing | ||||||
| 20 | of the price effects related to federal carbon | ||||||
| 21 | controls. Each forward price curve shall contain a | ||||||
| 22 | specific value of the forecasted market price of | ||||||
| 23 | electricity for each annual delivery year of the | ||||||
| 24 | contract. For procurement planning purposes, the | ||||||
| 25 | impact on the annual budget for the cost of | ||||||
| 26 | indexed renewable energy credits for each delivery | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | year shall be determined as the expected annual | ||||||
| 2 | contract expenditure for that year, equaling the | ||||||
| 3 | difference between (i) the sum across all relevant | ||||||
| 4 | contracts of the applicable strike price | ||||||
| 5 | multiplied by contract quantity and (ii) the sum | ||||||
| 6 | across all relevant contracts of the forward price | ||||||
| 7 | curve for the applicable load zone for that year | ||||||
| 8 | multiplied by contract quantity. The contracting | ||||||
| 9 | utility shall not assume an obligation in excess | ||||||
| 10 | of the estimated annual cost of the contracts for | ||||||
| 11 | indexed renewable energy credits. Forward curves | ||||||
| 12 | shall be revised on an annual basis as updated | ||||||
| 13 | forward price curves are released and filed with | ||||||
| 14 | the Commission in the proceeding approving the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency's most recent long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 16 | procurement plan. If the expected contract spend | ||||||
| 17 | is higher or lower than the total quantity of | ||||||
| 18 | contracts multiplied by the forward price curve | ||||||
| 19 | value for that year, the forward price curve shall | ||||||
| 20 | be updated by the procurement administrator, in | ||||||
| 21 | consultation with the Agency, Commission staff, | ||||||
| 22 | and procurement monitors, using then-currently | ||||||
| 23 | available price forecast data and additional | ||||||
| 24 | budget dollars shall be obligated or reobligated | ||||||
| 25 | as appropriate. | ||||||
| 26 | (4) To ensure that indexed renewable energy | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | credit prices remain predictable and affordable, | ||||||
| 2 | the Agency may consider the institution of a price | ||||||
| 3 | collar on REC prices paid under indexed renewable | ||||||
| 4 | energy credit procurements establishing floor and | ||||||
| 5 | ceiling REC prices applicable to indexed REC | ||||||
| 6 | contract prices. Any price collars applicable to | ||||||
| 7 | indexed REC procurements shall be proposed by the | ||||||
| 8 | Agency through its long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 9 | procurement plan. | ||||||
| 10 | (vi) All procurements under this subparagraph (G), | ||||||
| 11 | including the procurement of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 12 | from hydropower facilities, shall comply with the | ||||||
| 13 | geographic requirements in subparagraph (I) of this | ||||||
| 14 | paragraph (1) and shall follow the procurement | ||||||
| 15 | processes and procedures described in this Section and | ||||||
| 16 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the | ||||||
| 17 | extent practicable, and these processes and procedures | ||||||
| 18 | may be expedited to accommodate the schedule | ||||||
| 19 | established by this subparagraph (G). To ensure the | ||||||
| 20 | successful development of new renewable energy | ||||||
| 21 | projects supported through competitive procurements, | ||||||
| 22 | for any procurements conducted under items (i), (ii), | ||||||
| 23 | (iii), and (v) of this subparagraph (G) and any other | ||||||
| 24 | procurement of new utility-scale wind or utility-scale | ||||||
| 25 | solar projects that were entered into prior to January | ||||||
| 26 | 1, 2025, the Agency shall allow, upon a demonstration | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | of need to ensure the commercial viability of a | ||||||
| 2 | project, for a one-time, post-award renegotiation of | ||||||
| 3 | select contract terms prior to the project's | ||||||
| 4 | commercial operation date through bilateral | ||||||
| 5 | negotiation between the Agency, the buyer, and a | ||||||
| 6 | winning bidder. Contract terms subject to | ||||||
| 7 | renegotiation may include the project map, as defined | ||||||
| 8 | under the applicable competitive solicitation, the | ||||||
| 9 | real estate footprint or any limitations thereof, the | ||||||
| 10 | location of the generators, or a potential reduction | ||||||
| 11 | in the quantity of renewable energy credits to be | ||||||
| 12 | delivered. Provisions related to a renewable energy | ||||||
| 13 | credit delivery shortfall and the event of default may | ||||||
| 14 | be replaced with similar provisions approved by the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency in subsequent years or subsequent to a | ||||||
| 16 | successful bid. Post-award renegotiation of | ||||||
| 17 | competitively bid renewable energy credit contracts | ||||||
| 18 | entered into prior to January 1, 2025 shall not be | ||||||
| 19 | permitted to the extent such renegotiation would | ||||||
| 20 | result in (1) the point of interconnection being | ||||||
| 21 | within the service area of a different state, a | ||||||
| 22 | different regional transmission organization zone, or | ||||||
| 23 | a different regional transmission organization, (2) | ||||||
| 24 | the generator no longer meeting the definition of the | ||||||
| 25 | resource category for which the winning bidder was | ||||||
| 26 | originally awarded a contract, (3) the generator no | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | longer meeting the Agency's public interest criteria | ||||||
| 2 | as established in the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 3 | plan in effect at the time of the contract award, or | ||||||
| 4 | (4) a change to material terms of the renewable energy | ||||||
| 5 | credit contract unrelated to project land or footprint | ||||||
| 6 | or the number of renewable energy credits to be | ||||||
| 7 | delivered, including the applicable bid price or | ||||||
| 8 | strike price. If the Agency, the buyer, and the | ||||||
| 9 | winning bidder reach an agreement on amended terms, | ||||||
| 10 | then, upon petition by the winning bidder or current | ||||||
| 11 | seller, the Commission shall issue an order directing | ||||||
| 12 | the utility counterparty to execute an amendment | ||||||
| 13 | drafted by the Agency with the revised terms to the | ||||||
| 14 | renewable energy credit contract, the product order, | ||||||
| 15 | or both. The Agency shall provide the amendment to the | ||||||
| 16 | utility within 15 business days after the Commission's | ||||||
| 17 | order, and the utility shall execute the amendment no | ||||||
| 18 | more than 7 calendar days after delivery by the | ||||||
| 19 | Agency. | ||||||
| 20 | (vii) On and after the effective date of this | ||||||
| 21 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, for all | ||||||
| 22 | procurements of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 23 | hydropower facilities, the Agency shall establish | ||||||
| 24 | contract terms designed to optimize existing | ||||||
| 25 | hydropower facilities through modernization or | ||||||
| 26 | retooling and establish new hydropower facilities at | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | existing dams. Procurements made under this item (vii) | ||||||
| 2 | shall prioritize projects located in designated | ||||||
| 3 | environmental justice communities, as defined in | ||||||
| 4 | subsection (b) of Section 1-56 of this Act, or in | ||||||
| 5 | projects located in units of local government with | ||||||
| 6 | median incomes that do not exceed 82% of the median | ||||||
| 7 | income of the State. | ||||||
| 8 | (H) The procurement of renewable energy resources for | ||||||
| 9 | a given delivery year shall be reduced as described in | ||||||
| 10 | this subparagraph (H) if an alternative retail electric | ||||||
| 11 | supplier meets the requirements described in this | ||||||
| 12 | subparagraph (H). | ||||||
| 13 | (i) Within 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 14 | effective date of Public Act 99-906), an alternative | ||||||
| 15 | retail electric supplier or its successor shall submit | ||||||
| 16 | an informational filing to the Illinois Commerce | ||||||
| 17 | Commission certifying that, as of December 31, 2015, | ||||||
| 18 | the alternative retail electric supplier owned one or | ||||||
| 19 | more electric generating facilities that generates | ||||||
| 20 | renewable energy resources as defined in Section 1-10 | ||||||
| 21 | of this Act, provided that such facilities are not | ||||||
| 22 | powered by wind or photovoltaics, and the facilities | ||||||
| 23 | generate one renewable energy credit for each | ||||||
| 24 | megawatthour of energy produced from the facility. | ||||||
| 25 | The informational filing shall identify each | ||||||
| 26 | facility that was eligible to satisfy the alternative | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | retail electric supplier's obligations under Section | ||||||
| 2 | 16-115D of the Public Utilities Act as described in | ||||||
| 3 | this item (i). | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) For a given delivery year, the alternative | ||||||
| 5 | retail electric supplier may elect to supply its | ||||||
| 6 | retail customers with renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 7 | the facility or facilities described in item (i) of | ||||||
| 8 | this subparagraph (H) that continue to be owned by the | ||||||
| 9 | alternative retail electric supplier. | ||||||
| 10 | (iii) The alternative retail electric supplier | ||||||
| 11 | shall notify the Agency and the applicable utility, no | ||||||
| 12 | later than February 28 of the year preceding the | ||||||
| 13 | applicable delivery year or 15 days after June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| 14 | (the effective date of Public Act 99-906), whichever | ||||||
| 15 | is later, of its election under item (ii) of this | ||||||
| 16 | subparagraph (H) to supply renewable energy credits to | ||||||
| 17 | retail customers of the utility. Such election shall | ||||||
| 18 | identify the amount of renewable energy credits to be | ||||||
| 19 | supplied by the alternative retail electric supplier | ||||||
| 20 | to the utility's retail customers and the source of | ||||||
| 21 | the renewable energy credits identified in the | ||||||
| 22 | informational filing as described in item (i) of this | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (H), subject to the following | ||||||
| 24 | limitations: | ||||||
| 25 | For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, | ||||||
| 26 | the maximum amount of renewable energy credits to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | be supplied by an alternative retail electric | ||||||
| 2 | supplier under this subparagraph (H) shall be 68% | ||||||
| 3 | multiplied by 25% multiplied by 14.5% multiplied | ||||||
| 4 | by the amount of metered electricity | ||||||
| 5 | (megawatt-hours) delivered by the alternative | ||||||
| 6 | retail electric supplier to Illinois retail | ||||||
| 7 | customers during the delivery year ending May 31, | ||||||
| 8 | 2016. | ||||||
| 9 | For delivery years beginning June 1, 2019 and | ||||||
| 10 | each year thereafter, the maximum amount of | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credits to be supplied by an | ||||||
| 12 | alternative retail electric supplier under this | ||||||
| 13 | subparagraph (H) shall be 68% multiplied by 50% | ||||||
| 14 | multiplied by 16% multiplied by the amount of | ||||||
| 15 | metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by | ||||||
| 16 | the alternative retail electric supplier to | ||||||
| 17 | Illinois retail customers during the delivery year | ||||||
| 18 | ending May 31, 2016, provided that the 16% value | ||||||
| 19 | shall increase by 1.5% each delivery year | ||||||
| 20 | thereafter to 25% by the delivery year beginning | ||||||
| 21 | June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value shall | ||||||
| 22 | apply to each delivery year. | ||||||
| 23 | For each delivery year, the total amount of | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy credits supplied by all alternative | ||||||
| 25 | retail electric suppliers under this subparagraph (H) | ||||||
| 26 | shall not exceed 9% of the Illinois target renewable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | energy credit quantity. The Illinois target renewable | ||||||
| 2 | energy credit quantity for the delivery year beginning | ||||||
| 3 | June 1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of | ||||||
| 4 | metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered in the | ||||||
| 5 | delivery year immediately preceding that delivery | ||||||
| 6 | year, provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5% | ||||||
| 7 | each delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery | ||||||
| 8 | year beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% | ||||||
| 9 | value shall apply to each delivery year. | ||||||
| 10 | If the requirements set forth in items (i) through | ||||||
| 11 | (iii) of this subparagraph (H) are met, the charges | ||||||
| 12 | that would otherwise be applicable to the retail | ||||||
| 13 | customers of the alternative retail electric supplier | ||||||
| 14 | under paragraph (6) of this subsection (c) for the | ||||||
| 15 | applicable delivery year shall be reduced by the ratio | ||||||
| 16 | of the quantity of renewable energy credits supplied | ||||||
| 17 | by the alternative retail electric supplier compared | ||||||
| 18 | to that supplier's target renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 19 | quantity. The supplier's target renewable energy | ||||||
| 20 | credit quantity for the delivery year beginning June | ||||||
| 21 | 1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of | ||||||
| 22 | metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by the | ||||||
| 23 | alternative retail supplier in that delivery year, | ||||||
| 24 | provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5% each | ||||||
| 25 | delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery year | ||||||
| 26 | beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall apply to each delivery year. | ||||||
| 2 | On or before April 1 of each year, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 3 | annually publish a report on its website that | ||||||
| 4 | identifies the aggregate amount of renewable energy | ||||||
| 5 | credits supplied by alternative retail electric | ||||||
| 6 | suppliers under this subparagraph (H). | ||||||
| 7 | (I) The Agency shall design its long-term renewable | ||||||
| 8 | energy procurement plan to maximize the State's interest | ||||||
| 9 | in the health, safety, and welfare of its residents, | ||||||
| 10 | including but not limited to minimizing sulfur dioxide, | ||||||
| 11 | nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and other pollution | ||||||
| 12 | that adversely affects public health in this State, | ||||||
| 13 | increasing fuel and resource diversity in this State, | ||||||
| 14 | enhancing the reliability and resiliency of the | ||||||
| 15 | electricity distribution system in this State, meeting | ||||||
| 16 | goals to limit carbon dioxide emissions under federal or | ||||||
| 17 | State law, and contributing to a cleaner and healthier | ||||||
| 18 | environment for the citizens of this State. In order to | ||||||
| 19 | further these legislative purposes, renewable energy | ||||||
| 20 | credits shall be eligible to be counted toward the | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy requirements of this subsection (c) if | ||||||
| 22 | they are generated from facilities located in this State. | ||||||
| 23 | The Agency may qualify renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 24 | facilities located in states adjacent to Illinois or | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy credits associated with the electricity | ||||||
| 26 | generated by a utility-scale wind energy facility or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | utility-scale photovoltaic facility and transmitted by a | ||||||
| 2 | qualifying direct current project described in subsection | ||||||
| 3 | (b-5) of Section 8-406 of the Public Utilities Act to a | ||||||
| 4 | delivery point on the electric transmission grid located | ||||||
| 5 | in this State or a state adjacent to Illinois, if the | ||||||
| 6 | generator demonstrates and the Agency determines that the | ||||||
| 7 | operation of such facility or facilities will help promote | ||||||
| 8 | the State's interest in the health, safety, and welfare of | ||||||
| 9 | its residents based on the public interest criteria | ||||||
| 10 | described above. For the purposes of this Section, | ||||||
| 11 | renewable resources that are delivered via a high voltage | ||||||
| 12 | direct current converter station located in Illinois shall | ||||||
| 13 | be deemed generated in Illinois at the time and location | ||||||
| 14 | the energy is converted to alternating current by the high | ||||||
| 15 | voltage direct current converter station if the high | ||||||
| 16 | voltage direct current transmission line: (i) after the | ||||||
| 17 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 18 | Assembly, was constructed with a project labor agreement; | ||||||
| 19 | (ii) is capable of transmitting electricity at 525kv; | ||||||
| 20 | (iii) has an Illinois converter station located and | ||||||
| 21 | interconnected in the region of the PJM Interconnection, | ||||||
| 22 | LLC; (iv) does not operate as a public utility; and (v) if | ||||||
| 23 | the high voltage direct current transmission line was | ||||||
| 24 | energized after June 1, 2023. To ensure that the public | ||||||
| 25 | interest criteria are applied to the procurement and given | ||||||
| 26 | full effect, the Agency's long-term procurement plan shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | describe in detail how each public interest factor shall | ||||||
| 2 | be considered and weighted for facilities located in | ||||||
| 3 | states adjacent to Illinois. | ||||||
| 4 | (J) In order to promote the competitive development of | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy resources in furtherance of the State's | ||||||
| 6 | interest in the health, safety, and welfare of its | ||||||
| 7 | residents, renewable energy credits shall not be eligible | ||||||
| 8 | to be counted toward the renewable energy requirements of | ||||||
| 9 | this subsection (c) if they are sourced from a generating | ||||||
| 10 | unit whose costs were being recovered through rates | ||||||
| 11 | regulated by this State or any other state or states on or | ||||||
| 12 | after January 1, 2017. Each contract executed to purchase | ||||||
| 13 | renewable energy credits under this subsection (c) shall | ||||||
| 14 | provide for the contract's termination if the costs of the | ||||||
| 15 | generating unit supplying the renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 16 | subsequently begin to be recovered through rates regulated | ||||||
| 17 | by this State or any other state or states; and each | ||||||
| 18 | contract shall further provide that, in that event, the | ||||||
| 19 | supplier of the credits must return 110% of all payments | ||||||
| 20 | received under the contract. Amounts returned under the | ||||||
| 21 | requirements of this subparagraph (J) shall be retained by | ||||||
| 22 | the utility and all of these amounts shall be used for the | ||||||
| 23 | procurement of additional renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 24 | new wind or new photovoltaic resources as defined in this | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (c). The long-term plan shall provide that | ||||||
| 26 | these renewable energy credits shall be procured in the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | next procurement event. | ||||||
| 2 | Notwithstanding the limitations of this subparagraph | ||||||
| 3 | (J), renewable energy credits sourced from generating | ||||||
| 4 | units that are constructed, purchased, owned, or leased by | ||||||
| 5 | an electric utility as part of an approved project, | ||||||
| 6 | program, or pilot under Section 1-56 of this Act shall be | ||||||
| 7 | eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy | ||||||
| 8 | requirements of this subsection (c), regardless of how the | ||||||
| 9 | costs of these units are recovered. As long as a | ||||||
| 10 | generating unit or an identifiable portion of a generating | ||||||
| 11 | unit has not had and does not have its costs recovered | ||||||
| 12 | through rates regulated by this State or any other state, | ||||||
| 13 | HVDC renewable energy credits associated with that | ||||||
| 14 | generating unit or identifiable portion thereof shall be | ||||||
| 15 | eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | requirements of this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 17 | (K) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 18 | developed by the Agency in accordance with subparagraph | ||||||
| 19 | (A) of this paragraph (1) shall include an Adjustable | ||||||
| 20 | Block program for the procurement of renewable energy | ||||||
| 21 | credits from new photovoltaic projects that are | ||||||
| 22 | distributed renewable energy generation devices or new | ||||||
| 23 | photovoltaic community renewable generation projects. The | ||||||
| 24 | Adjustable Block program shall be generally designed to | ||||||
| 25 | provide for the steady, predictable, and sustainable | ||||||
| 26 | growth of new solar photovoltaic development in Illinois. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | To this end, the Adjustable Block program shall provide a | ||||||
| 2 | transparent annual schedule of prices and quantities to | ||||||
| 3 | enable the photovoltaic market to scale up and for | ||||||
| 4 | renewable energy credit prices to adjust at a predictable | ||||||
| 5 | rate over time. The prices set by the Adjustable Block | ||||||
| 6 | program can be reflected as a set value or as the product | ||||||
| 7 | of a formula. | ||||||
| 8 | The Adjustable Block program shall include for each | ||||||
| 9 | category of eligible projects for each delivery year: a | ||||||
| 10 | single block of nameplate capacity, a price for renewable | ||||||
| 11 | energy credits within that block, and the terms and | ||||||
| 12 | conditions for securing a spot on a waitlist once the | ||||||
| 13 | block is fully committed or reserved. Except as outlined | ||||||
| 14 | below, the waitlist of projects in a given year will carry | ||||||
| 15 | over to apply to the subsequent year when another block is | ||||||
| 16 | opened. Only projects energized on or after June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| 17 | shall be eligible for the Adjustable Block program. For | ||||||
| 18 | each category for each delivery year the Agency shall | ||||||
| 19 | determine the amount of generation capacity in each block, | ||||||
| 20 | and the purchase price for each block, provided that the | ||||||
| 21 | purchase price provided and the total amount of generation | ||||||
| 22 | in all blocks for all categories shall be sufficient to | ||||||
| 23 | meet the goals in this subsection (c). The Agency shall | ||||||
| 24 | strive to issue a single block sized to provide for | ||||||
| 25 | stability and market growth. The Agency shall establish | ||||||
| 26 | program eligibility requirements that ensure that projects | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | that enter the program are sufficiently mature to indicate | ||||||
| 2 | a demonstrable path to completion. The Agency may | ||||||
| 3 | periodically review its prior decisions establishing the | ||||||
| 4 | amount of generation capacity in each block, and the | ||||||
| 5 | purchase price for each block, and may propose, on an | ||||||
| 6 | expedited basis, changes to these previously set values, | ||||||
| 7 | including but not limited to redistributing these amounts | ||||||
| 8 | and the available funds as necessary and appropriate, | ||||||
| 9 | subject to Commission approval as part of the periodic | ||||||
| 10 | plan revision process described in Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 11 | Public Utilities Act. The Agency may define different | ||||||
| 12 | block sizes, purchase prices, or other distinct terms and | ||||||
| 13 | conditions for projects located in different utility | ||||||
| 14 | service territories if the Agency deems it necessary to | ||||||
| 15 | meet the goals in this subsection (c). | ||||||
| 16 | The Adjustable Block program shall include the | ||||||
| 17 | following categories in at least the following amounts: | ||||||
| 18 | (i) At least 20% from distributed renewable energy | ||||||
| 19 | generation devices with a nameplate capacity of no | ||||||
| 20 | more than 25 kilowatts. | ||||||
| 21 | (ii) At least 20% from distributed renewable | ||||||
| 22 | energy generation devices with a nameplate capacity of | ||||||
| 23 | more than 25 kilowatts and no more than 5,000 | ||||||
| 24 | kilowatts. The Agency may create sub-categories within | ||||||
| 25 | this category to account for the differences between | ||||||
| 26 | projects for small commercial customers, large | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | commercial customers, and public or non-profit | ||||||
| 2 | customers. A project shall not be colocated with one | ||||||
| 3 | or more other distributed renewable energy generation | ||||||
| 4 | projects if the aggregate nameplate capacity of the | ||||||
| 5 | projects exceeds 5,000 kilowatts AC. Notwithstanding | ||||||
| 6 | any other provision of this Section, if 2 or more | ||||||
| 7 | projects are developed, owned, or controlled by or | ||||||
| 8 | originate from the same developer or an affiliated | ||||||
| 9 | developer and the projects serve affiliated loads, the | ||||||
| 10 | projects shall be colocated if the projects are | ||||||
| 11 | located on adjacent parcels. If 2 or more projects are | ||||||
| 12 | developed, owned, or controlled by or originate from | ||||||
| 13 | the same developer and the projects serve unaffiliated | ||||||
| 14 | loads, the projects may be colocated if documentation | ||||||
| 15 | indicates affiliated management and ownership in the | ||||||
| 16 | pre-development, development, construction, and | ||||||
| 17 | management of the projects and the projects are | ||||||
| 18 | located on a single or adjacent parcels. | ||||||
| 19 | Notwithstanding any subsequent transfer, assignment, | ||||||
| 20 | or conveyance of ownership or development rights to | ||||||
| 21 | separate legal entities, the Agency shall consider, in | ||||||
| 22 | its determination of whether projects are affiliated, | ||||||
| 23 | evidence that the projects were pre-developed by the | ||||||
| 24 | same legal entity or an affiliated entity. If the | ||||||
| 25 | Agency determines the projects are affiliated, the | ||||||
| 26 | projects shall be treated as colocated for purposes of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | aggregate nameplate capacity limitations and renewable | ||||||
| 2 | energy credit pricing adjustments. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 3 | make exceptions on a case-by-case basis if it is | ||||||
| 4 | demonstrated that projects on one parcel or projects | ||||||
| 5 | on adjacent parcels are unaffiliated. For purposes of | ||||||
| 6 | determining colocation, an approved vendor who submits | ||||||
| 7 | an application for a distributed renewable energy | ||||||
| 8 | generation project shall be required to submit an | ||||||
| 9 | affidavit attesting that the project is not affiliated | ||||||
| 10 | with any other distributed renewable energy generation | ||||||
| 11 | project such that, if the 2 projects were deemed | ||||||
| 12 | colocated, the projects would exceed the 5,000 | ||||||
| 13 | kilowatts nameplate capacity limitation. The receipt | ||||||
| 14 | of an affidavit shall not restrict the Agency's | ||||||
| 15 | ability to investigate and determine whether the | ||||||
| 16 | project is, in fact, colocated. | ||||||
| 17 | For purposes of this item (ii): | ||||||
| 18 | "Affiliate" has the meaning given to that term in | ||||||
| 19 | subitem (3) of item (iii) of this subparagraph (K). | ||||||
| 20 | "Colocated" means 2 or more distributed renewable | ||||||
| 21 | energy generation projects that are located on a | ||||||
| 22 | single parcel, except for projects where the owner of | ||||||
| 23 | the applicable retail electric account is confirmed to | ||||||
| 24 | be unaffiliated and the projects serve distinct | ||||||
| 25 | electrical loads. | ||||||
| 26 | "Control" has the meaning given to that term in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subitem (3) of item (iii) of this subparagraph (K). | ||||||
| 2 | (iii) At least 30% from photovoltaic community | ||||||
| 3 | renewable generation projects. Capacity for this | ||||||
| 4 | category for the first 2 delivery years after the | ||||||
| 5 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd | ||||||
| 6 | General Assembly shall be allocated to waitlist | ||||||
| 7 | projects as provided in paragraph (3) of item (iv) of | ||||||
| 8 | subparagraph (G). Starting in the third delivery year | ||||||
| 9 | after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the | ||||||
| 10 | 102nd General Assembly or earlier if the Agency | ||||||
| 11 | determines there is additional capacity needed for to | ||||||
| 12 | meet previous delivery year requirements, the | ||||||
| 13 | following shall apply: | ||||||
| 14 | (1) the Agency shall select projects on a | ||||||
| 15 | first-come, first-serve basis, however the Agency | ||||||
| 16 | may suggest additional methods to prioritize | ||||||
| 17 | projects that are submitted at the same time, | ||||||
| 18 | including prioritization for projects that commit | ||||||
| 19 | to and demonstrate a meaningful level of labor | ||||||
| 20 | hours performed by apprentices from registered | ||||||
| 21 | apprenticeship programs; | ||||||
| 22 | (2) projects shall have subscriptions of 25 kW | ||||||
| 23 | or less for at least 50% of the facility's | ||||||
| 24 | nameplate capacity and the Agency shall price the | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy credits with that as a factor; | ||||||
| 26 | (3) projects shall not be colocated with one | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | or more other photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 2 | generation projects such that the aggregate | ||||||
| 3 | nameplate capacity exceeds 10,000 kilowatts. The | ||||||
| 4 | total nameplate capacity of colocated projects | ||||||
| 5 | shall be the sum of the nameplate capacities of | ||||||
| 6 | the individual projects. For purposes of this | ||||||
| 7 | subitem (3), separate legal formation of approved | ||||||
| 8 | vendors, owners, or developers shall not preclude | ||||||
| 9 | a finding of affiliation by the Agency. Evidence | ||||||
| 10 | of affiliation may include, but is not limited to, | ||||||
| 11 | shared personnel, common contractual or financing | ||||||
| 12 | arrangements, a shared interconnection agreement, | ||||||
| 13 | distinct interconnection agreements obtained by | ||||||
| 14 | the same pre-development entity that are | ||||||
| 15 | subsequently sold to distinct legal entities, | ||||||
| 16 | familial relationships, or any demonstrable | ||||||
| 17 | pattern of coordinated action in the | ||||||
| 18 | pre-development, development, construction, or | ||||||
| 19 | management of photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 20 | generation projects. | ||||||
| 21 | The Agency shall determine affiliation based | ||||||
| 22 | on evidence that projects either (i) share a | ||||||
| 23 | common origin on a parcel that has been subdivided | ||||||
| 24 | in the 5 years before the date of application or | ||||||
| 25 | (ii) were pre-developed before the beginning of | ||||||
| 26 | construction by the same legal entity or an | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | affiliated legal entity. The determination shall | ||||||
| 2 | be made notwithstanding any subsequent transfer, | ||||||
| 3 | assignment, or conveyance of ownership or | ||||||
| 4 | development rights to separate legal entities. If | ||||||
| 5 | the Agency determines the projects are affiliated, | ||||||
| 6 | the projects shall be treated as colocated for the | ||||||
| 7 | purposes of aggregate nameplate capacity | ||||||
| 8 | limitations and renewable energy credit pricing | ||||||
| 9 | adjustments. The Agency shall make exceptions to | ||||||
| 10 | this subitem (3) on a case-by-case basis if it is | ||||||
| 11 | demonstrated that projects on one parcel or | ||||||
| 12 | projects on adjacent parcels are unaffiliated. | ||||||
| 13 | A parcel shall not be divided into multiple | ||||||
| 14 | parcels within the 5 years before the submission | ||||||
| 15 | of a project application. If a parcel is divided | ||||||
| 16 | within the preceding 5 years, a colocation | ||||||
| 17 | determination shall be made based on the | ||||||
| 18 | boundaries of the previous undivided parcel. | ||||||
| 19 | For purposes of determining colocation, an | ||||||
| 20 | approved vendor who submits an application for a | ||||||
| 21 | community renewable generation project shall be | ||||||
| 22 | required to submit an affidavit attesting that (i) | ||||||
| 23 | the parcel on which the project is sited has not | ||||||
| 24 | been subdivided within the 5 years preceding the | ||||||
| 25 | project application and (ii) the project is not | ||||||
| 26 | affiliated with any other community renewable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | energy project in a manner that would cause the 2 | ||||||
| 2 | projects, if deemed colocated, to exceed the | ||||||
| 3 | 10,000 kilowatt nameplate capacity limitation. The | ||||||
| 4 | receipt of an affidavit shall not restrict the | ||||||
| 5 | Agency's ability to investigate and determine | ||||||
| 6 | whether the project is colocated. | ||||||
| 7 | Multiple community solar projects sited on | ||||||
| 8 | distinct structures located on a single parcel | ||||||
| 9 | shall be considered colocated and must demonstrate | ||||||
| 10 | that the projects are unaffiliated in order to not | ||||||
| 11 | be considered colocated. Each colocated project | ||||||
| 12 | shall receive the renewable energy credit price | ||||||
| 13 | corresponding to the total, aggregated nameplate | ||||||
| 14 | capacity of the colocated systems, as determined | ||||||
| 15 | at the time the second project's application is | ||||||
| 16 | submitted to the Agency. If the second colocated | ||||||
| 17 | project has been constructed and placed in service | ||||||
| 18 | prior to application, and was placed in service | ||||||
| 19 | more than 2 years after Commission approval of the | ||||||
| 20 | original project, the colocation pricing | ||||||
| 21 | adjustment shall not apply, and each project shall | ||||||
| 22 | receive the standalone renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 23 | price for its individual capacity. | ||||||
| 24 | For purposes of this subitem (3): | ||||||
| 25 | "Affiliate" means any other entity that, | ||||||
| 26 | directly or indirectly through one or more | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | intermediaries, is controlled by or is under | ||||||
| 2 | common control of the primary entity or a third | ||||||
| 3 | entity. "Affiliate" includes family members for | ||||||
| 4 | the purposes of colocation between projects. | ||||||
| 5 | "Affiliate" does not include entities that have | ||||||
| 6 | shared sales or revenue-sharing arrangements or | ||||||
| 7 | common debt and equity financing arrangements. | ||||||
| 8 | "Colocated" means 2 or more photovoltaic | ||||||
| 9 | community renewable generation projects located on | ||||||
| 10 | a single parcel or adjacent parcels, unless it is | ||||||
| 11 | demonstrated that the projects are developed by | ||||||
| 12 | unaffiliated entities. | ||||||
| 13 | "Control" means the possession, directly or | ||||||
| 14 | indirectly, of the power to direct the management | ||||||
| 15 | and policies of an entity; and | ||||||
| 16 | (4) projects greater than 2 MW may not apply | ||||||
| 17 | until after the approval of the Agency's revised | ||||||
| 18 | Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan | ||||||
| 19 | after the effective date of this amendatory Act of | ||||||
| 20 | the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 21 | (iv) At least 15% from distributed renewable | ||||||
| 22 | generation devices or photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 23 | generation projects installed on public school land. | ||||||
| 24 | The Agency may create subcategories within this | ||||||
| 25 | category to account for the differences between | ||||||
| 26 | project size or location. Projects located within | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | environmental justice communities or within | ||||||
| 2 | Organizational Units that fall within Tier 1 or Tier 2 | ||||||
| 3 | shall be given priority. Each of the Agency's periodic | ||||||
| 4 | updates to its long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 5 | procurement plan to incorporate the procurement | ||||||
| 6 | described in this subparagraph (iv) shall also include | ||||||
| 7 | the proposed quantities or blocks, pricing, and | ||||||
| 8 | contract terms applicable to the procurement as | ||||||
| 9 | indicated herein. In each such update and procurement, | ||||||
| 10 | the Agency shall set the renewable energy credit price | ||||||
| 11 | and establish payment terms for the renewable energy | ||||||
| 12 | credits procured pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) | ||||||
| 13 | that make it feasible and affordable for public | ||||||
| 14 | schools to install photovoltaic distributed renewable | ||||||
| 15 | energy devices on their premises, including, but not | ||||||
| 16 | limited to, those public schools subject to the | ||||||
| 17 | prioritization provisions of this subparagraph. For | ||||||
| 18 | the purposes of this item (iv): | ||||||
| 19 | "Environmental Justice Community" shall have the | ||||||
| 20 | same meaning set forth in the Agency's long-term | ||||||
| 21 | renewable resources procurement plan; | ||||||
| 22 | "Organization Unit", "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" shall | ||||||
| 23 | have the meanings set forth for in Section 18-8.15 of | ||||||
| 24 | the School Code; | ||||||
| 25 | "Public schools" shall have the meaning set forth | ||||||
| 26 | in Section 1-3 of the School Code and includes public | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | institutions of higher education, as defined in the | ||||||
| 2 | Board of Higher Education Act. | ||||||
| 3 | (v) At least 5% from community-driven community | ||||||
| 4 | solar projects intended to provide more direct and | ||||||
| 5 | tangible connection and benefits to the communities | ||||||
| 6 | which they serve or in which they operate and, | ||||||
| 7 | additionally, to increase the variety of community | ||||||
| 8 | solar locations, models, and options in Illinois. As | ||||||
| 9 | part of its long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 10 | plan, the Agency shall develop selection criteria for | ||||||
| 11 | projects participating in this category. Nothing in | ||||||
| 12 | this Section shall preclude the Agency from creating a | ||||||
| 13 | selection process that maximizes community ownership | ||||||
| 14 | and community benefits in selecting projects to | ||||||
| 15 | receive renewable energy credits. Selection criteria | ||||||
| 16 | shall include: | ||||||
| 17 | (1) community ownership or community | ||||||
| 18 | wealth-building; | ||||||
| 19 | (2) additional direct and indirect community | ||||||
| 20 | benefit, beyond project participation as a | ||||||
| 21 | subscriber, including, but not limited to, | ||||||
| 22 | economic, environmental, social, cultural, and | ||||||
| 23 | physical benefits; | ||||||
| 24 | (3) meaningful involvement in project | ||||||
| 25 | organization and development by community members | ||||||
| 26 | or nonprofit organizations or public entities | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | located in or serving the community; | ||||||
| 2 | (4) engagement in project operations and | ||||||
| 3 | management by nonprofit organizations, public | ||||||
| 4 | entities, or community members; and | ||||||
| 5 | (5) whether a project is developed in response | ||||||
| 6 | to a site-specific RFP developed by community | ||||||
| 7 | members or a nonprofit organization or public | ||||||
| 8 | entity located in or serving the community. | ||||||
| 9 | Selection criteria may also prioritize projects | ||||||
| 10 | that: | ||||||
| 11 | (1) are developed in collaboration with or to | ||||||
| 12 | provide complementary opportunities for the Clean | ||||||
| 13 | Jobs Workforce Network Program, the Illinois | ||||||
| 14 | Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, the | ||||||
| 15 | Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, | ||||||
| 16 | the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, or | ||||||
| 17 | the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator | ||||||
| 18 | Program; | ||||||
| 19 | (2) increase the diversity of locations of | ||||||
| 20 | community solar projects in Illinois, including by | ||||||
| 21 | locating in urban areas and population centers; | ||||||
| 22 | (3) are located in Equity Investment Eligible | ||||||
| 23 | Communities; | ||||||
| 24 | (4) are not greenfield projects; | ||||||
| 25 | (5) serve only local subscribers; | ||||||
| 26 | (6) have a nameplate capacity that does not | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | exceed 500 kW; | ||||||
| 2 | (7) are developed by an equity eligible | ||||||
| 3 | contractor; or | ||||||
| 4 | (8) otherwise meaningfully advance the goals | ||||||
| 5 | of providing more direct and tangible connection | ||||||
| 6 | and benefits to the communities which they serve | ||||||
| 7 | or in which they operate and increasing the | ||||||
| 8 | variety of community solar locations, models, and | ||||||
| 9 | options in Illinois. | ||||||
| 10 | For the purposes of this item (v): | ||||||
| 11 | "Community" means a social unit in which people | ||||||
| 12 | come together regularly to effect change; a social | ||||||
| 13 | unit in which participants are marked by a cooperative | ||||||
| 14 | spirit, a common purpose, or shared interests or | ||||||
| 15 | characteristics; or a space understood by its | ||||||
| 16 | residents to be delineated through geographic | ||||||
| 17 | boundaries or landmarks. | ||||||
| 18 | "Community benefit" means a range of services and | ||||||
| 19 | activities that provide affirmative, economic, | ||||||
| 20 | environmental, social, cultural, or physical value to | ||||||
| 21 | a community; or a mechanism that enables economic | ||||||
| 22 | development, high-quality employment, and education | ||||||
| 23 | opportunities for local workers and residents, or | ||||||
| 24 | formal monitoring and oversight structures such that | ||||||
| 25 | community members may ensure that those services and | ||||||
| 26 | activities respond to local knowledge and needs. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "Community ownership" means an arrangement in | ||||||
| 2 | which an electric generating facility is, or over time | ||||||
| 3 | will be, in significant part, owned collectively by | ||||||
| 4 | members of the community to which an electric | ||||||
| 5 | generating facility provides benefits; members of that | ||||||
| 6 | community participate in decisions regarding the | ||||||
| 7 | governance, operation, maintenance, and upgrades of | ||||||
| 8 | and to that facility; and members of that community | ||||||
| 9 | benefit from regular use of that facility. | ||||||
| 10 | Terms and guidance within these criteria that are | ||||||
| 11 | not defined in this item (v) shall be defined by the | ||||||
| 12 | Agency, with stakeholder input, during the development | ||||||
| 13 | of the Agency's long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 14 | procurement plan. The Agency shall develop regular | ||||||
| 15 | opportunities for projects to submit applications for | ||||||
| 16 | projects under this category, and develop selection | ||||||
| 17 | criteria that gives preference to projects that better | ||||||
| 18 | meet individual criteria as well as projects that | ||||||
| 19 | address a higher number of criteria. | ||||||
| 20 | (vi) At least 10% from distributed renewable | ||||||
| 21 | energy generation devices, which includes distributed | ||||||
| 22 | renewable energy devices with a nameplate capacity | ||||||
| 23 | under 5,000 kilowatts or photovoltaic community | ||||||
| 24 | renewable generation projects, from applicants that | ||||||
| 25 | are equity eligible contractors. The Agency may create | ||||||
| 26 | subcategories within this category to account for the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | differences between project size and type. The Agency | ||||||
| 2 | shall propose to increase the percentage in this item | ||||||
| 3 | (vi) over time to 40% based on factors, including, but | ||||||
| 4 | not limited to, the number of equity eligible | ||||||
| 5 | contractors and capacity used in this item (vi) in | ||||||
| 6 | previous delivery years. | ||||||
| 7 | The Agency shall propose a payment structure for | ||||||
| 8 | contracts executed pursuant to this paragraph under | ||||||
| 9 | which, upon a demonstration of qualification or need | ||||||
| 10 | under criteria established by the Agency that is | ||||||
| 11 | focused on supporting small and emerging businesses | ||||||
| 12 | and businesses that most acutely face barriers to the | ||||||
| 13 | access of capital, applicant firms are advanced | ||||||
| 14 | capital disbursed after contract execution but before | ||||||
| 15 | the contracted project's energization. The amount or | ||||||
| 16 | percentage of capital advanced prior to project | ||||||
| 17 | energization shall be sufficient to both cover any | ||||||
| 18 | increase in development costs resulting from | ||||||
| 19 | prevailing wage requirements or project-labor | ||||||
| 20 | agreements, and designed to overcome barriers in | ||||||
| 21 | access to capital faced by equity eligible | ||||||
| 22 | contractors. The amount or percentage of advanced | ||||||
| 23 | capital may vary by subcategory within this category | ||||||
| 24 | and by an applicant's demonstration of need, with such | ||||||
| 25 | levels to be established through the Long-Term | ||||||
| 26 | Renewable Resources Procurement Plan authorized under | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of | ||||||
| 2 | this Section and any application requirements or | ||||||
| 3 | evaluation criteria developed pursuant to the Plan. | ||||||
| 4 | Contracts developed featuring capital advanced | ||||||
| 5 | prior to a project's energization shall feature | ||||||
| 6 | provisions to ensure both the successful development | ||||||
| 7 | of applicant projects and the delivery of the | ||||||
| 8 | renewable energy credits for the full term of the | ||||||
| 9 | contract, including ongoing collateral requirements | ||||||
| 10 | and other provisions deemed necessary by the Agency, | ||||||
| 11 | and may include energization timelines longer than for | ||||||
| 12 | comparable project types. The percentage or amount of | ||||||
| 13 | capital advanced prior to project energization shall | ||||||
| 14 | not operate to increase the overall contract value, | ||||||
| 15 | however contracts executed under this subparagraph may | ||||||
| 16 | feature renewable energy credit prices higher than | ||||||
| 17 | those offered to similar projects participating in | ||||||
| 18 | other categories. Capital advanced prior to | ||||||
| 19 | energization shall serve to reduce the ratable | ||||||
| 20 | payments made after energization under items (ii) and | ||||||
| 21 | (iii) of subparagraph (L) or payments made for each | ||||||
| 22 | renewable energy credit delivery under item (iv) of | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (L). | ||||||
| 24 | For projects developed under this item (vi), the | ||||||
| 25 | Agency shall take steps to encourage higher portions | ||||||
| 26 | of contract value to be provided to equity eligible | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | contractors and to support equity eligible persons who | ||||||
| 2 | participate in this Program and who exercise control | ||||||
| 3 | and actively manage their businesses and their | ||||||
| 4 | businesses' contractual projects. These steps may | ||||||
| 5 | include, but are not limited to, differentiated REC | ||||||
| 6 | prices, exceptions or exemptions, and other mechanisms | ||||||
| 7 | and requirements for nonnominal contract value to be | ||||||
| 8 | provided to equity eligible contractors and equity | ||||||
| 9 | eligible persons as a prerequisite to Program | ||||||
| 10 | participation. Any steps taken shall aim to encourage | ||||||
| 11 | and grow the meaningful participation of equity | ||||||
| 12 | eligible contractors in this State's clean energy | ||||||
| 13 | economy. All entities participating under this item | ||||||
| 14 | (vi) shall comply with the minimum equity standard set | ||||||
| 15 | forth under Section 1-75. | ||||||
| 16 | (vii) The remaining capacity shall be allocated by | ||||||
| 17 | the Agency in order to respond to market demand. The | ||||||
| 18 | Agency shall allocate any discretionary capacity prior | ||||||
| 19 | to the beginning of each delivery year. | ||||||
| 20 | (viii) The Agency, through its long-term renewable | ||||||
| 21 | resources procurement plan, may implement solutions to | ||||||
| 22 | maintain stable and consistent REC offerings allocated | ||||||
| 23 | to systems described in item (i) of this subparagraph | ||||||
| 24 | (K) to avoid gaps in availability during a delivery | ||||||
| 25 | year, including, but not limited to, creating a | ||||||
| 26 | floating block of REC capacity in a given delivery | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | year. | ||||||
| 2 | To the extent there is uncontracted capacity from any | ||||||
| 3 | block in any of categories (i) through (vi) at the end of a | ||||||
| 4 | delivery year, the Agency shall redistribute that capacity | ||||||
| 5 | to one or more other categories giving priority to | ||||||
| 6 | categories with projects on a waitlist. The redistributed | ||||||
| 7 | capacity shall be added to the annual capacity in the | ||||||
| 8 | subsequent delivery year, and the price for renewable | ||||||
| 9 | energy credits shall be the price for the new delivery | ||||||
| 10 | year. Redistributed capacity shall not be considered | ||||||
| 11 | redistributed when determining whether the goals in this | ||||||
| 12 | subsection (K) have been met. | ||||||
| 13 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, as the | ||||||
| 14 | Agency increases the capacity in item (vi) to 40% over | ||||||
| 15 | time, the Agency may reduce the capacity of items (i) | ||||||
| 16 | through (v) proportionate to the capacity of the | ||||||
| 17 | categories of projects in item (vi), to achieve a balance | ||||||
| 18 | of project types. | ||||||
| 19 | The Adjustable Block program shall be designed to | ||||||
| 20 | ensure that renewable energy credits are procured from | ||||||
| 21 | projects in diverse locations and are not concentrated in | ||||||
| 22 | a few regional areas. | ||||||
| 23 | (L) Notwithstanding provisions for advancing capital | ||||||
| 24 | prior to project energization found in item (vi) of | ||||||
| 25 | subparagraph (K), the procurement of photovoltaic | ||||||
| 26 | renewable energy credits under items (i) through (vi) of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) shall otherwise be | ||||||
| 2 | subject to the following contract and payment terms: | ||||||
| 3 | (i) (Blank). | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) Unless otherwise provided for in the Agency's | ||||||
| 5 | approved long-term plan, for those renewable energy | ||||||
| 6 | credits that qualify and are procured under item (i) | ||||||
| 7 | of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any | ||||||
| 8 | similar category projects that are procured under item | ||||||
| 9 | (vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) that | ||||||
| 10 | qualify and are procured under item (vi), the contract | ||||||
| 11 | length shall be 15 years. Beginning on the effective | ||||||
| 12 | date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General | ||||||
| 13 | Assembly, and including the remainder of program year | ||||||
| 14 | 2026-2027, 50% of the renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 15 | contract value, based on the estimated generation | ||||||
| 16 | during the first 15 years of operation, shall be paid | ||||||
| 17 | by the contracting utilities at the time that the | ||||||
| 18 | facility producing the renewable energy credits is | ||||||
| 19 | interconnected at the distribution system level of the | ||||||
| 20 | utility and verified as energized and compliant by the | ||||||
| 21 | Program Administrator. The remaining portion of the | ||||||
| 22 | renewable energy credit delivery contract value shall | ||||||
| 23 | be paid ratably over the subsequent 6-year period. | ||||||
| 24 | Relative to a contract structure under which the full | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy credit delivery contract value shall | ||||||
| 26 | be paid in full at the time of interconnection and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | verification of energization, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 2 | consider the impact of deferred payments across the | ||||||
| 3 | subsequent payment period when establishing renewable | ||||||
| 4 | energy credit prices. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 5 | receive and retire all renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 6 | generated by the project for the first 15 years of | ||||||
| 7 | operation. Renewable energy credits generated by the | ||||||
| 8 | project thereafter shall not be transferred under the | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy credit delivery contract with the | ||||||
| 10 | counterparty electric utility. | ||||||
| 11 | (iii) Unless otherwise provided for in the | ||||||
| 12 | Agency's approved long-term plan, for those renewable | ||||||
| 13 | energy credits that qualify and are procured under | ||||||
| 14 | item (ii) and (v) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 15 | paragraph (1) and any like projects that qualify and | ||||||
| 16 | are procured under items (iv) and (vi), the contract | ||||||
| 17 | length shall be 15 years. 15% of the renewable energy | ||||||
| 18 | credit delivery contract value, based on the estimated | ||||||
| 19 | generation during the first 15 years of operation, | ||||||
| 20 | shall be paid by the contracting utilities at the time | ||||||
| 21 | that the facility producing the renewable energy | ||||||
| 22 | credits is interconnected at the distribution system | ||||||
| 23 | level of the utility and verified as energized and | ||||||
| 24 | compliant by the Program Administrator. The remaining | ||||||
| 25 | portion shall be paid ratably over the subsequent | ||||||
| 26 | 6-year period. The electric utility shall receive and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | retire all renewable energy credits generated by the | ||||||
| 2 | project for the first 15 years of operation. Renewable | ||||||
| 3 | energy credits generated by the project thereafter | ||||||
| 4 | shall not be transferred under the renewable energy | ||||||
| 5 | credit delivery contract with the counterparty | ||||||
| 6 | electric utility. | ||||||
| 7 | (iv) Unless otherwise provided for in the Agency's | ||||||
| 8 | approved long-term plan, for those renewable energy | ||||||
| 9 | credits that qualify and are procured under item (iii) | ||||||
| 10 | of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any | ||||||
| 11 | like projects that qualify and are procured under | ||||||
| 12 | items (iv) and (vi), the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 13 | delivery contract length shall be 20 years and shall | ||||||
| 14 | be paid over the delivery term, not to exceed during | ||||||
| 15 | each delivery year the contract price multiplied by | ||||||
| 16 | the estimated annual renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 17 | generation amount. If generation of renewable energy | ||||||
| 18 | credits during a delivery year exceeds the estimated | ||||||
| 19 | annual generation amount, the excess renewable energy | ||||||
| 20 | credits shall be carried forward to future delivery | ||||||
| 21 | years and shall not expire during the delivery term. | ||||||
| 22 | If generation of renewable energy credits during a | ||||||
| 23 | delivery year, including carried forward excess | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy credits, if any, is less than the | ||||||
| 25 | estimated annual generation amount, payments during | ||||||
| 26 | such delivery year will not exceed the quantity | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | generated plus the quantity carried forward multiplied | ||||||
| 2 | by the contract price. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 3 | receive all renewable energy credits generated by the | ||||||
| 4 | project during the first 20 years of operation and | ||||||
| 5 | retire all renewable energy credits paid for under | ||||||
| 6 | this item (iv) and return at the end of the delivery | ||||||
| 7 | term all renewable energy credits that were not paid | ||||||
| 8 | for. Renewable energy credits generated by the project | ||||||
| 9 | thereafter shall not be transferred under the | ||||||
| 10 | renewable energy credit delivery contract with the | ||||||
| 11 | counterparty electric utility. Notwithstanding the | ||||||
| 12 | preceding, for those projects participating under item | ||||||
| 13 | (iii) of subparagraph (K), the contract price for a | ||||||
| 14 | delivery year shall be based on subscription levels as | ||||||
| 15 | measured on the higher of the first business day of the | ||||||
| 16 | delivery year or the first business day 6 months after | ||||||
| 17 | the first business day of the delivery year. | ||||||
| 18 | Subscription of 90% of nameplate capacity or greater | ||||||
| 19 | shall be deemed to be fully subscribed for the | ||||||
| 20 | purposes of this item (iv). For projects receiving a | ||||||
| 21 | 20-year delivery contract, REC prices shall be | ||||||
| 22 | adjusted downward for consistency with the incentive | ||||||
| 23 | levels previously determined to be necessary to | ||||||
| 24 | support projects under 15-year delivery contracts, | ||||||
| 25 | taking into consideration any additional new | ||||||
| 26 | requirements placed on the projects, including, but | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | not limited to, labor standards. | ||||||
| 2 | (v) Each contract shall include provisions to | ||||||
| 3 | ensure the delivery of the estimated quantity of | ||||||
| 4 | renewable energy credits and ongoing collateral | ||||||
| 5 | requirements and other provisions deemed appropriate | ||||||
| 6 | by the Agency. | ||||||
| 7 | (vi) The utility shall be the counterparty to the | ||||||
| 8 | contracts executed under this subparagraph (L) that | ||||||
| 9 | are approved by the Commission under the process | ||||||
| 10 | described in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 11 | Act. No contract shall be executed for an amount that | ||||||
| 12 | is less than one renewable energy credit per year. | ||||||
| 13 | (vii) If, at any time, approved applications for | ||||||
| 14 | the Adjustable Block program exceed funds collected by | ||||||
| 15 | the electric utility or would cause the Agency to | ||||||
| 16 | exceed the limitation described in subparagraph (E) of | ||||||
| 17 | this paragraph (1) on the amount of renewable energy | ||||||
| 18 | resources that may be procured, then the Agency may | ||||||
| 19 | consider future uncommitted funds to be reserved for | ||||||
| 20 | these contracts on a first-come, first-served basis. | ||||||
| 21 | (viii) Nothing in this Section shall require the | ||||||
| 22 | utility to advance any payment or pay any amounts that | ||||||
| 23 | exceed the actual amount of revenues anticipated to be | ||||||
| 24 | collected by the utility under paragraph (6) of this | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (c) and subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of | ||||||
| 26 | the Public Utilities Act inclusive of eligible funds | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | collected in prior years and alternative compliance | ||||||
| 2 | payments for use by the utility. | ||||||
| 3 | (ix) Notwithstanding other requirements of this | ||||||
| 4 | subparagraph (L), no modification shall be required to | ||||||
| 5 | Adjustable Block program contracts if they were | ||||||
| 6 | already executed prior to the establishment, approval, | ||||||
| 7 | and implementation of new contract forms as a result | ||||||
| 8 | of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 9 | (x) Contracts may be assignable, but only to | ||||||
| 10 | entities first deemed by the Agency to have met | ||||||
| 11 | program terms and requirements applicable to direct | ||||||
| 12 | program participation. In developing contracts for the | ||||||
| 13 | delivery of renewable energy credits, the Agency shall | ||||||
| 14 | be permitted to establish fees applicable to each | ||||||
| 15 | contract assignment. | ||||||
| 16 | (M) The Agency shall be authorized to retain one or | ||||||
| 17 | more experts or expert consulting firms to develop, | ||||||
| 18 | administer, implement, operate, and evaluate the | ||||||
| 19 | Adjustable Block program described in subparagraph (K) of | ||||||
| 20 | this paragraph (1), as well as the Geothermal Homes and | ||||||
| 21 | Businesses Program described in subparagraph (S) of this | ||||||
| 22 | paragraph (1), and the Agency shall retain the consultant | ||||||
| 23 | or consultants in the same manner, to the extent | ||||||
| 24 | practicable, as the Agency retains others to administer | ||||||
| 25 | provisions of this Act, including, but not limited to, the | ||||||
| 26 | procurement administrator. The selection of experts and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | expert consulting firms and the procurement process | ||||||
| 2 | described in this subparagraph (M) are exempt from the | ||||||
| 3 | requirements of Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement | ||||||
| 4 | Code, under Section 20-10 of that Code. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 5 | strive to minimize administrative expenses in the | ||||||
| 6 | implementation of the Adjustable Block program. | ||||||
| 7 | The Program Administrator may charge application fees | ||||||
| 8 | to participating firms to cover the cost of program | ||||||
| 9 | administration. Any application fee amounts shall | ||||||
| 10 | initially be determined through the long-term renewable | ||||||
| 11 | resources procurement plan, and modifications to any | ||||||
| 12 | application fee that deviate more than 25% from the | ||||||
| 13 | Commission's approved value must be approved by the | ||||||
| 14 | Commission as a long-term plan revision under Section | ||||||
| 15 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 16 | consider stakeholder feedback when making adjustments to | ||||||
| 17 | application fees and shall notify stakeholders in advance | ||||||
| 18 | of any planned changes. | ||||||
| 19 | In addition to covering the costs of program | ||||||
| 20 | administration, the Agency, in conjunction with its | ||||||
| 21 | Program Administrator, may also use the proceeds of such | ||||||
| 22 | fees charged to participating firms to support public | ||||||
| 23 | education and ongoing regional and national coordination | ||||||
| 24 | with nonprofit organizations, public bodies, and others | ||||||
| 25 | engaged in the implementation of renewable energy | ||||||
| 26 | incentive programs or similar initiatives. This work may | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | include developing papers and reports, hosting regional | ||||||
| 2 | and national conferences, and other work deemed necessary | ||||||
| 3 | by the Agency to position the State of Illinois as a | ||||||
| 4 | national leader in renewable energy incentive program | ||||||
| 5 | development and administration. | ||||||
| 6 | The Agency and its consultant or consultants shall | ||||||
| 7 | monitor block activity, share program activity with | ||||||
| 8 | stakeholders and conduct quarterly meetings to discuss | ||||||
| 9 | program activity and market conditions. If necessary, the | ||||||
| 10 | Agency may make prospective administrative adjustments to | ||||||
| 11 | the Adjustable Block program and the Geothermal Homes and | ||||||
| 12 | Businesses Program design, such as making adjustments to | ||||||
| 13 | purchase prices as necessary to achieve the goals of this | ||||||
| 14 | subsection (c). Program modifications to any block price | ||||||
| 15 | that do not deviate from the Commission's approved value | ||||||
| 16 | by more than 10% shall take effect immediately and are not | ||||||
| 17 | subject to Commission review and approval. Program | ||||||
| 18 | modifications to any block price that deviate more than | ||||||
| 19 | 10% from the Commission's approved value must be approved | ||||||
| 20 | by the Commission as a long-term plan amendment under | ||||||
| 21 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. The Agency | ||||||
| 22 | shall consider stakeholder feedback when making | ||||||
| 23 | adjustments to the Adjustable Block and the Geothermal | ||||||
| 24 | Homes and Businesses Program design and shall notify | ||||||
| 25 | stakeholders in advance of any planned changes. | ||||||
| 26 | The Agency and its program administrators for the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Adjustable Block program, the Illinois Solar for All | ||||||
| 2 | Program, and the Geothermal Homes and Businesses Program | ||||||
| 3 | consistent with the requirements of this subsection (c) | ||||||
| 4 | and subsection (b) of Section 1-56 of this Act, shall | ||||||
| 5 | propose the Adjustable Block program terms, conditions, | ||||||
| 6 | and requirements, including the prices to be paid for | ||||||
| 7 | renewable energy credits, where applicable, and | ||||||
| 8 | requirements applicable to participating entities and | ||||||
| 9 | project applications, through the development, review, and | ||||||
| 10 | approval of the Agency's long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 11 | procurement plan described in this subsection (c) and | ||||||
| 12 | paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 13 | Public Utilities Act. Terms, conditions, and requirements | ||||||
| 14 | for program participation shall include the following: | ||||||
| 15 | (i) The Agency shall establish a registration | ||||||
| 16 | process for entities seeking to qualify for | ||||||
| 17 | program-administered incentive funding and establish | ||||||
| 18 | baseline qualifications for vendor approval. The | ||||||
| 19 | Agency shall also establish program requirements and | ||||||
| 20 | minimum contract terms for vendors and others involved | ||||||
| 21 | in the marketing, sale, installation, and financing of | ||||||
| 22 | distributed generation systems and community solar | ||||||
| 23 | subscriptions to prevent misleading marketing and | ||||||
| 24 | abusive practices and to otherwise protect customers. | ||||||
| 25 | The Agency must maintain a list of approved entities | ||||||
| 26 | on each program's website, and may revoke a vendor's | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | ability to receive program-administered incentive | ||||||
| 2 | funding status upon a determination that the vendor | ||||||
| 3 | failed to comply with contract terms, the law, or | ||||||
| 4 | other program requirements. | ||||||
| 5 | (ii) The Agency shall establish program | ||||||
| 6 | requirements and minimum contract terms to ensure | ||||||
| 7 | projects are properly installed and produce their | ||||||
| 8 | expected amounts of energy. Program requirements may | ||||||
| 9 | include on-site inspections and photo documentation of | ||||||
| 10 | projects under construction. The Agency may require | ||||||
| 11 | repairs, alterations, or additions to remedy any | ||||||
| 12 | material deficiencies discovered. Vendors who have a | ||||||
| 13 | disproportionately high number of deficient systems | ||||||
| 14 | may lose their eligibility to continue to receive | ||||||
| 15 | State-administered incentive funding through Agency | ||||||
| 16 | programs and procurements. | ||||||
| 17 | (iii) To discourage deceptive marketing or other | ||||||
| 18 | bad faith business practices, the Agency may require | ||||||
| 19 | direct program participants, including agents | ||||||
| 20 | operating on their behalf, to provide standardized | ||||||
| 21 | disclosures to a customer prior to that customer's | ||||||
| 22 | execution of a contract for the development of a | ||||||
| 23 | distributed generation system, a subscription to a | ||||||
| 24 | community solar project, or the development of a | ||||||
| 25 | geothermal heating and cooling system. | ||||||
| 26 | (iv) The Agency shall establish one or multiple | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Consumer Complaints Centers to accept complaints | ||||||
| 2 | regarding businesses that participate in, or otherwise | ||||||
| 3 | benefit from, State-administered incentive funding | ||||||
| 4 | through Agency-administered programs. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 5 | maintain a public database of complaints with any | ||||||
| 6 | confidential or particularly sensitive information | ||||||
| 7 | redacted from public entries. | ||||||
| 8 | (v) Through a filing in the proceeding for the | ||||||
| 9 | approval of its long-term renewable energy resources | ||||||
| 10 | procurement plan, the Agency shall provide an annual | ||||||
| 11 | written report to the Illinois Commerce Commission | ||||||
| 12 | documenting the frequency and nature of complaints and | ||||||
| 13 | any enforcement actions taken in response to those | ||||||
| 14 | complaints. | ||||||
| 15 | (vi) The Agency shall schedule regular meetings | ||||||
| 16 | with representatives of the Office of the Attorney | ||||||
| 17 | General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, consumer | ||||||
| 18 | protection groups, and other interested stakeholders | ||||||
| 19 | to share relevant information about consumer | ||||||
| 20 | protection, project compliance, and complaints | ||||||
| 21 | received. | ||||||
| 22 | (vii) To the extent that complaints received | ||||||
| 23 | implicate the jurisdiction of the Office of the | ||||||
| 24 | Attorney General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, or | ||||||
| 25 | local, State, or federal law enforcement, the Agency | ||||||
| 26 | shall also refer complaints to those entities as | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | appropriate. | ||||||
| 2 | (viii) The Agency may, at its discretion, | ||||||
| 3 | establish a registration process for entities, or a | ||||||
| 4 | subset of entities, that provide financing for | ||||||
| 5 | consumers for the purchase of distributed renewable | ||||||
| 6 | generation devices. The Agency may establish baseline | ||||||
| 7 | qualifications for financing entity approval, | ||||||
| 8 | including defining the circumstances under which | ||||||
| 9 | financing entities may be subject to registration. The | ||||||
| 10 | Agency may also establish program requirements for | ||||||
| 11 | entities that provide financing for the purchase of | ||||||
| 12 | distributed renewable generation devices, which may | ||||||
| 13 | include marketing and disclosure requirements, other | ||||||
| 14 | requirements as further defined by the Agency through | ||||||
| 15 | its long-term plan, and any consumer protection | ||||||
| 16 | requirements developed or modified thereto. If the | ||||||
| 17 | Agency establishes a registration process for | ||||||
| 18 | financing entities, the Agency may revoke a financing | ||||||
| 19 | entity's approval in a program upon a determination | ||||||
| 20 | that the financing entity failed to comply with | ||||||
| 21 | contract terms, the law, or other program | ||||||
| 22 | requirements. The Agency may also establish program | ||||||
| 23 | requirements that prohibit distributed renewable | ||||||
| 24 | generation devices intending to apply for | ||||||
| 25 | program-administered incentive funding from receiving | ||||||
| 26 | program funding if the consumer's purchase of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | device was financed by an entity whose approval status | ||||||
| 2 | in the program has been revoked. These registration | ||||||
| 3 | requirements may apply to entities that finance | ||||||
| 4 | projects intended to apply for program-administered | ||||||
| 5 | incentive funding even if those entities do not | ||||||
| 6 | receive any portion of the program-administered | ||||||
| 7 | incentive funding. | ||||||
| 8 | (ix) The Agency, at its discretion, may require | ||||||
| 9 | that vendors, as part of the application and annual | ||||||
| 10 | recertification process, present the Agency or its | ||||||
| 11 | designee with a security bond equal to an amount | ||||||
| 12 | determined to be reasonable by the Agency. The bond | ||||||
| 13 | shall be for the benefit of customers harmed by the | ||||||
| 14 | vendor's violation of Agency requirements or other | ||||||
| 15 | applicable laws or regulations. The Agency may | ||||||
| 16 | determine that it is reasonable to have no bond | ||||||
| 17 | requirement for some categories of vendors or enhanced | ||||||
| 18 | bond requirements for vendors that the Agency has | ||||||
| 19 | deemed to pose more acute risks. | ||||||
| 20 | (x) For distributed renewable generation devices, | ||||||
| 21 | the Agency may, in its discretion, establish | ||||||
| 22 | provisions that restrict, prohibit, or create | ||||||
| 23 | additional requirements for distributed renewable | ||||||
| 24 | generation device sales or financing offers through | ||||||
| 25 | which the customer is promised the pass-through of a | ||||||
| 26 | portion or all of the payments received by the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | approved vendor for the delivery of renewable energy | ||||||
| 2 | credits only after the receipt of such payment by the | ||||||
| 3 | approved vendor. The requirements may include the use | ||||||
| 4 | of an escrow process developed by the Agency through | ||||||
| 5 | which renewable energy credit payments are made to an | ||||||
| 6 | escrow agent who then disburses the promised amount to | ||||||
| 7 | the customer and the remainder to the vendor. The | ||||||
| 8 | requirements in this item (x) shall in no way prohibit | ||||||
| 9 | the upfront discounting of the purchase price, lease | ||||||
| 10 | payment, or power purchase agreement rate based on the | ||||||
| 11 | anticipated receipt of renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 12 | contract payments by the approved vendor. | ||||||
| 13 | (xi) To the extent that distributed renewable | ||||||
| 14 | generation device sales or financing offers through | ||||||
| 15 | which the customer is promised the pass-through of a | ||||||
| 16 | portion or all of the payments received by the vendor | ||||||
| 17 | for the delivery of renewable energy credits after the | ||||||
| 18 | receipt of such payment by the vendor are permitted, | ||||||
| 19 | the following requirements may be implemented, at the | ||||||
| 20 | Agency's discretion, in a time and manner determined | ||||||
| 21 | by the Agency: | ||||||
| 22 | (I) the vendor shall submit proof of customer | ||||||
| 23 | payments to the Agency as the Agency deems | ||||||
| 24 | necessary; and | ||||||
| 25 | (II) the vendor shall represent and warrant on | ||||||
| 26 | a form developed by the Agency that the vendor is | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | not insolvent, has not voluntarily filed for | ||||||
| 2 | bankruptcy, and has not been subject to or | ||||||
| 3 | threatened with involuntary insolvency. | ||||||
| 4 | (xii) To ensure that customers receive full and | ||||||
| 5 | uninterrupted benefits and services promised by | ||||||
| 6 | vendors, the Agency may propose additional solutions | ||||||
| 7 | through its long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 8 | plan described in this subsection (c) and paragraph | ||||||
| 9 | (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 10 | Public Utilities Act. The solutions may allow for | ||||||
| 11 | collections made pursuant to subsection (k) of Section | ||||||
| 12 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act to support the | ||||||
| 13 | programs and procurements outlined in paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 14 | subsection (c) of this Section to be leveraged to (1) | ||||||
| 15 | ensure that a vendor's promised payments are received | ||||||
| 16 | by customers, (2) incentivize vendors to establish | ||||||
| 17 | service agreements with customers whose original | ||||||
| 18 | vendor has become nonresponsive, (3) ensure that | ||||||
| 19 | customers receive restitution for financial harm | ||||||
| 20 | proven to be caused by a program vendor or its | ||||||
| 21 | designee, or (4) otherwise ensure that customers do | ||||||
| 22 | not suffer loss or harm through activities supported | ||||||
| 23 | by the Adjustable Block program and the Illinois Solar | ||||||
| 24 | for All Program. | ||||||
| 25 | (N) The Agency shall establish the terms, conditions, | ||||||
| 26 | and program requirements for photovoltaic community | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | renewable generation projects with a goal to expand access | ||||||
| 2 | to a broader group of energy consumers, to ensure robust | ||||||
| 3 | participation opportunities for residential and small | ||||||
| 4 | commercial customers and those who cannot install | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy on their own properties. Subject to | ||||||
| 6 | reasonable limitations, any plan approved by the | ||||||
| 7 | Commission shall allow subscriptions to community | ||||||
| 8 | renewable generation projects to be portable and | ||||||
| 9 | transferable. For purposes of this subparagraph (N), | ||||||
| 10 | "portable" means that subscriptions may be retained by the | ||||||
| 11 | subscriber even if the subscriber relocates or changes its | ||||||
| 12 | address within the same utility service territory; and | ||||||
| 13 | "transferable" means that a subscriber may assign or sell | ||||||
| 14 | subscriptions to another person within the same utility | ||||||
| 15 | service territory. | ||||||
| 16 | Through the development of its long-term renewable | ||||||
| 17 | resources procurement plan, the Agency may consider | ||||||
| 18 | whether community renewable generation projects utilizing | ||||||
| 19 | technologies other than photovoltaics should be supported | ||||||
| 20 | through State-administered incentive funding, and may | ||||||
| 21 | issue requests for information to gauge market demand. | ||||||
| 22 | Electric utilities shall provide a monetary credit to | ||||||
| 23 | a subscriber's subsequent bill for service for the | ||||||
| 24 | proportional output of a community renewable generation | ||||||
| 25 | project attributable to that subscriber as specified in | ||||||
| 26 | Section 16-107.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | The Agency shall purchase renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 2 | from subscribed shares of photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 3 | generation projects through the Adjustable Block program | ||||||
| 4 | described in subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) or | ||||||
| 5 | through the Illinois Solar for All Program described in | ||||||
| 6 | Section 1-56 of this Act. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 7 | purchase any unsubscribed energy from community renewable | ||||||
| 8 | generation projects that are Qualifying Facilities ("QF") | ||||||
| 9 | under the electric utility's tariff for purchasing the | ||||||
| 10 | output from QFs under Public Utilities Regulatory Policies | ||||||
| 11 | Act of 1978. | ||||||
| 12 | The owners of and any subscribers to a community | ||||||
| 13 | renewable generation project shall not be considered | ||||||
| 14 | public utilities or alternative retail electricity | ||||||
| 15 | suppliers under the Public Utilities Act solely as a | ||||||
| 16 | result of their interest in or subscription to a community | ||||||
| 17 | renewable generation project and shall not be required to | ||||||
| 18 | become an alternative retail electric supplier by | ||||||
| 19 | participating in a community renewable generation project | ||||||
| 20 | with a public utility. | ||||||
| 21 | (O) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the | ||||||
| 22 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan required by | ||||||
| 23 | this subsection (c) shall provide for the Agency to | ||||||
| 24 | procure contracts to continue offering the Illinois Solar | ||||||
| 25 | for All Program described in subsection (b) of Section | ||||||
| 26 | 1-56 of this Act, and the contracts approved by the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Commission shall be executed by the utilities that are | ||||||
| 2 | subject to this subsection (c). The long-term renewable | ||||||
| 3 | resources procurement plan shall allocate up to | ||||||
| 4 | $50,000,000 per delivery year to fund the programs, and | ||||||
| 5 | the plan shall determine the amount of funding to be | ||||||
| 6 | apportioned to the programs identified in subsection (b) | ||||||
| 7 | of Section 1-56 of this Act; provided that for the | ||||||
| 8 | delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2022, and | ||||||
| 9 | June 1, 2023, the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 10 | procurement plan may average the annual budgets over a | ||||||
| 11 | 3-year period to account for program ramp-up. For the | ||||||
| 12 | delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2024, June | ||||||
| 13 | 1, 2027, and June 1, 2030 and additional $10,000,000 shall | ||||||
| 14 | be provided to the Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||||
| 15 | Opportunity to implement the workforce development | ||||||
| 16 | programs and reporting as outlined in Section 16-108.12 of | ||||||
| 17 | the Public Utilities Act. In making the determinations | ||||||
| 18 | required under this subparagraph (O), the Commission shall | ||||||
| 19 | consider the experience and performance under the programs | ||||||
| 20 | and any evaluation reports. The Commission shall also | ||||||
| 21 | provide for an independent evaluation of those programs on | ||||||
| 22 | a periodic basis that are funded under this subparagraph | ||||||
| 23 | (O). | ||||||
| 24 | (P) All programs and procurements under this | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (c) shall be designed to encourage | ||||||
| 26 | participating projects to use a diverse and equitable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | workforce and a diverse set of contractors, including | ||||||
| 2 | minority-owned businesses, disadvantaged businesses, | ||||||
| 3 | trade unions, graduates of any workforce training programs | ||||||
| 4 | administered under this Act, and small businesses. | ||||||
| 5 | The Agency shall develop a method to optimize | ||||||
| 6 | procurement of renewable energy credits from proposed | ||||||
| 7 | utility-scale projects that are located in communities | ||||||
| 8 | eligible to receive Energy Transition Community Grants | ||||||
| 9 | pursuant to Section 10-20 of the Energy Community | ||||||
| 10 | Reinvestment Act. If this requirement conflicts with other | ||||||
| 11 | provisions of law or the Agency determines that full | ||||||
| 12 | compliance with the requirements of this subparagraph (P) | ||||||
| 13 | would be unreasonably costly or administratively | ||||||
| 14 | impractical, the Agency is to propose alternative | ||||||
| 15 | approaches to achieve development of renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | resources in communities eligible to receive Energy | ||||||
| 17 | Transition Community Grants pursuant to Section 10-20 of | ||||||
| 18 | the Energy Community Reinvestment Act or seek an exemption | ||||||
| 19 | from this requirement from the Commission. | ||||||
| 20 | (Q) Each facility listed in subitems (i) through (ix) | ||||||
| 21 | of item (1) of this subparagraph (Q) for which a renewable | ||||||
| 22 | energy credit delivery contract is signed after the | ||||||
| 23 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 24 | Assembly is subject to the following requirements through | ||||||
| 25 | the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 26 | plan: | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (1) Each facility shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 2 | prevailing wage requirements included in the | ||||||
| 3 | Prevailing Wage Act. The Agency shall require | ||||||
| 4 | verification that all construction performed on the | ||||||
| 5 | facility by the renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 6 | contract holder, its contractors, or its | ||||||
| 7 | subcontractors relating to construction of the | ||||||
| 8 | facility is performed by construction employees | ||||||
| 9 | receiving an amount for that work equal to or greater | ||||||
| 10 | than the general prevailing rate, as that term is | ||||||
| 11 | defined in Section 2 of the Prevailing Wage Act. For | ||||||
| 12 | purposes of this item (1), "house of worship" means | ||||||
| 13 | property that is both (1) used exclusively by a | ||||||
| 14 | religious society or body of persons as a place for | ||||||
| 15 | religious exercise or religious worship and (2) | ||||||
| 16 | recognized as exempt from taxation pursuant to Section | ||||||
| 17 | 15-40 of the Property Tax Code. This item (1) shall | ||||||
| 18 | apply to any of the following: | ||||||
| 19 | (i) all new utility-scale wind projects; | ||||||
| 20 | (ii) all new utility-scale photovoltaic | ||||||
| 21 | projects and repowered wind projects; | ||||||
| 22 | (iii) all new brownfield photovoltaic | ||||||
| 23 | projects; | ||||||
| 24 | (iv) all new photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 25 | energy facilities that qualify for item (iii) of | ||||||
| 26 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (v) all new community driven community | ||||||
| 2 | photovoltaic projects that qualify for item (v) of | ||||||
| 3 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); | ||||||
| 4 | (vi) all new photovoltaic projects on public | ||||||
| 5 | school land that qualify for item (iv) of | ||||||
| 6 | subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); | ||||||
| 7 | (vii) all new photovoltaic distributed | ||||||
| 8 | renewable energy generation devices that (1) | ||||||
| 9 | qualify for item (i) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 10 | paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve | ||||||
| 11 | single-family or multi-family residential | ||||||
| 12 | buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where | ||||||
| 13 | the aggregate capacity including colocated | ||||||
| 14 | projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts; | ||||||
| 15 | (viii) all new photovoltaic distributed | ||||||
| 16 | renewable energy generation devices that (1) | ||||||
| 17 | qualify for item (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this | ||||||
| 18 | paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve | ||||||
| 19 | single-family or multi-family residential | ||||||
| 20 | buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where | ||||||
| 21 | the aggregate capacity including colocated | ||||||
| 22 | projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts; | ||||||
| 23 | (ix) all new, modernized, or retooled | ||||||
| 24 | hydropower facilities; | ||||||
| 25 | (x) all new geothermal heating and cooling | ||||||
| 26 | systems awarded through the Geothermal Homes and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Businesses Program under subparagraph (S) of this | ||||||
| 2 | paragraph (1) that do not serve (1) single-family | ||||||
| 3 | residential buildings, (2) multi-family | ||||||
| 4 | residential buildings with aggregate geothermal | ||||||
| 5 | system tonnage, including colocated projects, of | ||||||
| 6 | no more than 29 tons, or (3) houses of worship with | ||||||
| 7 | aggregate geothermal system tonnage, including | ||||||
| 8 | colocated projects, of no more than 29 tons. | ||||||
| 9 | (2) Renewable energy credits procured from new | ||||||
| 10 | utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar | ||||||
| 11 | projects, new brownfield solar projects, repowered | ||||||
| 12 | wind projects, and retooled hydropower facilities | ||||||
| 13 | pursuant to Agency procurement events occurring after | ||||||
| 14 | the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd | ||||||
| 15 | General Assembly and photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 16 | generation projects where the aggregate capacity, | ||||||
| 17 | including colocated projects, exceeds 3,000 kilowatts | ||||||
| 18 | pursuant to a renewable energy credit delivery | ||||||
| 19 | contract approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission | ||||||
| 20 | under the Adjustable Block Program after the effective | ||||||
| 21 | date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General | ||||||
| 22 | Assembly must be from facilities built by general | ||||||
| 23 | contractors that must enter into a project labor | ||||||
| 24 | agreement, as defined by this Act, prior to | ||||||
| 25 | construction. Photovoltaic community renewable | ||||||
| 26 | generation projects on a program waitlist as of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th | ||||||
| 2 | General Assembly awarded capacity for the program year | ||||||
| 3 | commencing June 1, 2026 or any program year thereafter | ||||||
| 4 | shall not be exempt from the project labor agreement | ||||||
| 5 | requirements of this item (2). The project labor | ||||||
| 6 | agreement shall be filed with the Director in | ||||||
| 7 | accordance with procedures established by the Agency | ||||||
| 8 | through its long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 9 | plan. Any information submitted to the Agency in this | ||||||
| 10 | item (2) shall be considered commercially sensitive | ||||||
| 11 | information. At a minimum, the project labor agreement | ||||||
| 12 | must provide the names, addresses, and occupations of | ||||||
| 13 | the owner of the plant and the individuals | ||||||
| 14 | representing the labor organization employees | ||||||
| 15 | participating in the project labor agreement | ||||||
| 16 | consistent with the Project Labor Agreements Act. The | ||||||
| 17 | agreement must also specify the terms and conditions | ||||||
| 18 | as defined by this Act. | ||||||
| 19 | (2.5) Energy storage credits procured from battery | ||||||
| 20 | storage projects pursuant to Agency procurement events | ||||||
| 21 | and additional energy storage resources procured in | ||||||
| 22 | accordance with subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (d-20) of this Section pursuant to Agency | ||||||
| 24 | procurement events occurring after the effective date | ||||||
| 25 | of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly | ||||||
| 26 | must be from facilities built by general contractors | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | that must enter into a project labor agreement prior | ||||||
| 2 | to construction. The project labor agreement shall be | ||||||
| 3 | filed with the Director in accordance with procedures | ||||||
| 4 | established by the Agency through its long-term | ||||||
| 5 | renewable resources procurement plan. Any information | ||||||
| 6 | submitted to the Agency pursuant to this item (2.5) | ||||||
| 7 | shall be considered commercially sensitive | ||||||
| 8 | information. At a minimum, the project labor agreement | ||||||
| 9 | must provide the names, addresses, and occupations of | ||||||
| 10 | the owner of the plant and the individuals | ||||||
| 11 | representing the labor organization employees | ||||||
| 12 | participating in the project labor agreement | ||||||
| 13 | consistent with the Project Labor Agreements Act. The | ||||||
| 14 | agreement must also specify the terms and conditions, | ||||||
| 15 | as defined by this Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (3) It is the intent of this Section to ensure that | ||||||
| 17 | economic development occurs across Illinois | ||||||
| 18 | communities, that emerging businesses may grow, and | ||||||
| 19 | that there is improved access to the clean energy | ||||||
| 20 | economy by persons who have greater economic burdens | ||||||
| 21 | to success. The Agency shall take into consideration | ||||||
| 22 | the unique cost of compliance of this subparagraph (Q) | ||||||
| 23 | that might be borne by equity eligible contractors, | ||||||
| 24 | shall include such costs when determining the price of | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy credits in the Adjustable Block | ||||||
| 26 | program and the Geothermal Homes and Businesses | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Program, and shall take such costs into consideration | ||||||
| 2 | in a nondiscriminatory manner when comparing bids for | ||||||
| 3 | competitive procurements. The Agency shall consider | ||||||
| 4 | costs associated with compliance whether in the | ||||||
| 5 | development, financing, or construction of projects. | ||||||
| 6 | The Agency shall periodically review the assumptions | ||||||
| 7 | in these costs and may adjust prices, in compliance | ||||||
| 8 | with subparagraph (M) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 9 | (4) The Agency shall create a public resource that | ||||||
| 10 | identifies the holders of REC delivery contracts and | ||||||
| 11 | any contractors, developers, and subcontractors that | ||||||
| 12 | contribute significantly to project completion and | ||||||
| 13 | employ workers performing construction activities for | ||||||
| 14 | utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar | ||||||
| 15 | projects, new brownfield solar projects, repowered | ||||||
| 16 | wind projects, and retooled hydropower facilities and | ||||||
| 17 | that is: | ||||||
| 18 | (i) publicly accessible; | ||||||
| 19 | (ii) easy for people to find and use; | ||||||
| 20 | (iii) populated with information that | ||||||
| 21 | includes, but is not limited to, project names, | ||||||
| 22 | project size, and contact information of | ||||||
| 23 | subcontractors who employ workers performing | ||||||
| 24 | construction activities on the projects; and | ||||||
| 25 | (iv) updated regularly. | ||||||
| 26 | Approved vendors shall notify the Agency if | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subcontractors are removed or added to the project | ||||||
| 2 | workforce and the changes shall be reflected in the | ||||||
| 3 | public resource. | ||||||
| 4 | For community solar projects that receive a | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy credit delivery contract under the | ||||||
| 6 | program described in subparagraph (K) of paragraph | ||||||
| 7 | (1), if an approved vendor or the approved vendor's | ||||||
| 8 | contractor intends to solicit bids for the | ||||||
| 9 | construction or development of the project, the | ||||||
| 10 | approved vendor or the contractor shall post the | ||||||
| 11 | solicitation on a public website for the duration of | ||||||
| 12 | the solicitation period and for 30 days after the | ||||||
| 13 | close of the solicitation period. The approved vendor | ||||||
| 14 | shall provide the URL for the public website to the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency and the Agency shall make one URL for each | ||||||
| 16 | approved vendor publicly available on the Agency's | ||||||
| 17 | website. Each bid solicitation by an approved vendor | ||||||
| 18 | shall be posted to the same URL. | ||||||
| 19 | (5) Through its long-term renewable resource | ||||||
| 20 | procurement plan, the Agency shall develop bid | ||||||
| 21 | application requirements or a bid evaluation | ||||||
| 22 | methodology that facilitates the use of registered | ||||||
| 23 | apprentices on facilities listed in subitems (i), | ||||||
| 24 | (ii), (iii), and (ix) of item (1). | ||||||
| 25 | (6) Through its long-term renewable resource | ||||||
| 26 | procurement plan, the Agency shall develop selection | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | criteria for projects listed in subitems (iv) and (v) | ||||||
| 2 | of item (1) that prioritize facilities that commit to | ||||||
| 3 | and demonstrate employment of registered apprentices | ||||||
| 4 | for a meaningful percentage of labor hours. For new | ||||||
| 5 | photovoltaic community renewable energy facilities | ||||||
| 6 | that qualify under item (iii) of subparagraph (K), the | ||||||
| 7 | criteria shall apply when selecting projects submitted | ||||||
| 8 | at the same time. | ||||||
| 9 | (R) In its long-term renewable resources procurement | ||||||
| 10 | plan, the Agency shall establish a self-direct renewable | ||||||
| 11 | portfolio standard compliance program for eligible | ||||||
| 12 | self-direct customers that purchase renewable energy | ||||||
| 13 | credits from utility-scale wind and solar projects through | ||||||
| 14 | long-term agreements for purchase of renewable energy | ||||||
| 15 | credits as described in this Section. Such long-term | ||||||
| 16 | agreements may include the purchase of energy or other | ||||||
| 17 | products on a physical or financial basis and may involve | ||||||
| 18 | an alternative retail electric supplier as defined in | ||||||
| 19 | Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. This program | ||||||
| 20 | shall take effect in the delivery year commencing June 1, | ||||||
| 21 | 2023. | ||||||
| 22 | (1) For the purposes of this subparagraph: | ||||||
| 23 | "Eligible self-direct customer" means any retail | ||||||
| 24 | customers of an electric utility that serves 3,000,000 | ||||||
| 25 | or more retail customers in the State and whose total | ||||||
| 26 | highest 30-minute demand was more than 10,000 | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | kilowatts, or any retail customers of an electric | ||||||
| 2 | utility that serves less than 3,000,000 retail | ||||||
| 3 | customers but more than 500,000 retail customers in | ||||||
| 4 | the State and whose total highest 15-minute demand was | ||||||
| 5 | more than 10,000 kilowatts. | ||||||
| 6 | "Retail customer" has the meaning set forth in | ||||||
| 7 | Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act and | ||||||
| 8 | multiple retail customer accounts under the same | ||||||
| 9 | corporate parent may aggregate their account demands | ||||||
| 10 | to meet the 10,000 kilowatt threshold. The criteria | ||||||
| 11 | for determining whether this subparagraph is | ||||||
| 12 | applicable to a retail customer shall be based on the | ||||||
| 13 | 12 consecutive billing periods prior to the start of | ||||||
| 14 | the year in which the application is filed. | ||||||
| 15 | (2) For renewable energy credits to count toward | ||||||
| 16 | the self-direct renewable portfolio standard | ||||||
| 17 | compliance program, they must: | ||||||
| 18 | (i) qualify as renewable energy credits as | ||||||
| 19 | defined in Section 1-10 of this Act; | ||||||
| 20 | (ii) be sourced from one or more renewable | ||||||
| 21 | energy generating facilities that comply with the | ||||||
| 22 | geographic requirements as set forth in | ||||||
| 23 | subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subsection | ||||||
| 24 | (c) as interpreted through the Agency's long-term | ||||||
| 25 | renewable resources procurement plan, or, where | ||||||
| 26 | applicable, the geographic requirements that | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | governed utility-scale renewable energy credits at | ||||||
| 2 | the time the eligible self-direct customer entered | ||||||
| 3 | into the applicable renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 4 | purchase agreement; | ||||||
| 5 | (iii) be procured through long-term contracts | ||||||
| 6 | with term lengths of at least 10 years either | ||||||
| 7 | directly with the renewable energy generating | ||||||
| 8 | facility or through a bundled power purchase | ||||||
| 9 | agreement, a virtual power purchase agreement, an | ||||||
| 10 | agreement between the renewable generating | ||||||
| 11 | facility, an alternative retail electric supplier, | ||||||
| 12 | and the customer, or such other structure as is | ||||||
| 13 | permissible under this subparagraph (R); | ||||||
| 14 | (iv) be equivalent in volume to at least 40% | ||||||
| 15 | of the eligible self-direct customer's usage, | ||||||
| 16 | determined annually by the eligible self-direct | ||||||
| 17 | customer's usage during the previous delivery | ||||||
| 18 | year, measured to the nearest megawatt-hour; | ||||||
| 19 | (v) be retired by or on behalf of the large | ||||||
| 20 | energy customer; | ||||||
| 21 | (vi) be sourced from new utility-scale wind | ||||||
| 22 | projects or new utility-scale solar projects; and | ||||||
| 23 | (vii) if the contracts for renewable energy | ||||||
| 24 | credits are entered into after the effective date | ||||||
| 25 | of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 26 | Assembly, the new utility-scale wind projects or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | new utility-scale solar projects must comply with | ||||||
| 2 | the requirements established in subparagraphs (P) | ||||||
| 3 | and (Q) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) | ||||||
| 4 | and subsection (c-10). | ||||||
| 5 | (3) The self-direct renewable portfolio standard | ||||||
| 6 | compliance program shall be designed to allow eligible | ||||||
| 7 | self-direct customers to procure new renewable energy | ||||||
| 8 | credits from new utility-scale wind projects or new | ||||||
| 9 | utility-scale photovoltaic projects. The Agency shall | ||||||
| 10 | annually determine the amount of utility-scale | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credits it will include each year | ||||||
| 12 | from the self-direct renewable portfolio standard | ||||||
| 13 | compliance program, subject to receiving qualifying | ||||||
| 14 | applications. In making this determination, the Agency | ||||||
| 15 | shall evaluate publicly available analyses and studies | ||||||
| 16 | of the potential market size for utility-scale | ||||||
| 17 | renewable energy long-term purchase agreements by | ||||||
| 18 | commercial and industrial energy customers and make | ||||||
| 19 | that report publicly available. If demand for | ||||||
| 20 | participation in the self-direct renewable portfolio | ||||||
| 21 | standard compliance program exceeds availability, the | ||||||
| 22 | Agency shall ensure participation is evenly split | ||||||
| 23 | between commercial and industrial users to the extent | ||||||
| 24 | there is sufficient demand from both customer classes. | ||||||
| 25 | Each renewable energy credit procured pursuant to this | ||||||
| 26 | subparagraph (R) by a self-direct customer shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | reduce the total volume of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 2 | the Agency is otherwise required to procure from new | ||||||
| 3 | utility-scale projects pursuant to subparagraph (C) of | ||||||
| 4 | paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) on behalf of | ||||||
| 5 | contracting utilities where the eligible self-direct | ||||||
| 6 | customer is located. The self-direct customer shall | ||||||
| 7 | file an annual compliance report with the Agency | ||||||
| 8 | pursuant to terms established by the Agency through | ||||||
| 9 | its long-term renewable resources procurement plan to | ||||||
| 10 | be eligible for participation in this program. | ||||||
| 11 | Customers must provide the Agency with their most | ||||||
| 12 | recent electricity billing statements or other | ||||||
| 13 | information deemed necessary by the Agency to | ||||||
| 14 | demonstrate they are an eligible self-direct customer. | ||||||
| 15 | (4) The Commission shall approve a reduction in | ||||||
| 16 | the volumetric charges collected pursuant to Section | ||||||
| 17 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act for approved | ||||||
| 18 | eligible self-direct customers equivalent to the | ||||||
| 19 | anticipated cost of renewable energy credit deliveries | ||||||
| 20 | under contracts for new utility-scale wind and new | ||||||
| 21 | utility-scale solar entered for each delivery year | ||||||
| 22 | after the large energy customer begins retiring | ||||||
| 23 | eligible new utility-scale renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 24 | for self-compliance. The self-direct credit amount | ||||||
| 25 | shall be determined annually and is equal to the | ||||||
| 26 | estimated portion of the cost authorized by | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 2 | (c) that supported the annual procurement of | ||||||
| 3 | utility-scale renewable energy credits in the prior | ||||||
| 4 | delivery year using a methodology described in the | ||||||
| 5 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan, | ||||||
| 6 | expressed on a per kilowatthour basis, and does not | ||||||
| 7 | include (i) costs associated with any contracts | ||||||
| 8 | entered into before the delivery year in which the | ||||||
| 9 | customer files the initial compliance report to be | ||||||
| 10 | eligible for participation in the self-direct program, | ||||||
| 11 | and (ii) costs associated with procuring renewable | ||||||
| 12 | energy credits through existing and future contracts | ||||||
| 13 | through the Adjustable Block Program, subsection (c-5) | ||||||
| 14 | of this Section 1-75, and the Solar for All Program. | ||||||
| 15 | The Agency shall assist the Commission in determining | ||||||
| 16 | the current and future costs. The Agency must | ||||||
| 17 | determine the self-direct credit amount for new and | ||||||
| 18 | existing eligible self-direct customers and submit | ||||||
| 19 | this to the Commission in an annual compliance filing. | ||||||
| 20 | The Commission must approve the self-direct credit | ||||||
| 21 | amount by June 1, 2023 and June 1 of each delivery year | ||||||
| 22 | thereafter. | ||||||
| 23 | (5) Customers described in this subparagraph (R) | ||||||
| 24 | shall apply, on a form developed by the Agency, to the | ||||||
| 25 | Agency to be designated as a self-direct eligible | ||||||
| 26 | customer. Once the Agency determines that a | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | self-direct customer is eligible for participation in | ||||||
| 2 | the program, the self-direct customer will remain | ||||||
| 3 | eligible until the end of the term of the contract. | ||||||
| 4 | Thereafter, application may be made not less than 12 | ||||||
| 5 | months before the filing date of the long-term | ||||||
| 6 | renewable resources procurement plan described in this | ||||||
| 7 | Act. At a minimum, such application shall contain the | ||||||
| 8 | following: | ||||||
| 9 | (i) the customer's certification that, at the | ||||||
| 10 | time of the customer's application, the customer | ||||||
| 11 | qualifies to be a self-direct eligible customer, | ||||||
| 12 | including documents demonstrating that | ||||||
| 13 | qualification; | ||||||
| 14 | (ii) the customer's certification that the | ||||||
| 15 | customer has entered into or will enter into by | ||||||
| 16 | the beginning of the applicable procurement year, | ||||||
| 17 | one or more bilateral contracts for new wind | ||||||
| 18 | projects or new photovoltaic projects, including | ||||||
| 19 | supporting documentation; | ||||||
| 20 | (iii) certification that the contract or | ||||||
| 21 | contracts for new renewable energy resources are | ||||||
| 22 | long-term contracts with term lengths of at least | ||||||
| 23 | 10 years, including supporting documentation; | ||||||
| 24 | (iv) certification of the quantities of | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy credits that the customer will | ||||||
| 26 | purchase each year under such contract or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | contracts, including supporting documentation; | ||||||
| 2 | (v) proof that the contract is sufficient to | ||||||
| 3 | produce renewable energy credits to be equivalent | ||||||
| 4 | in volume to at least 40% of the large energy | ||||||
| 5 | customer's usage from the previous delivery year, | ||||||
| 6 | measured to the nearest megawatt-hour; and | ||||||
| 7 | (vi) certification that the customer intends | ||||||
| 8 | to maintain the contract for the duration of the | ||||||
| 9 | length of the contract. | ||||||
| 10 | (6) If a customer receives the self-direct credit | ||||||
| 11 | but fails to properly procure and retire renewable | ||||||
| 12 | energy credits as required under this subparagraph | ||||||
| 13 | (R), the Commission, on petition from the Agency and | ||||||
| 14 | after notice and hearing, may direct such customer's | ||||||
| 15 | utility to recover the cost of the wrongfully received | ||||||
| 16 | self-direct credits plus interest through an adder to | ||||||
| 17 | charges assessed pursuant to Section 16-108 of the | ||||||
| 18 | Public Utilities Act. Self-direct customers who | ||||||
| 19 | knowingly fail to properly procure and retire | ||||||
| 20 | renewable energy credits and do not notify the Agency | ||||||
| 21 | are ineligible for continued participation in the | ||||||
| 22 | self-direct renewable portfolio standard compliance | ||||||
| 23 | program. | ||||||
| 24 | (S) Beginning with the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 25 | procurement plan covering program and procurement activity | ||||||
| 26 | for the delivery year beginning on June 1, 2028, any | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan developed | ||||||
| 2 | by the Agency in accordance with subparagraph (A) of this | ||||||
| 3 | paragraph (1) shall include a Geothermal Homes and | ||||||
| 4 | Businesses Program for the procurement of geothermal | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy credits from new geothermal heating and | ||||||
| 6 | cooling systems. The long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 7 | procurement plan shall allocate up to $10,000,000 per | ||||||
| 8 | delivery year to fund the Program as described in this | ||||||
| 9 | subparagraph (S). The Program shall be designed to | ||||||
| 10 | stimulate the steady, predictable, and sustainable growth | ||||||
| 11 | of new geothermal heating and cooling system deployment in | ||||||
| 12 | this State and meet gaps in the marketplace. To this end, | ||||||
| 13 | the Geothermal Homes and Businesses Program shall provide | ||||||
| 14 | a transparent annual schedule of prices and quantities to | ||||||
| 15 | enable the geothermal heating and cooling market to scale | ||||||
| 16 | up and renewable energy credit prices to adjust at a | ||||||
| 17 | predictable rate over time. The prices set by the | ||||||
| 18 | Geothermal Homes and Businesses Program may be reflected | ||||||
| 19 | as a set value or as the product of a formula. | ||||||
| 20 | (i) The Geothermal Homes and Businesses Program | ||||||
| 21 | shall allocate blocks of renewable energy credits as | ||||||
| 22 | follows: | ||||||
| 23 | (1) The Agency may create categories for the | ||||||
| 24 | Program based on structure features and use cases, | ||||||
| 25 | including categories based on the nature and size | ||||||
| 26 | of the Program's projects, customers, communities | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | in which a project is located, and other | ||||||
| 2 | attributes, defined at the discretion of the | ||||||
| 3 | Agency through its long-term plan. | ||||||
| 4 | (2) The Agency shall propose an initial single | ||||||
| 5 | annual block for each Program delivery year for | ||||||
| 6 | each category it creates through the delivery year | ||||||
| 7 | beginning on June 1, 2035. The Program shall | ||||||
| 8 | include the following for eligible projects for | ||||||
| 9 | each delivery year: (I) a block of geothermal | ||||||
| 10 | renewable energy credit volumes; (II) a price for | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credits from geothermal heating | ||||||
| 12 | and cooling systems within the identified block; | ||||||
| 13 | and (III) the terms and conditions for securing a | ||||||
| 14 | spot on a waitlist once the block is fully | ||||||
| 15 | committed or reserved. The Agency may periodically | ||||||
| 16 | review its prior decisions establishing the amount | ||||||
| 17 | of geothermal renewable energy credit volumes in | ||||||
| 18 | each annual block and the purchase price for each | ||||||
| 19 | block and may propose, on an expedited basis, | ||||||
| 20 | changes to the previously set values, including, | ||||||
| 21 | but not limited to, redistributing the amounts and | ||||||
| 22 | the available funds as necessary and appropriate, | ||||||
| 23 | subject to Commission approval. The Agency may | ||||||
| 24 | define different block sizes, purchase prices, or | ||||||
| 25 | other distinct terms and conditions for projects | ||||||
| 26 | located in different utility service territories | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | if the Agency deems it necessary. | ||||||
| 2 | (3) The Agency may develop an intra-year and | ||||||
| 3 | year-to-year waitlist and block reservation policy | ||||||
| 4 | that balances market certainty, program | ||||||
| 5 | availability, and expedient project deployment. | ||||||
| 6 | (4) For the program year beginning on June 1, | ||||||
| 7 | 2028, at least 33% of each annual block shall be | ||||||
| 8 | available to be reserved for systems that are | ||||||
| 9 | residential, as defined by the Agency. The Agency | ||||||
| 10 | shall endeavor to ensure at least 40% of each | ||||||
| 11 | annual block is available to be reserved by | ||||||
| 12 | systems located in Equity Investment Eligible | ||||||
| 13 | Communities. At least 10% of all annual blocks | ||||||
| 14 | shall be available to be reserved by systems from | ||||||
| 15 | applicants that are equity eligible contractors, | ||||||
| 16 | and the Agency shall propose to increase the | ||||||
| 17 | percentage of systems from applicants that are | ||||||
| 18 | equity eligible contractors over time to 40% based | ||||||
| 19 | on factors that include, but are not limited to, | ||||||
| 20 | the number of equity eligible contractors and the | ||||||
| 21 | volume used under this clause (4) in previous | ||||||
| 22 | delivery years. For long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 23 | procurement plans developed thereafter, the Agency | ||||||
| 24 | may propose adjustments to the minimum percentages | ||||||
| 25 | based on developer interest, market interest and | ||||||
| 26 | availability, and other factors. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (5) The Agency shall establish Program | ||||||
| 2 | eligibility requirements that ensure that systems | ||||||
| 3 | that enter the Program are sufficiently mature | ||||||
| 4 | enough to indicate a demonstrable path to | ||||||
| 5 | completion and other terms, conditions, and | ||||||
| 6 | requirements for the program, including vendor | ||||||
| 7 | registration and approval, sales and marketing | ||||||
| 8 | requirements, and other consumer protection | ||||||
| 9 | requirements as the Agency deems necessary. | ||||||
| 10 | (6) The Program shall be designed to ensure | ||||||
| 11 | that geothermal renewable energy credits are | ||||||
| 12 | procured from projects in diverse locations and | ||||||
| 13 | are not procured from projects that are | ||||||
| 14 | concentrated in a few regional areas. | ||||||
| 15 | (7) The Agency, through its long-term | ||||||
| 16 | renewable resources procurement plan, may | ||||||
| 17 | implement solutions to maintain stable and | ||||||
| 18 | consistent REC offerings to avoid gaps in | ||||||
| 19 | availability during a delivery year, including, | ||||||
| 20 | but not limited to, creating a floating block of | ||||||
| 21 | REC capacity in a given delivery year. | ||||||
| 22 | (ii) Energy derived from a geothermal heating and | ||||||
| 23 | cooling system shall be eligible for inclusion in | ||||||
| 24 | meeting the requirements of the Program. Geothermal | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy credits shall be expressed in | ||||||
| 26 | megawatt-hour units. To make this calculation, the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Agency (1) shall identify an appropriate formula | ||||||
| 2 | supported by a geothermal industry trade organization, | ||||||
| 3 | a national laboratory, or another data-backed and | ||||||
| 4 | verifiable methodology, (2) may propose adjustments to | ||||||
| 5 | any formulas for its proposed renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 6 | calculation methodology, and (3) may reflect | ||||||
| 7 | calculation methodologies already in use for other | ||||||
| 8 | State renewable portfolio standards, if applicable and | ||||||
| 9 | appropriate. The Agency shall determine the form and | ||||||
| 10 | manner in which the renewable energy credits are | ||||||
| 11 | verified and retired, in accordance with national best | ||||||
| 12 | practices. | ||||||
| 13 | Geothermal renewable energy credits retired by | ||||||
| 14 | obligated utilities for compliance with the Program | ||||||
| 15 | are only valid for compliance if those geothermal | ||||||
| 16 | renewable energy credits have not been previously | ||||||
| 17 | retired by another entity that is not the obligated | ||||||
| 18 | utility on any tracking system, carbon registry, or | ||||||
| 19 | other accounting mechanism at any time. Additionally, | ||||||
| 20 | geothermal renewable energy credits retired by | ||||||
| 21 | obligated utilities for compliance with the Program | ||||||
| 22 | shall only be valid for compliance if those geothermal | ||||||
| 23 | renewable energy credits have not been used to | ||||||
| 24 | substantiate a public emissions or energy usage claim | ||||||
| 25 | by any other another entity that is not the obligated | ||||||
| 26 | utility, of any type and at any time, whether or not | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the geothermal renewable energy credits were actually | ||||||
| 2 | retired on a tracking system, registry, or other | ||||||
| 3 | accounting mechanism at the time of the public | ||||||
| 4 | emissions-based claim. Geothermal renewable energy | ||||||
| 5 | credits generated for compliance with the Program | ||||||
| 6 | shall be valid only if retired once, and claimed once, | ||||||
| 7 | by the obligated utility. | ||||||
| 8 | In order to promote the competitive development of | ||||||
| 9 | geothermal heating and cooling systems in furtherance | ||||||
| 10 | of this State's interest in the health, safety, and | ||||||
| 11 | welfare of its residents, renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 12 | from geothermal heating and cooling systems shall not | ||||||
| 13 | be eligible for purchase and retirement under this Act | ||||||
| 14 | if the credits are sourced from a geothermal heating | ||||||
| 15 | and cooling system for which costs are being recovered | ||||||
| 16 | on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act | ||||||
| 17 | of the 104th General Assembly through rates regulated | ||||||
| 18 | by this State or any other state. | ||||||
| 19 | (iii) The Agency shall establish Program | ||||||
| 20 | requirements and minimum contract terms to ensure that | ||||||
| 21 | projects are properly installed and that projects | ||||||
| 22 | operate to the level of expected benefits. The | ||||||
| 23 | contract terms shall include, but are not limited to, | ||||||
| 24 | the following: | ||||||
| 25 | (1) The capital that is not advanced shall be | ||||||
| 26 | disbursed upon a schedule determined by the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Agency, based on the total contracted fulfillment | ||||||
| 2 | over the delivery term, not to exceed, during each | ||||||
| 3 | delivery year, the contract price multiplied by | ||||||
| 4 | the estimated annual renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 5 | generation amount. Payment structures shall | ||||||
| 6 | include provisions that provide portions of the | ||||||
| 7 | renewable energy credit delivery contract value | ||||||
| 8 | upon energization, including no less than 40% of | ||||||
| 9 | the contract value for residential projects, based | ||||||
| 10 | on the estimated renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 11 | production during the contract term. | ||||||
| 12 | (2) For renewable energy credits that qualify | ||||||
| 13 | and are procured under the Program, the delivery | ||||||
| 14 | contract length shall be 15 years. | ||||||
| 15 | (3) For contracts that are paid upon the | ||||||
| 16 | delivery of renewable energy credits, if | ||||||
| 17 | generation of renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 18 | geothermal heating and cooling systems during a | ||||||
| 19 | delivery year exceeds the estimated annual | ||||||
| 20 | generation amount, the excess of such renewable | ||||||
| 21 | energy credits shall be carried forward to future | ||||||
| 22 | delivery years and shall not expire during the | ||||||
| 23 | delivery term. If the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 24 | generation during a delivery year, including any | ||||||
| 25 | carried forward excess renewable energy credits, | ||||||
| 26 | is less than the estimated annual generation | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | amount, payments during the delivery year shall | ||||||
| 2 | not exceed the quantity generated plus the | ||||||
| 3 | quantity carried forward multiplied by the | ||||||
| 4 | contract price. The electric utility shall receive | ||||||
| 5 | all renewable energy credits generated by the | ||||||
| 6 | project during the first 15 years of operation, | ||||||
| 7 | and retire all renewable energy credits paid for | ||||||
| 8 | under this clause (3) and return at the end of the | ||||||
| 9 | delivery term all geothermal renewable energy | ||||||
| 10 | credits that were not paid for. Renewable energy | ||||||
| 11 | credits generated by the project thereafter shall | ||||||
| 12 | not be transferred under the renewable energy | ||||||
| 13 | credit delivery contract with the counterparty | ||||||
| 14 | electric utility. | ||||||
| 15 | (4) For renewable energy contracts for any | ||||||
| 16 | type of community, shared, or similar geothermal | ||||||
| 17 | heating and cooling system that operates using a | ||||||
| 18 | subscription model and for which subscriptions are | ||||||
| 19 | a basis for contractual payments, subscription of | ||||||
| 20 | 90% of total renewable energy credit volumes or | ||||||
| 21 | greater shall be deemed to be fully subscribed. | ||||||
| 22 | (5) Beginning with the long-term renewable | ||||||
| 23 | resources procurement plan covering the delivery | ||||||
| 24 | year beginning on June 1, 2030, the Agency may | ||||||
| 25 | propose a payment structure for Program contracts | ||||||
| 26 | upon a demonstration of qualification or need | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | under criteria established by the Agency that is | ||||||
| 2 | focused on supporting the small and emerging | ||||||
| 3 | businesses and the businesses that most acutely | ||||||
| 4 | face barriers to capital access. Successful | ||||||
| 5 | applicant firms shall have advanced capital | ||||||
| 6 | disbursed before renewable energy credits are | ||||||
| 7 | first generated. The maximum amount or percentage | ||||||
| 8 | of capital advanced shall be included in the | ||||||
| 9 | long-term renewable resources procurement plan, | ||||||
| 10 | and any amount actually advanced shall be designed | ||||||
| 11 | to overcome the barriers in access to capital that | ||||||
| 12 | are faced by an applicant through that applicant's | ||||||
| 13 | demonstration of need. The amount or percentage of | ||||||
| 14 | advanced capital may vary by year, or inter-year, | ||||||
| 15 | by structure category, block, and other factors as | ||||||
| 16 | deemed applicable by the Agency and by an | ||||||
| 17 | applicant's demonstration of need. Contracts | ||||||
| 18 | featuring capital advanced prior to system | ||||||
| 19 | operation shall feature provisions to ensure both | ||||||
| 20 | the successful development of applicant projects | ||||||
| 21 | and the delivery of renewable energy credits for | ||||||
| 22 | the full term of the contract, including ongoing | ||||||
| 23 | collateral requirements and other provisions | ||||||
| 24 | deemed necessary by the Agency. The percentage or | ||||||
| 25 | amount of capital advanced prior to system | ||||||
| 26 | operation shall not increase the overall contract | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | value. | ||||||
| 2 | (6) Each contract shall include provisions to | ||||||
| 3 | ensure the delivery of the estimated quantity of | ||||||
| 4 | geothermal renewable energy credits, including a | ||||||
| 5 | requirement of performance assurance in an amount | ||||||
| 6 | deemed appropriate by the Agency. | ||||||
| 7 | (7) An obligated utility shall be the | ||||||
| 8 | counterparty to the contracts executed under this | ||||||
| 9 | subparagraph (S) that are approved by the | ||||||
| 10 | Commission. No contract shall be executed for an | ||||||
| 11 | amount that is less than one geothermal renewable | ||||||
| 12 | energy credit per year. | ||||||
| 13 | (8) Nothing in this subparagraph (S) shall | ||||||
| 14 | require the utility to advance any payment or pay | ||||||
| 15 | any amounts that exceed the actual amount of | ||||||
| 16 | revenues anticipated to be collected by the | ||||||
| 17 | utility inclusive of eligible funds collected in | ||||||
| 18 | prior years and alternative compliance payments | ||||||
| 19 | for use by the utility. | ||||||
| 20 | (9) Contracts may be assignable, but only to | ||||||
| 21 | entities first deemed by the Agency to have met | ||||||
| 22 | Program terms and requirements applicable to | ||||||
| 23 | direct Program participation. In developing | ||||||
| 24 | contracts for the delivery of renewable energy | ||||||
| 25 | credits from geothermal heating and cooling | ||||||
| 26 | systems, the Agency may establish fees applicable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | to each contract assignment. | ||||||
| 2 | (10) If, at any time, approved applications | ||||||
| 3 | for the Program exceed funds collected by the | ||||||
| 4 | electric utility or would cause the Agency to | ||||||
| 5 | exceed the limitation on the amount of renewable | ||||||
| 6 | energy resources that may be procured, then the | ||||||
| 7 | Agency may consider future uncommitted funds to be | ||||||
| 8 | reserved for these contracts on a first-come, | ||||||
| 9 | first-served basis. | ||||||
| 10 | (iv) In order to advance priority access to the | ||||||
| 11 | clean energy economy for businesses and workers from | ||||||
| 12 | communities that have been excluded from economic | ||||||
| 13 | opportunities in the energy sector, been subject to | ||||||
| 14 | disproportionate levels of pollution, and | ||||||
| 15 | disproportionately experienced negative public health | ||||||
| 16 | outcomes, the Agency shall apply its equity | ||||||
| 17 | accountability system and minimum equity standards | ||||||
| 18 | established under subsections (c-10), (c-15), (c-20), | ||||||
| 19 | (c-25), and (c-30) to geothermal heating and cooling | ||||||
| 20 | system renewable energy credit procurement and | ||||||
| 21 | programs and may include any proposed modifications to | ||||||
| 22 | the equity accountability system and minimum equity | ||||||
| 23 | standards that may be warranted with respect to | ||||||
| 24 | geothermal heating and cooling systems in its plan | ||||||
| 25 | submission to the Commission under Section 16-111.5 of | ||||||
| 26 | the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (v) Projects shall be developed in compliance with | ||||||
| 2 | the prevailing wage and project labor agreement | ||||||
| 3 | requirements, as applicable, for renewable energy | ||||||
| 4 | projects in subparagraph (Q) of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 5 | subsection (c). Projects approved under this Program | ||||||
| 6 | are subject to the prevailing wage requirements | ||||||
| 7 | outlined in subitem (x) of item (1) of subparagraph | ||||||
| 8 | (Q) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c). Renewable | ||||||
| 9 | energy credits for any single geothermal heating and | ||||||
| 10 | cooling project that is 142 tons or larger and is | ||||||
| 11 | procured under this Program after the effective date | ||||||
| 12 | of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly | ||||||
| 13 | shall only be eligible if the associated project was | ||||||
| 14 | built by general contractors who entered into a | ||||||
| 15 | project labor agreement prior to construction. The | ||||||
| 16 | project labor agreement shall be filed with the | ||||||
| 17 | Director in accordance with procedures established by | ||||||
| 18 | the Agency through its long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 19 | procurement plan. The project labor agreement shall | ||||||
| 20 | provide the names, addresses, and occupations of the | ||||||
| 21 | owner of the plant and the individuals representing | ||||||
| 22 | the labor organization employees that participate in | ||||||
| 23 | the project labor agreement. The project labor | ||||||
| 24 | agreement shall also specify terms and conditions as | ||||||
| 25 | provided in this Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (vi) The Agency shall strive to minimize | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | administrative expenses in the implementation of the | ||||||
| 2 | Program. The Agency may use any existing program | ||||||
| 3 | administrator and any applicable subcontractors to | ||||||
| 4 | develop, administer, implement, operate, and evaluate | ||||||
| 5 | the Program. | ||||||
| 6 | (T) Renewable energy credits procured under Agency | ||||||
| 7 | procurements or programs for community solar projects with | ||||||
| 8 | more than 3 megawatts in nameplate capacity must be | ||||||
| 9 | procured from facilities built by general contractors | ||||||
| 10 | that, prior to construction, enter into a project labor | ||||||
| 11 | agreement, as defined by this Act, subject to the | ||||||
| 12 | following requirements and limitations: | ||||||
| 13 | (i) The project labor agreement shall be filed | ||||||
| 14 | with the Director in accordance with procedures | ||||||
| 15 | established by the Agency through its long-term | ||||||
| 16 | renewable resources procurement plan. Any information | ||||||
| 17 | submitted to the Agency under this item (i) shall be | ||||||
| 18 | considered commercially sensitive information. | ||||||
| 19 | (ii) At a minimum, the project labor agreement | ||||||
| 20 | must provide the names, addresses, and occupations of | ||||||
| 21 | the owner of the project and any individuals | ||||||
| 22 | representing the labor organization of the employees | ||||||
| 23 | participating in the project labor agreement | ||||||
| 24 | consistent with the Project Labor Agreements Act. The | ||||||
| 25 | project labor agreement must also meet the terms and | ||||||
| 26 | conditions, as set forth in this Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (iii) It is the intent of this Section to ensure | ||||||
| 2 | that economic development occurs across communities in | ||||||
| 3 | this State, that emerging businesses may grow, and | ||||||
| 4 | that there is improved access to the clean energy | ||||||
| 5 | economy by persons who have greater economic burdens | ||||||
| 6 | to success. The Agency shall take into consideration | ||||||
| 7 | the unique cost of compliance of this subparagraph (T) | ||||||
| 8 | that may be borne by equity eligible contractors and | ||||||
| 9 | shall include those costs when determining the price | ||||||
| 10 | of renewable energy credits in the Adjustable Block | ||||||
| 11 | program. The Agency shall consider costs associated | ||||||
| 12 | with compliance, including in the development, | ||||||
| 13 | financing, or construction of projects. The Agency | ||||||
| 14 | shall periodically review the assumptions in these | ||||||
| 15 | costs and may adjust prices in compliance with | ||||||
| 16 | subparagraph (M) of this paragraph (1). | ||||||
| 17 | (2) (Blank). | ||||||
| 18 | (3) (Blank). | ||||||
| 19 | (4) The electric utility shall retire all renewable | ||||||
| 20 | energy credits used to comply with the standard. | ||||||
| 21 | (5) Beginning with the 2010 delivery year and ending | ||||||
| 22 | June 1, 2017, an electric utility subject to this | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (c) shall apply the lesser of the maximum | ||||||
| 24 | alternative compliance payment rate or the most recent | ||||||
| 25 | estimated alternative compliance payment rate for its | ||||||
| 26 | service territory for the corresponding compliance period, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | established pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 16-115D | ||||||
| 2 | of the Public Utilities Act to its retail customers that | ||||||
| 3 | take service pursuant to the electric utility's hourly | ||||||
| 4 | pricing tariff or tariffs. The electric utility shall | ||||||
| 5 | retain all amounts collected as a result of the | ||||||
| 6 | application of the alternative compliance payment rate or | ||||||
| 7 | rates to such customers, and, beginning in 2011, the | ||||||
| 8 | utility shall include in the information provided under | ||||||
| 9 | item (1) of subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 10 | Public Utilities Act the amounts collected under the | ||||||
| 11 | alternative compliance payment rate or rates for the prior | ||||||
| 12 | year ending May 31. Notwithstanding any limitation on the | ||||||
| 13 | procurement of renewable energy resources imposed by item | ||||||
| 14 | (2) of this subsection (c), the Agency shall increase its | ||||||
| 15 | spending on the purchase of renewable energy resources to | ||||||
| 16 | be procured by the electric utility for the next plan year | ||||||
| 17 | by an amount equal to the amounts collected by the utility | ||||||
| 18 | under the alternative compliance payment rate or rates in | ||||||
| 19 | the prior year ending May 31. | ||||||
| 20 | (6) The electric utility shall be entitled to recover | ||||||
| 21 | all of its costs associated with the procurement of | ||||||
| 22 | renewable energy credits under plans approved under this | ||||||
| 23 | Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 24 | These costs shall include associated reasonable expenses | ||||||
| 25 | for implementing the procurement programs, including, but | ||||||
| 26 | not limited to, the costs of administering and evaluating | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the Adjustable Block program and the Geothermal Homes and | ||||||
| 2 | Businesses Program, through an automatic adjustment clause | ||||||
| 3 | tariff in accordance with subsection (k) of Section 16-108 | ||||||
| 4 | of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 5 | (7) Renewable energy credits procured from new | ||||||
| 6 | photovoltaic projects or new distributed renewable energy | ||||||
| 7 | generation devices under this Section after June 1, 2017 | ||||||
| 8 | (the effective date of Public Act 99-906) must be procured | ||||||
| 9 | from devices installed by a qualified person in compliance | ||||||
| 10 | with the requirements of Section 16-128A of the Public | ||||||
| 11 | Utilities Act and any rules or regulations adopted | ||||||
| 12 | thereunder. | ||||||
| 13 | In meeting the renewable energy requirements of this | ||||||
| 14 | subsection (c), to the extent feasible and consistent with | ||||||
| 15 | State and federal law, the renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 16 | procurements, Adjustable Block solar program, and | ||||||
| 17 | community renewable generation program shall provide | ||||||
| 18 | employment opportunities for all segments of the | ||||||
| 19 | population and workforce, including minority-owned and | ||||||
| 20 | female-owned business enterprises, and shall not, | ||||||
| 21 | consistent with State and federal law, discriminate based | ||||||
| 22 | on race or socioeconomic status. | ||||||
| 23 | (c-5) Procurement of renewable energy credits from new | ||||||
| 24 | renewable energy facilities installed at or adjacent to the | ||||||
| 25 | sites of electric generating facilities that burn or burned | ||||||
| 26 | coal as their primary fuel source. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (1) In addition to the procurement of renewable energy | ||||||
| 2 | credits pursuant to long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 3 | procurement plans in accordance with subsection (c) of | ||||||
| 4 | this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 5 | Act, the Agency shall conduct procurement events in | ||||||
| 6 | accordance with this subsection (c-5) for the procurement | ||||||
| 7 | by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail | ||||||
| 8 | customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable | ||||||
| 9 | energy credits from new renewable energy facilities to be | ||||||
| 10 | installed at or adjacent to the sites of electric | ||||||
| 11 | generating facilities that, as of January 1, 2016, burned | ||||||
| 12 | coal as their primary fuel source and meet the other | ||||||
| 13 | criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). For purposes | ||||||
| 14 | of this subsection (c-5), "new renewable energy facility" | ||||||
| 15 | means a new utility-scale solar project as defined in this | ||||||
| 16 | Section 1-75. The renewable energy credits procured | ||||||
| 17 | pursuant to this subsection (c-5) may be included or | ||||||
| 18 | counted for purposes of compliance with the amounts of | ||||||
| 19 | renewable energy credits required to be procured pursuant | ||||||
| 20 | to subsection (c) of this Section to the extent that there | ||||||
| 21 | are otherwise shortfalls in compliance with such | ||||||
| 22 | requirements. The procurement of renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 23 | by electric utilities pursuant to this subsection (c-5) | ||||||
| 24 | shall be funded solely by revenues collected from the Coal | ||||||
| 25 | to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge provided for | ||||||
| 26 | in this subsection (c-5) and subsection (i-5) of Section | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, shall not be funded by | ||||||
| 2 | revenues collected through any of the other funding | ||||||
| 3 | mechanisms provided for in subsection (c) of this Section, | ||||||
| 4 | and shall not be subject to the limitation imposed by | ||||||
| 5 | subsection (c) on charges to retail customers for costs to | ||||||
| 6 | procure renewable energy resources pursuant to subsection | ||||||
| 7 | (c), and shall not be subject to any other requirements or | ||||||
| 8 | limitations of subsection (c). | ||||||
| 9 | (2) The Agency shall conduct 2 procurement events to | ||||||
| 10 | select owners of electric generating facilities meeting | ||||||
| 11 | the eligibility criteria specified in this subsection | ||||||
| 12 | (c-5) to enter into long-term contracts to sell renewable | ||||||
| 13 | energy credits to electric utilities serving more than | ||||||
| 14 | 300,000 retail customers in this State as of January 1, | ||||||
| 15 | 2019. The first procurement event shall be conducted no | ||||||
| 16 | later than March 31, 2022, unless the Agency elects to | ||||||
| 17 | delay it, until no later than May 1, 2022, due to its | ||||||
| 18 | overall volume of work, and shall be to select owners of | ||||||
| 19 | electric generating facilities located in this State and | ||||||
| 20 | south of federal Interstate Highway 80 that meet the | ||||||
| 21 | eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). | ||||||
| 22 | The second procurement event shall be conducted no sooner | ||||||
| 23 | than September 30, 2022 and no later than October 31, 2022 | ||||||
| 24 | and shall be to select owners of electric generating | ||||||
| 25 | facilities located anywhere in this State that meet the | ||||||
| 26 | eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | The Agency shall establish and announce a time period, | ||||||
| 2 | which shall begin no later than 30 days prior to the | ||||||
| 3 | scheduled date for the procurement event, during which | ||||||
| 4 | applicants may submit applications to be selected as | ||||||
| 5 | suppliers of renewable energy credits pursuant to this | ||||||
| 6 | subsection (c-5). The eligibility criteria for selection | ||||||
| 7 | as a supplier of renewable energy credits pursuant to this | ||||||
| 8 | subsection (c-5) shall be as follows: | ||||||
| 9 | (A) The applicant owns an electric generating | ||||||
| 10 | facility located in this State that: (i) as of January | ||||||
| 11 | 1, 2016, burned coal as its primary fuel to generate | ||||||
| 12 | electricity; and (ii) has, or had prior to retirement, | ||||||
| 13 | an electric generating capacity of at least 150 | ||||||
| 14 | megawatts. The electric generating facility can be | ||||||
| 15 | either: (i) retired as of the date of the procurement | ||||||
| 16 | event; or (ii) still operating as of the date of the | ||||||
| 17 | procurement event. | ||||||
| 18 | (B) The applicant is not (i) an electric | ||||||
| 19 | cooperative as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public | ||||||
| 20 | Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in | ||||||
| 21 | subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
| 22 | Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of or | ||||||
| 23 | an entity owned by entities described in (i) or (ii); | ||||||
| 24 | and the coal-fueled electric generating facility was | ||||||
| 25 | at one time owned, in whole or in part, by a public | ||||||
| 26 | utility as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 2 | (C) If participating in the first procurement | ||||||
| 3 | event, the applicant proposes and commits to construct | ||||||
| 4 | and operate, at the site, and if necessary for | ||||||
| 5 | sufficient space on property adjacent to the existing | ||||||
| 6 | property, at which the electric generating facility | ||||||
| 7 | identified in paragraph (A) is located: (i) a new | ||||||
| 8 | renewable energy facility of at least 20 megawatts but | ||||||
| 9 | no more than 100 megawatts of electric generating | ||||||
| 10 | capacity, and (ii) an energy storage facility having a | ||||||
| 11 | storage capacity equal to at least 2 megawatts and at | ||||||
| 12 | most 10 megawatts. If participating in the second | ||||||
| 13 | procurement event, the applicant proposes and commits | ||||||
| 14 | to construct and operate, at the site, and if | ||||||
| 15 | necessary for sufficient space on property adjacent to | ||||||
| 16 | the existing property, at which the electric | ||||||
| 17 | generating facility identified in paragraph (A) is | ||||||
| 18 | located: (i) a new renewable energy facility of at | ||||||
| 19 | least 5 megawatts but no more than 20 megawatts of | ||||||
| 20 | electric generating capacity, and (ii) an energy | ||||||
| 21 | storage facility having a storage capacity equal to at | ||||||
| 22 | least 0.5 megawatts and at most one megawatt. | ||||||
| 23 | (D) The applicant agrees that the new renewable | ||||||
| 24 | energy facility and the energy storage facility will | ||||||
| 25 | be constructed or installed by a qualified entity or | ||||||
| 26 | entities in compliance with the requirements of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subsection (g) of Section 16-128A of the Public | ||||||
| 2 | Utilities Act and any rules adopted thereunder. | ||||||
| 3 | (E) The applicant agrees that personnel operating | ||||||
| 4 | the new renewable energy facility and the energy | ||||||
| 5 | storage facility will have the requisite skills, | ||||||
| 6 | knowledge, training, experience, and competence, which | ||||||
| 7 | may be demonstrated by completion or current | ||||||
| 8 | participation and ultimate completion by employees of | ||||||
| 9 | an accredited or otherwise recognized apprenticeship | ||||||
| 10 | program for the employee's particular craft, trade, or | ||||||
| 11 | skill, including through training and education | ||||||
| 12 | courses and opportunities offered by the owner to | ||||||
| 13 | employees of the coal-fueled electric generating | ||||||
| 14 | facility or by previous employment experience | ||||||
| 15 | performing the employee's particular work skill or | ||||||
| 16 | function. | ||||||
| 17 | (F) The applicant commits that not less than the | ||||||
| 18 | prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the | ||||||
| 19 | Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the applicant's | ||||||
| 20 | employees engaged in construction activities | ||||||
| 21 | associated with the new renewable energy facility and | ||||||
| 22 | the new energy storage facility and to the employees | ||||||
| 23 | of applicant's contractors engaged in construction | ||||||
| 24 | activities associated with the new renewable energy | ||||||
| 25 | facility and the new energy storage facility, and | ||||||
| 26 | that, on or before the commercial operation date of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the new renewable energy facility, the applicant shall | ||||||
| 2 | file a report with the Agency certifying that the | ||||||
| 3 | requirements of this subparagraph (F) have been met. | ||||||
| 4 | (G) The applicant commits that if selected, it | ||||||
| 5 | will negotiate a project labor agreement for the | ||||||
| 6 | construction of the new renewable energy facility and | ||||||
| 7 | associated energy storage facility that includes | ||||||
| 8 | provisions requiring the parties to the agreement to | ||||||
| 9 | work together to establish diversity threshold | ||||||
| 10 | requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet | ||||||
| 11 | diversity targets, improve diversity at the applicable | ||||||
| 12 | job site, create diverse apprenticeship opportunities, | ||||||
| 13 | and create opportunities to employ former coal-fired | ||||||
| 14 | power plant workers. | ||||||
| 15 | (H) The applicant commits to enter into a contract | ||||||
| 16 | or contracts for the applicable duration to provide | ||||||
| 17 | specified numbers of renewable energy credits each | ||||||
| 18 | year from the new renewable energy facility to | ||||||
| 19 | electric utilities that served more than 300,000 | ||||||
| 20 | retail customers in this State as of January 1, 2019, | ||||||
| 21 | at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit. The | ||||||
| 22 | price per renewable energy credit shall be fixed at | ||||||
| 23 | $30 for the applicable duration and the renewable | ||||||
| 24 | energy credits shall not be indexed renewable energy | ||||||
| 25 | credits as provided for in item (v) of subparagraph | ||||||
| 26 | (G) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | of this Act. The applicable duration of each contract | ||||||
| 2 | shall be 20 years, unless the applicant is physically | ||||||
| 3 | interconnected to the PJM Interconnection, LLC | ||||||
| 4 | transmission grid and had a generating capacity of at | ||||||
| 5 | least 1,200 megawatts as of January 1, 2021, in which | ||||||
| 6 | case the applicable duration of the contract shall be | ||||||
| 7 | 15 years. | ||||||
| 8 | (I) The applicant's application is certified by an | ||||||
| 9 | officer of the applicant and by an officer of the | ||||||
| 10 | applicant's ultimate parent company, if any. | ||||||
| 11 | (3) An applicant may submit applications to contract | ||||||
| 12 | to supply renewable energy credits from more than one new | ||||||
| 13 | renewable energy facility to be constructed at or adjacent | ||||||
| 14 | to one or more qualifying electric generating facilities | ||||||
| 15 | owned by the applicant. The Agency may select new | ||||||
| 16 | renewable energy facilities to be located at or adjacent | ||||||
| 17 | to the sites of more than one qualifying electric | ||||||
| 18 | generation facility owned by an applicant to contract with | ||||||
| 19 | electric utilities to supply renewable energy credits from | ||||||
| 20 | such facilities. | ||||||
| 21 | (4) The Agency shall assess fees to each applicant to | ||||||
| 22 | recover the Agency's costs incurred in receiving and | ||||||
| 23 | evaluating applications, conducting the procurement event, | ||||||
| 24 | developing contracts for sale, delivery and purchase of | ||||||
| 25 | renewable energy credits, and monitoring the | ||||||
| 26 | administration of such contracts, as provided for in this | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subsection (c-5), including fees paid to a procurement | ||||||
| 2 | administrator retained by the Agency for one or more of | ||||||
| 3 | these purposes. | ||||||
| 4 | (5) The Agency shall select the applicants and the new | ||||||
| 5 | renewable energy facilities to contract with electric | ||||||
| 6 | utilities to supply renewable energy credits in accordance | ||||||
| 7 | with this subsection (c-5). In the first procurement | ||||||
| 8 | event, the Agency shall select applicants and new | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy facilities to supply renewable energy | ||||||
| 10 | credits, at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit, | ||||||
| 11 | aggregating to no less than 400,000 renewable energy | ||||||
| 12 | credits per year for the applicable duration, assuming | ||||||
| 13 | sufficient qualifying applications to supply, in the | ||||||
| 14 | aggregate, at least that amount of renewable energy | ||||||
| 15 | credits per year; and not more than 580,000 renewable | ||||||
| 16 | energy credits per year for the applicable duration. In | ||||||
| 17 | the second procurement event, the Agency shall select | ||||||
| 18 | applicants and new renewable energy facilities to supply | ||||||
| 19 | renewable energy credits, at a price of $30 per renewable | ||||||
| 20 | energy credit, aggregating to no more than 625,000 | ||||||
| 21 | renewable energy credits per year less the amount of | ||||||
| 22 | renewable energy credits each year contracted for as a | ||||||
| 23 | result of the first procurement event, for the applicable | ||||||
| 24 | durations. The number of renewable energy credits to be | ||||||
| 25 | procured as specified in this paragraph (5) shall not be | ||||||
| 26 | reduced based on renewable energy credits procured in the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | self-direct renewable energy credit compliance program | ||||||
| 2 | established pursuant to subparagraph (R) of paragraph (1) | ||||||
| 3 | of subsection (c) of Section 1-75. | ||||||
| 4 | (6) The obligation to purchase renewable energy | ||||||
| 5 | credits from the applicants and their new renewable energy | ||||||
| 6 | facilities selected by the Agency shall be allocated to | ||||||
| 7 | the electric utilities based on their respective | ||||||
| 8 | percentages of kilowatthours delivered to delivery | ||||||
| 9 | services customers to the aggregate kilowatthour | ||||||
| 10 | deliveries by the electric utilities to delivery services | ||||||
| 11 | customers for the year ended December 31, 2021. In order | ||||||
| 12 | to achieve these allocation percentages between or among | ||||||
| 13 | the electric utilities, the Agency shall require each | ||||||
| 14 | applicant that is selected in the procurement event to | ||||||
| 15 | enter into a contract with each electric utility for the | ||||||
| 16 | sale and purchase of renewable energy credits from each | ||||||
| 17 | new renewable energy facility to be constructed and | ||||||
| 18 | operated by the applicant, with the sale and purchase | ||||||
| 19 | obligations under the contracts to aggregate to the total | ||||||
| 20 | number of renewable energy credits per year to be supplied | ||||||
| 21 | by the applicant from the new renewable energy facility. | ||||||
| 22 | (7) The Agency shall submit its proposed selection of | ||||||
| 23 | applicants, new renewable energy facilities to be | ||||||
| 24 | constructed, and renewable energy credit amounts for each | ||||||
| 25 | procurement event to the Commission for approval. The | ||||||
| 26 | Commission shall, within 2 business days after receipt of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the Agency's proposed selections, approve the proposed | ||||||
| 2 | selections if it determines that the applicants and the | ||||||
| 3 | new renewable energy facilities to be constructed meet the | ||||||
| 4 | selection criteria set forth in this subsection (c-5) and | ||||||
| 5 | that the Agency seeks approval for contracts of applicable | ||||||
| 6 | durations aggregating to no more than the maximum amount | ||||||
| 7 | of renewable energy credits per year authorized by this | ||||||
| 8 | subsection (c-5) for the procurement event, at a price of | ||||||
| 9 | $30 per renewable energy credit. | ||||||
| 10 | (8) The Agency, in conjunction with its procurement | ||||||
| 11 | administrator if one is retained, the electric utilities, | ||||||
| 12 | and potential applicants for contracts to produce and | ||||||
| 13 | supply renewable energy credits pursuant to this | ||||||
| 14 | subsection (c-5), shall develop a standard form contract | ||||||
| 15 | for the sale, delivery and purchase of renewable energy | ||||||
| 16 | credits pursuant to this subsection (c-5). Each contract | ||||||
| 17 | resulting from the first procurement event shall allow for | ||||||
| 18 | a commercial operation date for the new renewable energy | ||||||
| 19 | facility of either June 1, 2023 or June 1, 2024, with such | ||||||
| 20 | dates subject to adjustment as provided in this paragraph. | ||||||
| 21 | Each contract resulting from the second procurement event | ||||||
| 22 | shall provide for a commercial operation date on June 1 | ||||||
| 23 | next occurring up to 48 months after execution of the | ||||||
| 24 | contract. Each contract shall provide that the owner shall | ||||||
| 25 | receive payments for renewable energy credits for the | ||||||
| 26 | applicable durations beginning with the commercial | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | operation date of the new renewable energy facility. The | ||||||
| 2 | form contract shall provide for adjustments to the | ||||||
| 3 | commercial operation and payment start dates as needed due | ||||||
| 4 | to any delays in completing the procurement and | ||||||
| 5 | contracting processes, in finalizing interconnection | ||||||
| 6 | agreements and installing interconnection facilities, and | ||||||
| 7 | in obtaining other necessary governmental permits and | ||||||
| 8 | approvals. The form contract shall be, to the maximum | ||||||
| 9 | extent possible, consistent with standard electric | ||||||
| 10 | industry contracts for sale, delivery, and purchase of | ||||||
| 11 | renewable energy credits while taking into account the | ||||||
| 12 | specific requirements of this subsection (c-5). The form | ||||||
| 13 | contract shall provide for over-delivery and | ||||||
| 14 | under-delivery of renewable energy credits within | ||||||
| 15 | reasonable ranges during each 12-month period and penalty, | ||||||
| 16 | default, and enforcement provisions for failure of the | ||||||
| 17 | selling party to deliver renewable energy credits as | ||||||
| 18 | specified in the contract and to comply with the | ||||||
| 19 | requirements of this subsection (c-5). The standard form | ||||||
| 20 | contract shall specify that all renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 21 | delivered to the electric utility pursuant to the contract | ||||||
| 22 | shall be retired. The Agency shall make the proposed | ||||||
| 23 | contracts available for a reasonable period for comment by | ||||||
| 24 | potential applicants, and shall publish the final form | ||||||
| 25 | contract at least 30 days before the date of the first | ||||||
| 26 | procurement event. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (9) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative | ||||||
| 2 | Charge. | ||||||
| 3 | (A) By no later than July 1, 2022, each electric | ||||||
| 4 | utility that served more than 300,000 retail customers | ||||||
| 5 | in this State as of January 1, 2019 shall file a tariff | ||||||
| 6 | with the Commission for the billing and collection of | ||||||
| 7 | a Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge | ||||||
| 8 | in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section 16-108 | ||||||
| 9 | of the Public Utilities Act, with such tariff to be | ||||||
| 10 | effective, following review and approval or | ||||||
| 11 | modification by the Commission, beginning January 1, | ||||||
| 12 | 2023. The tariff shall provide for the calculation and | ||||||
| 13 | setting of the electric utility's Coal to Solar and | ||||||
| 14 | Energy Storage Initiative Charge to collect revenues | ||||||
| 15 | estimated to be sufficient, in the aggregate, (i) to | ||||||
| 16 | enable the electric utility to pay for the renewable | ||||||
| 17 | energy credits it has contracted to purchase in the | ||||||
| 18 | delivery year beginning June 1, 2023 and each delivery | ||||||
| 19 | year thereafter from new renewable energy facilities | ||||||
| 20 | located at the sites of qualifying electric generating | ||||||
| 21 | facilities, and (ii) to fund the grant payments to be | ||||||
| 22 | made in each delivery year by the Department of | ||||||
| 23 | Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or any successor | ||||||
| 24 | department or agency, which shall be referred to in | ||||||
| 25 | this subsection (c-5) as the Department, pursuant to | ||||||
| 26 | paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5). The electric | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | utility's tariff shall provide for the billing and | ||||||
| 2 | collection of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 3 | Initiative Charge on each kilowatthour of electricity | ||||||
| 4 | delivered to its delivery services customers within | ||||||
| 5 | its service territory and shall provide for an annual | ||||||
| 6 | reconciliation of revenues collected with actual | ||||||
| 7 | costs, in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section | ||||||
| 8 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 9 | (B) Each electric utility shall remit on a monthly | ||||||
| 10 | basis to the State Treasurer, for deposit in the Coal | ||||||
| 11 | to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund provided | ||||||
| 12 | for in this subsection (c-5), the electric utility's | ||||||
| 13 | collections of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 14 | Initiative Charge in the amount estimated to be needed | ||||||
| 15 | by the Department for grant payments pursuant to grant | ||||||
| 16 | contracts entered into by the Department pursuant to | ||||||
| 17 | paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5). | ||||||
| 18 | (10) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund. | ||||||
| 19 | (A) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 20 | Initiative Fund is established as a special fund in | ||||||
| 21 | the State treasury. The Coal to Solar and Energy | ||||||
| 22 | Storage Initiative Fund is authorized to receive, by | ||||||
| 23 | statutory deposit, that portion specified in item (B) | ||||||
| 24 | of paragraph (9) of this subsection (c-5) of moneys | ||||||
| 25 | collected by electric utilities through imposition of | ||||||
| 26 | the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | required by this subsection (c-5). The Coal to Solar | ||||||
| 2 | and Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be | ||||||
| 3 | administered by the Department to provide grants to | ||||||
| 4 | support the installation and operation of energy | ||||||
| 5 | storage facilities at the sites of qualifying electric | ||||||
| 6 | generating facilities meeting the criteria specified | ||||||
| 7 | in this paragraph (10). | ||||||
| 8 | (B) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 9 | Initiative Fund shall not be subject to sweeps, | ||||||
| 10 | administrative charges, or chargebacks, including, but | ||||||
| 11 | not limited to, those authorized under Section 8h of | ||||||
| 12 | the State Finance Act, that would in any way result in | ||||||
| 13 | the transfer of those funds from the Coal to Solar and | ||||||
| 14 | Energy Storage Initiative Fund to any other fund of | ||||||
| 15 | this State or in having any such funds utilized for any | ||||||
| 16 | purpose other than the express purposes set forth in | ||||||
| 17 | this paragraph (10). | ||||||
| 18 | (C) The Department shall utilize up to | ||||||
| 19 | $280,500,000 in the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage | ||||||
| 20 | Initiative Fund for grants, assuming sufficient | ||||||
| 21 | qualifying applicants, to support installation of | ||||||
| 22 | energy storage facilities at the sites of up to 3 | ||||||
| 23 | qualifying electric generating facilities located in | ||||||
| 24 | the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., | ||||||
| 25 | region in Illinois and the sites of up to 2 qualifying | ||||||
| 26 | electric generating facilities located in the PJM | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Interconnection, LLC region in Illinois that meet the | ||||||
| 2 | criteria set forth in this subparagraph (C). The | ||||||
| 3 | criteria for receipt of a grant pursuant to this | ||||||
| 4 | subparagraph (C) are as follows: | ||||||
| 5 | (1) the electric generating facility at the | ||||||
| 6 | site has, or had prior to retirement, an electric | ||||||
| 7 | generating capacity of at least 150 megawatts; | ||||||
| 8 | (2) the electric generating facility burns (or | ||||||
| 9 | burned prior to retirement) coal as its primary | ||||||
| 10 | source of fuel; | ||||||
| 11 | (3) if the electric generating facility is | ||||||
| 12 | retired, it was retired subsequent to January 1, | ||||||
| 13 | 2016; | ||||||
| 14 | (4) the owner of the electric generating | ||||||
| 15 | facility has not been selected by the Agency | ||||||
| 16 | pursuant to this subsection (c-5) of this Section | ||||||
| 17 | to enter into a contract to sell renewable energy | ||||||
| 18 | credits to one or more electric utilities from a | ||||||
| 19 | new renewable energy facility located or to be | ||||||
| 20 | located at or adjacent to the site at which the | ||||||
| 21 | electric generating facility is located; | ||||||
| 22 | (5) the electric generating facility located | ||||||
| 23 | at the site was at one time owned, in whole or in | ||||||
| 24 | part, by a public utility as defined in Section | ||||||
| 25 | 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act; | ||||||
| 26 | (6) the electric generating facility at the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | site is not owned by (i) an electric cooperative | ||||||
| 2 | as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public | ||||||
| 3 | Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in | ||||||
| 4 | subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
| 5 | Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of | ||||||
| 6 | or an entity owned by entities described in items | ||||||
| 7 | (i) or (ii); | ||||||
| 8 | (7) the proposed energy storage facility at | ||||||
| 9 | the site will have energy storage capacity of at | ||||||
| 10 | least 37 megawatts; | ||||||
| 11 | (8) the owner commits to place the energy | ||||||
| 12 | storage facility into commercial operation on | ||||||
| 13 | either June 1, 2023, June 1, 2024, or June 1, 2025, | ||||||
| 14 | with such date subject to adjustment as needed due | ||||||
| 15 | to any delays in completing the grant contracting | ||||||
| 16 | process, in finalizing interconnection agreements | ||||||
| 17 | and in installing interconnection facilities, and | ||||||
| 18 | in obtaining necessary governmental permits and | ||||||
| 19 | approvals; | ||||||
| 20 | (9) the owner agrees that the new energy | ||||||
| 21 | storage facility will be constructed or installed | ||||||
| 22 | by a qualified entity or entities consistent with | ||||||
| 23 | the requirements of subsection (g) of Section | ||||||
| 24 | 16-128A of the Public Utilities Act and any rules | ||||||
| 25 | adopted under that Section; | ||||||
| 26 | (10) the owner agrees that personnel operating | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the energy storage facility will have the | ||||||
| 2 | requisite skills, knowledge, training, experience, | ||||||
| 3 | and competence, which may be demonstrated by | ||||||
| 4 | completion or current participation and ultimate | ||||||
| 5 | completion by employees of an accredited or | ||||||
| 6 | otherwise recognized apprenticeship program for | ||||||
| 7 | the employee's particular craft, trade, or skill, | ||||||
| 8 | including through training and education courses | ||||||
| 9 | and opportunities offered by the owner to | ||||||
| 10 | employees of the coal-fueled electric generating | ||||||
| 11 | facility or by previous employment experience | ||||||
| 12 | performing the employee's particular work skill or | ||||||
| 13 | function; | ||||||
| 14 | (11) the owner commits that not less than the | ||||||
| 15 | prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the | ||||||
| 16 | Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the owner's | ||||||
| 17 | employees engaged in construction activities | ||||||
| 18 | associated with the new energy storage facility | ||||||
| 19 | and to the employees of the owner's contractors | ||||||
| 20 | engaged in construction activities associated with | ||||||
| 21 | the new energy storage facility, and that, on or | ||||||
| 22 | before the commercial operation date of the new | ||||||
| 23 | energy storage facility, the owner shall file a | ||||||
| 24 | report with the Department certifying that the | ||||||
| 25 | requirements of this subparagraph (11) have been | ||||||
| 26 | met; and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (12) the owner commits that if selected to | ||||||
| 2 | receive a grant, it will negotiate a project labor | ||||||
| 3 | agreement for the construction of the new energy | ||||||
| 4 | storage facility that includes provisions | ||||||
| 5 | requiring the parties to the agreement to work | ||||||
| 6 | together to establish diversity threshold | ||||||
| 7 | requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet | ||||||
| 8 | diversity targets, improve diversity at the | ||||||
| 9 | applicable job site, create diverse apprenticeship | ||||||
| 10 | opportunities, and create opportunities to employ | ||||||
| 11 | former coal-fired power plant workers. | ||||||
| 12 | The Department shall accept applications for this | ||||||
| 13 | grant program until March 31, 2022 and shall announce | ||||||
| 14 | the award of grants no later than June 1, 2022. The | ||||||
| 15 | Department shall make the grant payments to a | ||||||
| 16 | recipient in equal annual amounts for 10 years | ||||||
| 17 | following the date the energy storage facility is | ||||||
| 18 | placed into commercial operation. The annual grant | ||||||
| 19 | payments to a qualifying energy storage facility shall | ||||||
| 20 | be $110,000 per megawatt of energy storage capacity, | ||||||
| 21 | with total annual grant payments pursuant to this | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraph (C) for qualifying energy storage | ||||||
| 23 | facilities not to exceed $28,050,000 in any year. | ||||||
| 24 | (D) Grants of funding for energy storage | ||||||
| 25 | facilities pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this | ||||||
| 26 | paragraph (10), from the Coal to Solar and Energy | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Storage Initiative Fund, shall be memorialized in | ||||||
| 2 | grant contracts between the Department and the | ||||||
| 3 | recipient. The grant contracts shall specify the date | ||||||
| 4 | or dates in each year on which the annual grant | ||||||
| 5 | payments shall be paid. | ||||||
| 6 | (E) All disbursements from the Coal to Solar and | ||||||
| 7 | Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be made only upon | ||||||
| 8 | warrants of the Comptroller drawn upon the Treasurer | ||||||
| 9 | as custodian of the Fund upon vouchers signed by the | ||||||
| 10 | Director of the Department or by the person or persons | ||||||
| 11 | designated by the Director of the Department for that | ||||||
| 12 | purpose. The Comptroller is authorized to draw the | ||||||
| 13 | warrants upon vouchers so signed. The Treasurer shall | ||||||
| 14 | accept all written warrants so signed and shall be | ||||||
| 15 | released from liability for all payments made on those | ||||||
| 16 | warrants. | ||||||
| 17 | (11) Diversity, equity, and inclusion plans. | ||||||
| 18 | (A) Each applicant selected in a procurement event | ||||||
| 19 | to contract to supply renewable energy credits in | ||||||
| 20 | accordance with this subsection (c-5) and each owner | ||||||
| 21 | selected by the Department to receive a grant or | ||||||
| 22 | grants to support the construction and operation of a | ||||||
| 23 | new energy storage facility or facilities in | ||||||
| 24 | accordance with this subsection (c-5) shall, within 60 | ||||||
| 25 | days following the Commission's approval of the | ||||||
| 26 | applicant to contract to supply renewable energy | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | credits or within 60 days following execution of a | ||||||
| 2 | grant contract with the Department, as applicable, | ||||||
| 3 | submit to the Commission a diversity, equity, and | ||||||
| 4 | inclusion plan setting forth the applicant's or | ||||||
| 5 | owner's numeric goals for the diversity composition of | ||||||
| 6 | its supplier entities for the new renewable energy | ||||||
| 7 | facility or new energy storage facility, as | ||||||
| 8 | applicable, which shall be referred to for purposes of | ||||||
| 9 | this paragraph (11) as the project, and the | ||||||
| 10 | applicant's or owner's action plan and schedule for | ||||||
| 11 | achieving those goals. | ||||||
| 12 | (B) For purposes of this paragraph (11), diversity | ||||||
| 13 | composition shall be based on the percentage, which | ||||||
| 14 | shall be a minimum of 25%, of eligible expenditures | ||||||
| 15 | for contract awards for materials and services (which | ||||||
| 16 | shall be defined in the plan) to business enterprises | ||||||
| 17 | owned by minority persons, women, or persons with | ||||||
| 18 | disabilities as defined in Section 2 of the Business | ||||||
| 19 | Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with | ||||||
| 20 | Disabilities Act, to LGBTQ business enterprises, to | ||||||
| 21 | veteran-owned business enterprises, and to business | ||||||
| 22 | enterprises located in environmental justice | ||||||
| 23 | communities. The diversity composition goals of the | ||||||
| 24 | plan may include eligible expenditures in areas for | ||||||
| 25 | vendor or supplier opportunities in addition to | ||||||
| 26 | development and construction of the project, and may | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | exclude from eligible expenditures materials and | ||||||
| 2 | services with limited market availability, limited | ||||||
| 3 | production and availability from suppliers in the | ||||||
| 4 | United States, such as solar panels and storage | ||||||
| 5 | batteries, and material and services that are subject | ||||||
| 6 | to critical energy infrastructure or cybersecurity | ||||||
| 7 | requirements or restrictions. The plan may provide | ||||||
| 8 | that the diversity composition goals may be met | ||||||
| 9 | through Tier 1 Direct or Tier 2 subcontracting | ||||||
| 10 | expenditures or a combination thereof for the project. | ||||||
| 11 | (C) The plan shall provide for, but not be limited | ||||||
| 12 | to: (i) internal initiatives, including multi-tier | ||||||
| 13 | initiatives, by the applicant or owner, or by its | ||||||
| 14 | engineering, procurement and construction contractor | ||||||
| 15 | if one is used for the project, which for purposes of | ||||||
| 16 | this paragraph (11) shall be referred to as the EPC | ||||||
| 17 | contractor, to enable diverse businesses to be | ||||||
| 18 | considered fairly for selection to provide materials | ||||||
| 19 | and services; (ii) requirements for the applicant or | ||||||
| 20 | owner or its EPC contractor to proactively solicit and | ||||||
| 21 | utilize diverse businesses to provide materials and | ||||||
| 22 | services; and (iii) requirements for the applicant or | ||||||
| 23 | owner or its EPC contractor to hire a diverse | ||||||
| 24 | workforce for the project. The plan shall include a | ||||||
| 25 | description of the applicant's or owner's diversity | ||||||
| 26 | recruiting efforts both for the project and for other | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | areas of the applicant's or owner's business | ||||||
| 2 | operations. The plan shall provide for the imposition | ||||||
| 3 | of financial penalties on the applicant's or owner's | ||||||
| 4 | EPC contractor for failure to exercise best efforts to | ||||||
| 5 | comply with and execute the EPC contractor's diversity | ||||||
| 6 | obligations under the plan. The plan may provide for | ||||||
| 7 | the applicant or owner to set aside a portion of the | ||||||
| 8 | work on the project to serve as an incubation program | ||||||
| 9 | for qualified businesses, as specified in the plan, | ||||||
| 10 | owned by minority persons, women, persons with | ||||||
| 11 | disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and veterans, and | ||||||
| 12 | businesses located in environmental justice | ||||||
| 13 | communities, seeking to enter the renewable energy | ||||||
| 14 | industry. | ||||||
| 15 | (D) The applicant or owner may submit a revised or | ||||||
| 16 | updated plan to the Commission from time to time as | ||||||
| 17 | circumstances warrant. The applicant or owner shall | ||||||
| 18 | file annual reports with the Commission detailing the | ||||||
| 19 | applicant's or owner's progress in implementing its | ||||||
| 20 | plan and achieving its goals and any modifications the | ||||||
| 21 | applicant or owner has made to its plan to better | ||||||
| 22 | achieve its diversity, equity and inclusion goals. The | ||||||
| 23 | applicant or owner shall file a final report on the | ||||||
| 24 | fifth June 1 following the commercial operation date | ||||||
| 25 | of the new renewable energy resource or new energy | ||||||
| 26 | storage facility, but the applicant or owner shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | thereafter continue to be subject to applicable | ||||||
| 2 | reporting requirements of Section 5-117 of the Public | ||||||
| 3 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 4 | (c-10) Equity accountability system. It is the purpose of | ||||||
| 5 | this subsection (c-10) to create an equity accountability | ||||||
| 6 | system, which includes the minimum equity standards for all | ||||||
| 7 | renewable energy procurements, the equity category of the | ||||||
| 8 | Adjustable Block Program, and the equity prioritization for | ||||||
| 9 | noncompetitive procurements, that is successful in advancing | ||||||
| 10 | priority access to the clean energy economy for businesses and | ||||||
| 11 | workers from communities that have been excluded from economic | ||||||
| 12 | opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to | ||||||
| 13 | disproportionate levels of pollution, and have | ||||||
| 14 | disproportionately experienced negative public health | ||||||
| 15 | outcomes. Further, it is the purpose of this subsection to | ||||||
| 16 | ensure that this equity accountability system is successful in | ||||||
| 17 | advancing equity across Illinois by providing access to the | ||||||
| 18 | clean energy economy for businesses and workers from | ||||||
| 19 | communities that have been historically excluded from economic | ||||||
| 20 | opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to | ||||||
| 21 | disproportionate levels of pollution, and have | ||||||
| 22 | disproportionately experienced negative public health | ||||||
| 23 | outcomes. | ||||||
| 24 | (1) Minimum equity standards. The Agency shall create | ||||||
| 25 | programs with the purpose of increasing access to and | ||||||
| 26 | development of equity eligible contractors, who are prime | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | contractors and subcontractors, across all of the programs | ||||||
| 2 | it manages. All applications for renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 3 | procurements shall comply with specific minimum equity | ||||||
| 4 | commitments. Starting in the delivery year immediately | ||||||
| 5 | following the next long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 6 | procurement plan, at least 10% of the project workforce | ||||||
| 7 | for each entity participating in a procurement program | ||||||
| 8 | outlined in this subsection (c-10) must be done by equity | ||||||
| 9 | eligible persons or equity eligible contractors. The | ||||||
| 10 | Agency shall increase the minimum percentage each delivery | ||||||
| 11 | year thereafter by increments that ensure a statewide | ||||||
| 12 | average of 30% of the project workforce for each entity | ||||||
| 13 | participating in a procurement program is done by equity | ||||||
| 14 | eligible persons or equity eligible contractors by 2030. | ||||||
| 15 | The Agency shall propose a schedule of percentage | ||||||
| 16 | increases to the minimum equity standards in its draft | ||||||
| 17 | revised renewable energy resources procurement plan | ||||||
| 18 | submitted to the Commission for approval pursuant to | ||||||
| 19 | paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 20 | Public Utilities Act. In determining these annual | ||||||
| 21 | increases, the Agency shall have the discretion to | ||||||
| 22 | establish different minimum equity standards for different | ||||||
| 23 | types of procurements and different regions of the State | ||||||
| 24 | if the Agency finds that doing so will further the | ||||||
| 25 | purposes of this subsection (c-10). The proposed schedule | ||||||
| 26 | of annual increases shall be revisited and updated on an | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | annual basis. Revisions shall be developed with | ||||||
| 2 | stakeholder input, including from equity eligible persons, | ||||||
| 3 | equity eligible contractors, clean energy industry | ||||||
| 4 | representatives, and community-based organizations that | ||||||
| 5 | work with such persons and contractors. | ||||||
| 6 | (A) At the start of each delivery year, the Agency | ||||||
| 7 | shall require a compliance plan from each entity | ||||||
| 8 | participating in a procurement program of subsection | ||||||
| 9 | (c) of this Section, and entities opting to comply | ||||||
| 10 | with the minimum equity standard through the Illinois | ||||||
| 11 | Solar for All Program under Section 1-56 of this Act, | ||||||
| 12 | that demonstrates how they will achieve compliance | ||||||
| 13 | with the minimum equity standard percentage for work | ||||||
| 14 | completed in that delivery year. If an entity applies | ||||||
| 15 | for its approved vendor or designee status between | ||||||
| 16 | delivery years, the Agency shall require a compliance | ||||||
| 17 | plan at the time of application. | ||||||
| 18 | (B) Halfway through each delivery year, the Agency | ||||||
| 19 | shall require each entity participating in a | ||||||
| 20 | procurement program to confirm that it will achieve | ||||||
| 21 | compliance in that delivery year, when applicable. The | ||||||
| 22 | Agency may offer corrective action plans to entities | ||||||
| 23 | that are not on track to achieve compliance. | ||||||
| 24 | (C) At the end of each delivery year, each entity | ||||||
| 25 | participating and completing work in that delivery | ||||||
| 26 | year in a procurement program of subsection (c) shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | submit a report to the Agency that demonstrates how it | ||||||
| 2 | achieved compliance with the minimum equity standards | ||||||
| 3 | percentage for that delivery year. | ||||||
| 4 | (D) The Agency shall prohibit participation in | ||||||
| 5 | procurement programs by an approved vendor or | ||||||
| 6 | designee, as applicable, or entities with which an | ||||||
| 7 | approved vendor or designee, as applicable, shares a | ||||||
| 8 | common parent company if an approved vendor or | ||||||
| 9 | designee, as applicable, failed to meet the minimum | ||||||
| 10 | equity standards for the prior delivery year. Waivers | ||||||
| 11 | approved for lack of equity eligible persons or equity | ||||||
| 12 | eligible contractors in a geographic area of a project | ||||||
| 13 | shall not count against the approved vendor or | ||||||
| 14 | designee. The Agency shall offer a corrective action | ||||||
| 15 | plan for any such entities to assist them in obtaining | ||||||
| 16 | compliance and shall allow continued access to | ||||||
| 17 | procurement programs upon an approved vendor or | ||||||
| 18 | designee demonstrating compliance. | ||||||
| 19 | (E) The Agency shall pursue efficiencies achieved | ||||||
| 20 | by combining with other approved vendor or designee | ||||||
| 21 | reporting. | ||||||
| 22 | (2) Equity accountability system within the Adjustable | ||||||
| 23 | Block program. The equity category described in item (vi) | ||||||
| 24 | of subparagraph (K) of subsection (c) is only available to | ||||||
| 25 | applicants that are equity eligible contractors. | ||||||
| 26 | (3) Equity accountability system within competitive | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procurements. Through its long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| 2 | procurement plan, the Agency shall develop requirements | ||||||
| 3 | for ensuring that competitive procurement processes, | ||||||
| 4 | including utility-scale solar, utility-scale wind, and | ||||||
| 5 | brownfield site photovoltaic projects, advance the equity | ||||||
| 6 | goals of this subsection (c-10). Subject to Commission | ||||||
| 7 | approval, the Agency shall develop bid application | ||||||
| 8 | requirements and a bid evaluation methodology for ensuring | ||||||
| 9 | that utilization of equity eligible contractors, whether | ||||||
| 10 | as bidders or as participants on project development, is | ||||||
| 11 | optimized, including requiring that winning or successful | ||||||
| 12 | applicants for utility-scale projects are or will partner | ||||||
| 13 | with equity eligible contractors and giving preference to | ||||||
| 14 | bids through which a higher portion of contract value | ||||||
| 15 | flows to equity eligible contractors. To the extent | ||||||
| 16 | practicable, entities participating in competitive | ||||||
| 17 | procurements shall also be required to meet all the equity | ||||||
| 18 | accountability requirements for approved vendors and their | ||||||
| 19 | designees under this subsection (c-10). In developing | ||||||
| 20 | these requirements, the Agency shall also consider whether | ||||||
| 21 | equity goals can be further advanced through additional | ||||||
| 22 | measures. | ||||||
| 23 | (4) In the first revision to the long-term renewable | ||||||
| 24 | energy resources procurement plan and each revision | ||||||
| 25 | thereafter, the Agency shall include the following: | ||||||
| 26 | (A) The current status and number of equity | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | eligible contractors listed in the Energy Workforce | ||||||
| 2 | Equity Database designed in subsection (c-25), | ||||||
| 3 | including the number of equity eligible contractors | ||||||
| 4 | with current certifications as issued by the Agency. | ||||||
| 5 | (B) A mechanism for measuring, tracking, and | ||||||
| 6 | reporting project workforce at the approved vendor or | ||||||
| 7 | designee level, as applicable, which shall include a | ||||||
| 8 | measurement methodology and records to be made | ||||||
| 9 | available for audit by the Agency or the Program | ||||||
| 10 | Administrator. | ||||||
| 11 | (C) A program for approved vendors, designees, | ||||||
| 12 | eligible persons, and equity eligible contractors to | ||||||
| 13 | receive trainings, guidance, and other support from | ||||||
| 14 | the Agency or its designee regarding the equity | ||||||
| 15 | category outlined in item (vi) of subparagraph (K) of | ||||||
| 16 | paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and in meeting the | ||||||
| 17 | minimum equity standards of this subsection (c-10). | ||||||
| 18 | (D) A process for certifying equity eligible | ||||||
| 19 | contractors and equity eligible persons. The | ||||||
| 20 | certification process shall coordinate with the Energy | ||||||
| 21 | Workforce Equity Database set forth in subsection | ||||||
| 22 | (c-25). | ||||||
| 23 | (E) An application for waiver of the minimum | ||||||
| 24 | equity standards of this subsection, which the Agency | ||||||
| 25 | shall have the discretion to grant in rare | ||||||
| 26 | circumstances. The Agency may grant such a waiver | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | where the applicant provides evidence of significant | ||||||
| 2 | efforts toward meeting the minimum equity commitment, | ||||||
| 3 | including: use of the Energy Workforce Equity | ||||||
| 4 | Database; efforts to hire or contract with entities | ||||||
| 5 | that hire eligible persons; and efforts to establish | ||||||
| 6 | contracting relationships with eligible contractors. | ||||||
| 7 | The Agency shall support applicants in understanding | ||||||
| 8 | the Energy Workforce Equity Database and other | ||||||
| 9 | resources for pursuing compliance of the minimum | ||||||
| 10 | equity standards. Waivers shall be project-specific, | ||||||
| 11 | unless the Agency deems it necessary to grant a waiver | ||||||
| 12 | across a portfolio of projects, and in effect for no | ||||||
| 13 | longer than one year. Any waiver extension or | ||||||
| 14 | subsequent waiver request from an applicant shall be | ||||||
| 15 | subject to the requirements of this Section and shall | ||||||
| 16 | specify efforts made to reach compliance. When | ||||||
| 17 | considering whether to grant a waiver, and to what | ||||||
| 18 | extent, the Agency shall consider the degree to which | ||||||
| 19 | similarly situated applicants have been able to meet | ||||||
| 20 | these minimum equity commitments. For repeated waiver | ||||||
| 21 | requests for specific lack of eligible persons or | ||||||
| 22 | eligible contractors available, the Agency shall make | ||||||
| 23 | recommendations to target recruitment to add such | ||||||
| 24 | eligible persons or eligible contractors to the | ||||||
| 25 | database. | ||||||
| 26 | (5) The Agency shall collect information about work on | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | projects or portfolios of projects subject to these | ||||||
| 2 | minimum equity standards to ensure compliance with this | ||||||
| 3 | subsection (c-10). Reporting in furtherance of this | ||||||
| 4 | requirement may be combined with other annual reporting | ||||||
| 5 | requirements. Such reporting shall include proof of | ||||||
| 6 | certification of each equity eligible contractor or equity | ||||||
| 7 | eligible person during the applicable time period. | ||||||
| 8 | As part of the reporting requirement under this | ||||||
| 9 | subparagraph (5), the Agency shall collect and report | ||||||
| 10 | information about the use of equity eligible contractors | ||||||
| 11 | and equity eligible persons, as well as Minimum Equity | ||||||
| 12 | Standard compliance and waiver usage on the Adjustable | ||||||
| 13 | Block program and utility-scale projects subject to | ||||||
| 14 | project labor agreements. The Agency shall note any | ||||||
| 15 | instances of the projects being unable to meet or | ||||||
| 16 | requiring a waiver to meet Minimum Equity Standard | ||||||
| 17 | requirements and the location of those projects. | ||||||
| 18 | On an annual basis, the Agency shall submit a written | ||||||
| 19 | summary of its findings on an annual basis to the General | ||||||
| 20 | Assembly and the Governor and shall make the report and | ||||||
| 21 | summary available on the Agency's website. | ||||||
| 22 | (6) The Agency shall keep confidential all information | ||||||
| 23 | and communication that provides private or personal | ||||||
| 24 | information. | ||||||
| 25 | (7) Modifications to the equity accountability system. | ||||||
| 26 | As part of the update of the long-term renewable resources | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procurement plan to be initiated in 2023, or sooner if the | ||||||
| 2 | Agency deems necessary, the Agency shall determine the | ||||||
| 3 | extent to which the equity accountability system described | ||||||
| 4 | in this subsection (c-10) has advanced the goals of this | ||||||
| 5 | amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, including | ||||||
| 6 | through the inclusion of equity eligible persons and | ||||||
| 7 | equity eligible contractors in renewable energy credit | ||||||
| 8 | projects. If the Agency finds that the equity | ||||||
| 9 | accountability system has failed to meet those goals to | ||||||
| 10 | its fullest potential, the Agency may revise the following | ||||||
| 11 | criteria for future Agency procurements: (A) the | ||||||
| 12 | percentage of project workforce, or other appropriate | ||||||
| 13 | workforce measure, certified as equity eligible persons or | ||||||
| 14 | equity eligible contractors; (B) definitions for equity | ||||||
| 15 | investment eligible persons and equity investment eligible | ||||||
| 16 | community; and (C) such other modifications necessary to | ||||||
| 17 | advance the goals of this amendatory Act of the 102nd | ||||||
| 18 | General Assembly effectively. Such revised criteria may | ||||||
| 19 | also establish distinct equity accountability systems for | ||||||
| 20 | different types of procurements or different regions of | ||||||
| 21 | the State if the Agency finds that doing so will further | ||||||
| 22 | the purposes of such programs. Revisions shall be | ||||||
| 23 | developed with stakeholder input, including from equity | ||||||
| 24 | eligible persons, equity eligible contractors, and | ||||||
| 25 | community-based organizations that work with such persons | ||||||
| 26 | and contractors. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (c-15) Racial discrimination elimination powers and | ||||||
| 2 | process. | ||||||
| 3 | (1) Purpose. It is the purpose of this subsection to | ||||||
| 4 | empower the Agency and other State actors to remedy racial | ||||||
| 5 | discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy as | ||||||
| 6 | effectively and expediently as possible, including through | ||||||
| 7 | the use of race-conscious remedies, such as race-conscious | ||||||
| 8 | contracting and hiring goals, as consistent with State and | ||||||
| 9 | federal law. | ||||||
| 10 | (2) Racial disparity and discrimination review | ||||||
| 11 | process. | ||||||
| 12 | (A) Within one year after awarding contracts using | ||||||
| 13 | the equity actions processes established in this | ||||||
| 14 | Section, the Agency shall publish a report evaluating | ||||||
| 15 | the effectiveness of the equity actions point criteria | ||||||
| 16 | of this Section in increasing participation of equity | ||||||
| 17 | eligible persons and equity eligible contractors. The | ||||||
| 18 | report shall disaggregate participating workers and | ||||||
| 19 | contractors by race and ethnicity. The report shall be | ||||||
| 20 | forwarded to the Governor, the General Assembly, and | ||||||
| 21 | the Illinois Commerce Commission and be made available | ||||||
| 22 | to the public. | ||||||
| 23 | (B) As soon as is practicable thereafter, the | ||||||
| 24 | Agency, in consultation with the Department of | ||||||
| 25 | Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Department of | ||||||
| 26 | Labor, and other agencies that may be relevant, shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | commission and publish a disparity and availability | ||||||
| 2 | study that measures the presence and impact of | ||||||
| 3 | discrimination on minority businesses and workers in | ||||||
| 4 | Illinois' clean energy economy. The Agency may hire | ||||||
| 5 | consultants and experts to conduct the disparity and | ||||||
| 6 | availability study, with the retention of those | ||||||
| 7 | consultants and experts exempt from the requirements | ||||||
| 8 | of Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The | ||||||
| 9 | Illinois Power Agency shall forward a copy of its | ||||||
| 10 | findings and recommendations to the Governor, the | ||||||
| 11 | General Assembly, and the Illinois Commerce | ||||||
| 12 | Commission. If the disparity and availability study | ||||||
| 13 | establishes a strong basis in evidence that there is | ||||||
| 14 | discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy, the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency, Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||||
| 16 | Opportunity, Department of Labor, Department of | ||||||
| 17 | Corrections, and other appropriate agencies shall take | ||||||
| 18 | appropriate remedial actions, including race-conscious | ||||||
| 19 | remedial actions as consistent with State and federal | ||||||
| 20 | law, to effectively remedy this discrimination. Such | ||||||
| 21 | remedies may include modification of the equity | ||||||
| 22 | accountability system as described in subsection | ||||||
| 23 | (c-10). | ||||||
| 24 | (c-20) Program data collection. | ||||||
| 25 | (1) Purpose. Data collection, data analysis, and | ||||||
| 26 | reporting are critical to ensure that the benefits of the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | clean energy economy provided to Illinois residents and | ||||||
| 2 | businesses are equitably distributed across the State. The | ||||||
| 3 | Agency shall collect data from program applicants in order | ||||||
| 4 | to track and improve equitable distribution of benefits | ||||||
| 5 | across Illinois communities for all procurements the | ||||||
| 6 | Agency conducts. The Agency shall use this data to, among | ||||||
| 7 | other things, measure any potential impact of racial | ||||||
| 8 | discrimination on the distribution of benefits and provide | ||||||
| 9 | information necessary to correct any discrimination | ||||||
| 10 | through methods consistent with State and federal law. | ||||||
| 11 | (2) Agency collection of program data. The Agency | ||||||
| 12 | shall collect demographic and geographic data for each | ||||||
| 13 | entity awarded contracts under any Agency-administered | ||||||
| 14 | program. | ||||||
| 15 | (3) Required information to be collected. The Agency | ||||||
| 16 | shall collect the following information from applicants | ||||||
| 17 | and program participants where applicable: | ||||||
| 18 | (A) demographic information, including racial or | ||||||
| 19 | ethnic identity for real persons employed, contracted, | ||||||
| 20 | or subcontracted through the program and owners of | ||||||
| 21 | businesses or entities that apply to receive renewable | ||||||
| 22 | energy credits from the Agency; | ||||||
| 23 | (B) geographic location of the residency of real | ||||||
| 24 | persons employed, contracted, or subcontracted through | ||||||
| 25 | the program and geographic location of the | ||||||
| 26 | headquarters of the business or entity that applies to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | receive renewable energy credits from the Agency; and | ||||||
| 2 | (C) any other information the Agency determines is | ||||||
| 3 | necessary for the purpose of achieving the purpose of | ||||||
| 4 | this subsection. | ||||||
| 5 | (4) Publication of collected information. The Agency | ||||||
| 6 | shall publish, at least annually, information on the | ||||||
| 7 | demographics of program participants on an aggregate | ||||||
| 8 | basis. | ||||||
| 9 | (5) Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to | ||||||
| 10 | limit the authority of the Agency, or other agency or | ||||||
| 11 | department of the State, to require or collect demographic | ||||||
| 12 | information from applicants of other State programs. | ||||||
| 13 | (c-25) Energy Workforce Equity Database. | ||||||
| 14 | (1) The Agency, in consultation with the Department of | ||||||
| 15 | Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall create an Energy | ||||||
| 16 | Workforce Equity Database, and may contract with a third | ||||||
| 17 | party to do so ("database program administrator"). If the | ||||||
| 18 | Department decides to contract with a third party, that | ||||||
| 19 | third party shall be exempt from the requirements of | ||||||
| 20 | Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The Energy | ||||||
| 21 | Workforce Equity Database shall be a searchable database | ||||||
| 22 | of suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors for clean energy | ||||||
| 23 | industries that is: | ||||||
| 24 | (A) publicly accessible; | ||||||
| 25 | (B) easy for people to find and use; | ||||||
| 26 | (C) organized by company specialty or field; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (D) region-specific; and | ||||||
| 2 | (E) populated with information including, but not | ||||||
| 3 | limited to, contacts for suppliers, vendors, or | ||||||
| 4 | subcontractors who are minority and women-owned | ||||||
| 5 | business enterprise certified or who participate or | ||||||
| 6 | have participated in any of the programs described in | ||||||
| 7 | this Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (2) The Agency shall create an easily accessible, | ||||||
| 9 | public facing online tool using the database information | ||||||
| 10 | that includes, at a minimum, the following: | ||||||
| 11 | (A) a map of environmental justice and equity | ||||||
| 12 | investment eligible communities; | ||||||
| 13 | (B) job postings and recruiting opportunities; | ||||||
| 14 | (C) a means by which recruiting clean energy | ||||||
| 15 | companies can find and interact with current or former | ||||||
| 16 | participants of clean energy workforce training | ||||||
| 17 | programs; | ||||||
| 18 | (D) information on workforce training service | ||||||
| 19 | providers and training opportunities available to | ||||||
| 20 | prospective workers; | ||||||
| 21 | (E) renewable energy company diversity reporting; | ||||||
| 22 | (F) a list of equity eligible contractors with | ||||||
| 23 | their contact information, types of work performed, | ||||||
| 24 | and locations worked in; | ||||||
| 25 | (G) reporting on outcomes of the programs | ||||||
| 26 | described in the workforce programs of the Energy | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Transition Act, including information such as, but not | ||||||
| 2 | limited to, retention rate, graduation rate, and | ||||||
| 3 | placement rates of trainees; and | ||||||
| 4 | (H) information about the Jobs and Environmental | ||||||
| 5 | Justice Grant Program, the Clean Energy Jobs and | ||||||
| 6 | Justice Fund, and other sources of capital. | ||||||
| 7 | (3) The Agency shall ensure the database is regularly | ||||||
| 8 | updated to ensure information is current and shall | ||||||
| 9 | coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic | ||||||
| 10 | Opportunity to ensure that it includes information on | ||||||
| 11 | individuals and entities that are or have participated in | ||||||
| 12 | the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy | ||||||
| 13 | Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean | ||||||
| 14 | Jobs Training Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor | ||||||
| 15 | Accelerator Program. | ||||||
| 16 | (c-30) Enforcement of minimum equity standards. All | ||||||
| 17 | entities seeking renewable energy credits must submit an | ||||||
| 18 | annual report to demonstrate compliance with each of the | ||||||
| 19 | equity commitments required under subsection (c-10). If the | ||||||
| 20 | Agency concludes the entity has not met or maintained its | ||||||
| 21 | minimum equity standards required under the applicable | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraphs under subsection (c-10), the Agency shall deny | ||||||
| 23 | the entity's ability to participate in procurement programs in | ||||||
| 24 | subsection (c), including by withholding approved vendor or | ||||||
| 25 | designee status. The Agency may require the entity to enter | ||||||
| 26 | into a corrective action plan. An entity that is not | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | recertified for failing to meet required equity actions in | ||||||
| 2 | subparagraph (c-10) may reapply once they have a corrective | ||||||
| 3 | action plan and achieve compliance with the minimum equity | ||||||
| 4 | standards. | ||||||
| 5 | (d) Clean coal portfolio standard. | ||||||
| 6 | (1) The procurement plans shall include electricity | ||||||
| 7 | generated using clean coal. Each utility shall enter into | ||||||
| 8 | one or more sourcing agreements with the initial clean | ||||||
| 9 | coal facility, as provided in paragraph (3) of this | ||||||
| 10 | subsection (d), covering electricity generated by the | ||||||
| 11 | initial clean coal facility representing at least 5% of | ||||||
| 12 | each utility's total supply to serve the load of eligible | ||||||
| 13 | retail customers in 2015 and each year thereafter, as | ||||||
| 14 | described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), subject | ||||||
| 15 | to the limits specified in paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| 16 | subsection (d). It is the goal of the State that by January | ||||||
| 17 | 1, 2025, 25% of the electricity used in the State shall be | ||||||
| 18 | generated by cost-effective clean coal facilities. For | ||||||
| 19 | purposes of this subsection (d), "cost-effective" means | ||||||
| 20 | that the expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements | ||||||
| 21 | do not cause the limit stated in paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| 22 | subsection (d) to be exceeded and do not exceed cost-based | ||||||
| 23 | benchmarks, which shall be developed to assess all | ||||||
| 24 | expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements covering | ||||||
| 25 | electricity generated by clean coal facilities, other than | ||||||
| 26 | the initial clean coal facility, by the procurement | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff, | ||||||
| 2 | Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be | ||||||
| 3 | subject to Commission review and approval. | ||||||
| 4 | A utility party to a sourcing agreement shall | ||||||
| 5 | immediately retire any emission credits that it receives | ||||||
| 6 | in connection with the electricity covered by such | ||||||
| 7 | agreement. | ||||||
| 8 | Utilities shall maintain adequate records documenting | ||||||
| 9 | the purchases under the sourcing agreement to comply with | ||||||
| 10 | this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting with the | ||||||
| 11 | load forecast that must be filed with the Agency by July 15 | ||||||
| 12 | of each year, in accordance with subsection (d) of Section | ||||||
| 13 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 14 | A utility shall be deemed to have complied with the | ||||||
| 15 | clean coal portfolio standard specified in this subsection | ||||||
| 16 | (d) if the utility enters into a sourcing agreement as | ||||||
| 17 | required by this subsection (d). | ||||||
| 18 | (2) For purposes of this subsection (d), the required | ||||||
| 19 | execution of sourcing agreements with the initial clean | ||||||
| 20 | coal facility for a particular year shall be measured as a | ||||||
| 21 | percentage of the actual amount of electricity | ||||||
| 22 | (megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric utility to | ||||||
| 23 | eligible retail customers in the planning year ending | ||||||
| 24 | immediately prior to the agreement's execution. For | ||||||
| 25 | purposes of this subsection (d), the amount paid per | ||||||
| 26 | kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For | ||||||
| 2 | purposes of this subsection (d), the total amount paid for | ||||||
| 3 | electric service includes without limitation amounts paid | ||||||
| 4 | for supply, transmission, distribution, surcharges and | ||||||
| 5 | add-on taxes. | ||||||
| 6 | Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection | ||||||
| 7 | (d), the total amount paid under sourcing agreements with | ||||||
| 8 | clean coal facilities pursuant to the procurement plan for | ||||||
| 9 | any given year shall be reduced by an amount necessary to | ||||||
| 10 | limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the | ||||||
| 11 | costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by | ||||||
| 12 | eligible retail customers in connection with electric | ||||||
| 13 | service to: | ||||||
| 14 | (A) in 2010, no more than 0.5% of the amount paid | ||||||
| 15 | per kilowatthour by those customers during the year | ||||||
| 16 | ending May 31, 2009; | ||||||
| 17 | (B) in 2011, the greater of an additional 0.5% of | ||||||
| 18 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 19 | during the year ending May 31, 2010 or 1% of the amount | ||||||
| 20 | paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the | ||||||
| 21 | year ending May 31, 2009; | ||||||
| 22 | (C) in 2012, the greater of an additional 0.5% of | ||||||
| 23 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 24 | during the year ending May 31, 2011 or 1.5% of the | ||||||
| 25 | amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during | ||||||
| 26 | the year ending May 31, 2009; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (D) in 2013, the greater of an additional 0.5% of | ||||||
| 2 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 3 | during the year ending May 31, 2012 or 2% of the amount | ||||||
| 4 | paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the | ||||||
| 5 | year ending May 31, 2009; and | ||||||
| 6 | (E) thereafter, the total amount paid under | ||||||
| 7 | sourcing agreements with clean coal facilities | ||||||
| 8 | pursuant to the procurement plan for any single year | ||||||
| 9 | shall be reduced by an amount necessary to limit the | ||||||
| 10 | estimated average net increase due to the cost of | ||||||
| 11 | these resources included in the amounts paid by | ||||||
| 12 | eligible retail customers in connection with electric | ||||||
| 13 | service to no more than the greater of (i) 2.015% of | ||||||
| 14 | the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers | ||||||
| 15 | during the year ending May 31, 2009 or (ii) the | ||||||
| 16 | incremental amount per kilowatthour paid for these | ||||||
| 17 | resources in 2013. These requirements may be altered | ||||||
| 18 | only as provided by statute. | ||||||
| 19 | No later than June 30, 2015, the Commission shall | ||||||
| 20 | review the limitation on the total amount paid under | ||||||
| 21 | sourcing agreements, if any, with clean coal facilities | ||||||
| 22 | pursuant to this subsection (d) and report to the General | ||||||
| 23 | Assembly its findings as to whether that limitation unduly | ||||||
| 24 | constrains the amount of electricity generated by | ||||||
| 25 | cost-effective clean coal facilities that is covered by | ||||||
| 26 | sourcing agreements. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (3) Initial clean coal facility. In order to promote | ||||||
| 2 | development of clean coal facilities in Illinois, each | ||||||
| 3 | electric utility subject to this Section shall execute a | ||||||
| 4 | sourcing agreement to source electricity from a proposed | ||||||
| 5 | clean coal facility in Illinois (the "initial clean coal | ||||||
| 6 | facility") that will have a nameplate capacity of at least | ||||||
| 7 | 500 MW when commercial operation commences, that has a | ||||||
| 8 | final Clean Air Act permit on June 1, 2009 (the effective | ||||||
| 9 | date of Public Act 95-1027), and that will meet the | ||||||
| 10 | definition of clean coal facility in Section 1-10 of this | ||||||
| 11 | Act when commercial operation commences. The sourcing | ||||||
| 12 | agreements with this initial clean coal facility shall be | ||||||
| 13 | subject to both approval of the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 14 | facility by the General Assembly and satisfaction of the | ||||||
| 15 | requirements of paragraph (4) of this subsection (d) and | ||||||
| 16 | shall be executed within 90 days after any such approval | ||||||
| 17 | by the General Assembly. The Agency and the Commission | ||||||
| 18 | shall have authority to inspect all books and records | ||||||
| 19 | associated with the initial clean coal facility during the | ||||||
| 20 | term of such a sourcing agreement. A utility's sourcing | ||||||
| 21 | agreement for electricity produced by the initial clean | ||||||
| 22 | coal facility shall include: | ||||||
| 23 | (A) a formula contractual price (the "contract | ||||||
| 24 | price") approved pursuant to paragraph (4) of this | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (d), which shall: | ||||||
| 26 | (i) be determined using a cost of service | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | methodology employing either a level or deferred | ||||||
| 2 | capital recovery component, based on a capital | ||||||
| 3 | structure consisting of 45% equity and 55% debt, | ||||||
| 4 | and a return on equity as may be approved by the | ||||||
| 5 | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which in any | ||||||
| 6 | case may not exceed the lower of 11.5% or the rate | ||||||
| 7 | of return approved by the General Assembly | ||||||
| 8 | pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection (d); | ||||||
| 9 | and | ||||||
| 10 | (ii) provide that all miscellaneous net | ||||||
| 11 | revenue, including but not limited to net revenue | ||||||
| 12 | from the sale of emission allowances, if any, | ||||||
| 13 | substitute natural gas, if any, grants or other | ||||||
| 14 | support provided by the State of Illinois or the | ||||||
| 15 | United States Government, firm transmission | ||||||
| 16 | rights, if any, by-products produced by the | ||||||
| 17 | facility, energy or capacity derived from the | ||||||
| 18 | facility and not covered by a sourcing agreement | ||||||
| 19 | pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) | ||||||
| 20 | or item (5) of subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of | ||||||
| 21 | the Public Utilities Act, whether generated from | ||||||
| 22 | the synthesis gas derived from coal, from SNG, or | ||||||
| 23 | from natural gas, shall be credited against the | ||||||
| 24 | revenue requirement for this initial clean coal | ||||||
| 25 | facility; | ||||||
| 26 | (B) power purchase provisions, which shall: | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (i) provide that the utility party to such | ||||||
| 2 | sourcing agreement shall pay the contract price | ||||||
| 3 | for electricity delivered under such sourcing | ||||||
| 4 | agreement; | ||||||
| 5 | (ii) require delivery of electricity to the | ||||||
| 6 | regional transmission organization market of the | ||||||
| 7 | utility that is party to such sourcing agreement; | ||||||
| 8 | (iii) require the utility party to such | ||||||
| 9 | sourcing agreement to buy from the initial clean | ||||||
| 10 | coal facility in each hour an amount of energy | ||||||
| 11 | equal to all clean coal energy made available from | ||||||
| 12 | the initial clean coal facility during such hour | ||||||
| 13 | times a fraction, the numerator of which is such | ||||||
| 14 | utility's retail market sales of electricity | ||||||
| 15 | (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State | ||||||
| 16 | during the prior calendar month and the | ||||||
| 17 | denominator of which is the total retail market | ||||||
| 18 | sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours | ||||||
| 19 | sold) in the State by utilities during such prior | ||||||
| 20 | month and the sales of electricity (expressed in | ||||||
| 21 | kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative | ||||||
| 22 | retail electric suppliers during such prior month | ||||||
| 23 | that are subject to the requirements of this | ||||||
| 24 | subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d) | ||||||
| 25 | of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act, | ||||||
| 26 | provided that the amount purchased by the utility | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | in any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of | ||||||
| 2 | this subsection (d); and | ||||||
| 3 | (iv) be considered pre-existing contracts in | ||||||
| 4 | such utility's procurement plans for eligible | ||||||
| 5 | retail customers; | ||||||
| 6 | (C) contract for differences provisions, which | ||||||
| 7 | shall: | ||||||
| 8 | (i) require the utility party to such sourcing | ||||||
| 9 | agreement to contract with the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 10 | facility in each hour with respect to an amount of | ||||||
| 11 | energy equal to all clean coal energy made | ||||||
| 12 | available from the initial clean coal facility | ||||||
| 13 | during such hour times a fraction, the numerator | ||||||
| 14 | of which is such utility's retail market sales of | ||||||
| 15 | electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in | ||||||
| 16 | the utility's service territory in the State | ||||||
| 17 | during the prior calendar month and the | ||||||
| 18 | denominator of which is the total retail market | ||||||
| 19 | sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours | ||||||
| 20 | sold) in the State by utilities during such prior | ||||||
| 21 | month and the sales of electricity (expressed in | ||||||
| 22 | kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative | ||||||
| 23 | retail electric suppliers during such prior month | ||||||
| 24 | that are subject to the requirements of this | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d) | ||||||
| 26 | of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | provided that the amount paid by the utility in | ||||||
| 2 | any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| 3 | subsection (d); | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) provide that the utility's payment | ||||||
| 5 | obligation in respect of the quantity of | ||||||
| 6 | electricity determined pursuant to the preceding | ||||||
| 7 | clause (i) shall be limited to an amount equal to | ||||||
| 8 | (1) the difference between the contract price | ||||||
| 9 | determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) of | ||||||
| 10 | paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) and the | ||||||
| 11 | day-ahead price for electricity delivered to the | ||||||
| 12 | regional transmission organization market of the | ||||||
| 13 | utility that is party to such sourcing agreement | ||||||
| 14 | (or any successor delivery point at which such | ||||||
| 15 | utility's supply obligations are financially | ||||||
| 16 | settled on an hourly basis) (the "reference | ||||||
| 17 | price") on the day preceding the day on which the | ||||||
| 18 | electricity is delivered to the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 19 | facility busbar, multiplied by (2) the quantity of | ||||||
| 20 | electricity determined pursuant to the preceding | ||||||
| 21 | clause (i); and | ||||||
| 22 | (iii) not require the utility to take physical | ||||||
| 23 | delivery of the electricity produced by the | ||||||
| 24 | facility; | ||||||
| 25 | (D) general provisions, which shall: | ||||||
| 26 | (i) specify a term of no more than 30 years, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | commencing on the commercial operation date of the | ||||||
| 2 | facility; | ||||||
| 3 | (ii) provide that utilities shall maintain | ||||||
| 4 | adequate records documenting purchases under the | ||||||
| 5 | sourcing agreements entered into to comply with | ||||||
| 6 | this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting | ||||||
| 7 | with the load forecast that must be filed with the | ||||||
| 8 | Agency by July 15 of each year, in accordance with | ||||||
| 9 | subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 10 | Utilities Act; | ||||||
| 11 | (iii) provide that all costs associated with | ||||||
| 12 | the initial clean coal facility will be | ||||||
| 13 | periodically reported to the Federal Energy | ||||||
| 14 | Regulatory Commission and to purchasers in | ||||||
| 15 | accordance with applicable laws governing | ||||||
| 16 | cost-based wholesale power contracts; | ||||||
| 17 | (iv) permit the Illinois Power Agency to | ||||||
| 18 | assume ownership of the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 19 | facility, without monetary consideration and | ||||||
| 20 | otherwise on reasonable terms acceptable to the | ||||||
| 21 | Agency, if the Agency so requests no less than 3 | ||||||
| 22 | years prior to the end of the stated contract | ||||||
| 23 | term; | ||||||
| 24 | (v) require the owner of the initial clean | ||||||
| 25 | coal facility to provide documentation to the | ||||||
| 26 | Commission each year, starting in the facility's | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | first year of commercial operation, accurately | ||||||
| 2 | reporting the quantity of carbon emissions from | ||||||
| 3 | the facility that have been captured and | ||||||
| 4 | sequestered and report any quantities of carbon | ||||||
| 5 | released from the site or sites at which carbon | ||||||
| 6 | emissions were sequestered in prior years, based | ||||||
| 7 | on continuous monitoring of such sites. If, in any | ||||||
| 8 | year after the first year of commercial operation, | ||||||
| 9 | the owner of the facility fails to demonstrate | ||||||
| 10 | that the initial clean coal facility captured and | ||||||
| 11 | sequestered at least 50% of the total carbon | ||||||
| 12 | emissions that the facility would otherwise emit | ||||||
| 13 | or that sequestration of emissions from prior | ||||||
| 14 | years has failed, resulting in the release of | ||||||
| 15 | carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the owner of | ||||||
| 16 | the facility must offset excess emissions. Any | ||||||
| 17 | such carbon offsets must be permanent, additional, | ||||||
| 18 | verifiable, real, located within the State of | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois, and legally and practicably enforceable. | ||||||
| 20 | The cost of such offsets for the facility that are | ||||||
| 21 | not recoverable shall not exceed $15 million in | ||||||
| 22 | any given year. No costs of any such purchases of | ||||||
| 23 | carbon offsets may be recovered from a utility or | ||||||
| 24 | its customers. All carbon offsets purchased for | ||||||
| 25 | this purpose and any carbon emission credits | ||||||
| 26 | associated with sequestration of carbon from the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | facility must be permanently retired. The initial | ||||||
| 2 | clean coal facility shall not forfeit its | ||||||
| 3 | designation as a clean coal facility if the | ||||||
| 4 | facility fails to fully comply with the applicable | ||||||
| 5 | carbon sequestration requirements in any given | ||||||
| 6 | year, provided the requisite offsets are | ||||||
| 7 | purchased. However, the Attorney General, on | ||||||
| 8 | behalf of the People of the State of Illinois, may | ||||||
| 9 | specifically enforce the facility's sequestration | ||||||
| 10 | requirement and the other terms of this contract | ||||||
| 11 | provision. Compliance with the sequestration | ||||||
| 12 | requirements and offset purchase requirements | ||||||
| 13 | specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) | ||||||
| 14 | shall be reviewed annually by an independent | ||||||
| 15 | expert retained by the owner of the initial clean | ||||||
| 16 | coal facility, with the advance written approval | ||||||
| 17 | of the Attorney General. The Commission may, in | ||||||
| 18 | the course of the review specified in item (vii), | ||||||
| 19 | reduce the allowable return on equity for the | ||||||
| 20 | facility if the facility willfully fails to comply | ||||||
| 21 | with the carbon capture and sequestration | ||||||
| 22 | requirements set forth in this item (v); | ||||||
| 23 | (vi) include limits on, and accordingly | ||||||
| 24 | provide for modification of, the amount the | ||||||
| 25 | utility is required to source under the sourcing | ||||||
| 26 | agreement consistent with paragraph (2) of this | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subsection (d); | ||||||
| 2 | (vii) require Commission review: (1) to | ||||||
| 3 | determine the justness, reasonableness, and | ||||||
| 4 | prudence of the inputs to the formula referenced | ||||||
| 5 | in subparagraphs (A)(i) through (A)(iii) of | ||||||
| 6 | paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), prior to an | ||||||
| 7 | adjustment in those inputs including, without | ||||||
| 8 | limitation, the capital structure and return on | ||||||
| 9 | equity, fuel costs, and other operations and | ||||||
| 10 | maintenance costs and (2) to approve the costs to | ||||||
| 11 | be passed through to customers under the sourcing | ||||||
| 12 | agreement by which the utility satisfies its | ||||||
| 13 | statutory obligations. Commission review shall | ||||||
| 14 | occur no less than every 3 years, regardless of | ||||||
| 15 | whether any adjustments have been proposed, and | ||||||
| 16 | shall be completed within 9 months; | ||||||
| 17 | (viii) limit the utility's obligation to such | ||||||
| 18 | amount as the utility is allowed to recover | ||||||
| 19 | through tariffs filed with the Commission, | ||||||
| 20 | provided that neither the clean coal facility nor | ||||||
| 21 | the utility waives any right to assert federal | ||||||
| 22 | pre-emption or any other argument in response to a | ||||||
| 23 | purported disallowance of recovery costs; | ||||||
| 24 | (ix) limit the utility's or alternative retail | ||||||
| 25 | electric supplier's obligation to incur any | ||||||
| 26 | liability until such time as the facility is in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | commercial operation and generating power and | ||||||
| 2 | energy and such power and energy is being | ||||||
| 3 | delivered to the facility busbar; | ||||||
| 4 | (x) provide that the owner or owners of the | ||||||
| 5 | initial clean coal facility, which is the | ||||||
| 6 | counterparty to such sourcing agreement, shall | ||||||
| 7 | have the right from time to time to elect whether | ||||||
| 8 | the obligations of the utility party thereto shall | ||||||
| 9 | be governed by the power purchase provisions or | ||||||
| 10 | the contract for differences provisions; | ||||||
| 11 | (xi) append documentation showing that the | ||||||
| 12 | formula rate and contract, insofar as they relate | ||||||
| 13 | to the power purchase provisions, have been | ||||||
| 14 | approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory | ||||||
| 15 | Commission pursuant to Section 205 of the Federal | ||||||
| 16 | Power Act; | ||||||
| 17 | (xii) provide that any changes to the terms of | ||||||
| 18 | the contract, insofar as such changes relate to | ||||||
| 19 | the power purchase provisions, are subject to | ||||||
| 20 | review under the public interest standard applied | ||||||
| 21 | by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | ||||||
| 22 | pursuant to Sections 205 and 206 of the Federal | ||||||
| 23 | Power Act; and | ||||||
| 24 | (xiii) conform with customary lender | ||||||
| 25 | requirements in power purchase agreements used as | ||||||
| 26 | the basis for financing non-utility generators. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (4) Effective date of sourcing agreements with the | ||||||
| 2 | initial clean coal facility. Any proposed sourcing | ||||||
| 3 | agreement with the initial clean coal facility shall not | ||||||
| 4 | become effective unless the following reports are prepared | ||||||
| 5 | and submitted and authorizations and approvals obtained: | ||||||
| 6 | (i) Facility cost report. The owner of the initial | ||||||
| 7 | clean coal facility shall submit to the Commission, | ||||||
| 8 | the Agency, and the General Assembly a front-end | ||||||
| 9 | engineering and design study, a facility cost report, | ||||||
| 10 | method of financing (including but not limited to | ||||||
| 11 | structure and associated costs), and an operating and | ||||||
| 12 | maintenance cost quote for the facility (collectively | ||||||
| 13 | "facility cost report"), which shall be prepared in | ||||||
| 14 | accordance with the requirements of this paragraph (4) | ||||||
| 15 | of subsection (d) of this Section, and shall provide | ||||||
| 16 | the Commission and the Agency access to the work | ||||||
| 17 | papers, relied upon documents, and any other backup | ||||||
| 18 | documentation related to the facility cost report. | ||||||
| 19 | (ii) Commission report. Within 6 months following | ||||||
| 20 | receipt of the facility cost report, the Commission, | ||||||
| 21 | in consultation with the Agency, shall submit a report | ||||||
| 22 | to the General Assembly setting forth its analysis of | ||||||
| 23 | the facility cost report. Such report shall include, | ||||||
| 24 | but not be limited to, a comparison of the costs | ||||||
| 25 | associated with electricity generated by the initial | ||||||
| 26 | clean coal facility to the costs associated with | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | electricity generated by other types of generation | ||||||
| 2 | facilities, an analysis of the rate impacts on | ||||||
| 3 | residential and small business customers over the life | ||||||
| 4 | of the sourcing agreements, and an analysis of the | ||||||
| 5 | likelihood that the initial clean coal facility will | ||||||
| 6 | commence commercial operation by and be delivering | ||||||
| 7 | power to the facility's busbar by 2016. To assist in | ||||||
| 8 | the preparation of its report, the Commission, in | ||||||
| 9 | consultation with the Agency, may hire one or more | ||||||
| 10 | experts or consultants, the costs of which shall be | ||||||
| 11 | paid for by the owner of the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 12 | facility. The Commission and Agency may begin the | ||||||
| 13 | process of selecting such experts or consultants prior | ||||||
| 14 | to receipt of the facility cost report. | ||||||
| 15 | (iii) General Assembly approval. The proposed | ||||||
| 16 | sourcing agreements shall not take effect unless, | ||||||
| 17 | based on the facility cost report and the Commission's | ||||||
| 18 | report, the General Assembly enacts authorizing | ||||||
| 19 | legislation approving (A) the projected price, stated | ||||||
| 20 | in cents per kilowatthour, to be charged for | ||||||
| 21 | electricity generated by the initial clean coal | ||||||
| 22 | facility, (B) the projected impact on residential and | ||||||
| 23 | small business customers' bills over the life of the | ||||||
| 24 | sourcing agreements, and (C) the maximum allowable | ||||||
| 25 | return on equity for the project; and | ||||||
| 26 | (iv) Commission review. If the General Assembly | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | enacts authorizing legislation pursuant to | ||||||
| 2 | subparagraph (iii) approving a sourcing agreement, the | ||||||
| 3 | Commission shall, within 90 days of such enactment, | ||||||
| 4 | complete a review of such sourcing agreement. During | ||||||
| 5 | such time period, the Commission shall implement any | ||||||
| 6 | directive of the General Assembly, resolve any | ||||||
| 7 | disputes between the parties to the sourcing agreement | ||||||
| 8 | concerning the terms of such agreement, approve the | ||||||
| 9 | form of such agreement, and issue an order finding | ||||||
| 10 | that the sourcing agreement is prudent and reasonable. | ||||||
| 11 | The facility cost report shall be prepared as follows: | ||||||
| 12 | (A) The facility cost report shall be prepared by | ||||||
| 13 | duly licensed engineering and construction firms | ||||||
| 14 | detailing the estimated capital costs payable to one | ||||||
| 15 | or more contractors or suppliers for the engineering, | ||||||
| 16 | procurement and construction of the components | ||||||
| 17 | comprising the initial clean coal facility and the | ||||||
| 18 | estimated costs of operation and maintenance of the | ||||||
| 19 | facility. The facility cost report shall include: | ||||||
| 20 | (i) an estimate of the capital cost of the | ||||||
| 21 | core plant based on one or more front end | ||||||
| 22 | engineering and design studies for the | ||||||
| 23 | gasification island and related facilities. The | ||||||
| 24 | core plant shall include all civil, structural, | ||||||
| 25 | mechanical, electrical, control, and safety | ||||||
| 26 | systems. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (ii) an estimate of the capital cost of the | ||||||
| 2 | balance of the plant, including any capital costs | ||||||
| 3 | associated with sequestration of carbon dioxide | ||||||
| 4 | emissions and all interconnects and interfaces | ||||||
| 5 | required to operate the facility, such as | ||||||
| 6 | transmission of electricity, construction or | ||||||
| 7 | backfeed power supply, pipelines to transport | ||||||
| 8 | substitute natural gas or carbon dioxide, potable | ||||||
| 9 | water supply, natural gas supply, water supply, | ||||||
| 10 | water discharge, landfill, access roads, and coal | ||||||
| 11 | delivery. | ||||||
| 12 | The quoted construction costs shall be expressed | ||||||
| 13 | in nominal dollars as of the date that the quote is | ||||||
| 14 | prepared and shall include capitalized financing costs | ||||||
| 15 | during construction, taxes, insurance, and other | ||||||
| 16 | owner's costs, and an assumed escalation in materials | ||||||
| 17 | and labor beyond the date as of which the construction | ||||||
| 18 | cost quote is expressed. | ||||||
| 19 | (B) The front end engineering and design study for | ||||||
| 20 | the gasification island and the cost study for the | ||||||
| 21 | balance of plant shall include sufficient design work | ||||||
| 22 | to permit quantification of major categories of | ||||||
| 23 | materials, commodities and labor hours, and receipt of | ||||||
| 24 | quotes from vendors of major equipment required to | ||||||
| 25 | construct and operate the clean coal facility. | ||||||
| 26 | (C) The facility cost report shall also include an | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | operating and maintenance cost quote that will provide | ||||||
| 2 | the estimated cost of delivered fuel, personnel, | ||||||
| 3 | maintenance contracts, chemicals, catalysts, | ||||||
| 4 | consumables, spares, and other fixed and variable | ||||||
| 5 | operations and maintenance costs. The delivered fuel | ||||||
| 6 | cost estimate will be provided by a recognized third | ||||||
| 7 | party expert or experts in the fuel and transportation | ||||||
| 8 | industries. The balance of the operating and | ||||||
| 9 | maintenance cost quote, excluding delivered fuel | ||||||
| 10 | costs, will be developed based on the inputs provided | ||||||
| 11 | by duly licensed engineering and construction firms | ||||||
| 12 | performing the construction cost quote, potential | ||||||
| 13 | vendors under long-term service agreements and plant | ||||||
| 14 | operating agreements, or recognized third party plant | ||||||
| 15 | operator or operators. | ||||||
| 16 | The operating and maintenance cost quote | ||||||
| 17 | (including the cost of the front end engineering and | ||||||
| 18 | design study) shall be expressed in nominal dollars as | ||||||
| 19 | of the date that the quote is prepared and shall | ||||||
| 20 | include taxes, insurance, and other owner's costs, and | ||||||
| 21 | an assumed escalation in materials and labor beyond | ||||||
| 22 | the date as of which the operating and maintenance | ||||||
| 23 | cost quote is expressed. | ||||||
| 24 | (D) The facility cost report shall also include an | ||||||
| 25 | analysis of the initial clean coal facility's ability | ||||||
| 26 | to deliver power and energy into the applicable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | regional transmission organization markets and an | ||||||
| 2 | analysis of the expected capacity factor for the | ||||||
| 3 | initial clean coal facility. | ||||||
| 4 | (E) Amounts paid to third parties unrelated to the | ||||||
| 5 | owner or owners of the initial clean coal facility to | ||||||
| 6 | prepare the core plant construction cost quote, | ||||||
| 7 | including the front end engineering and design study, | ||||||
| 8 | and the operating and maintenance cost quote will be | ||||||
| 9 | reimbursed through Coal Development Bonds. | ||||||
| 10 | (5) Re-powering and retrofitting coal-fired power | ||||||
| 11 | plants previously owned by Illinois utilities to qualify | ||||||
| 12 | as clean coal facilities. During the 2009 procurement | ||||||
| 13 | planning process and thereafter, the Agency and the | ||||||
| 14 | Commission shall consider sourcing agreements covering | ||||||
| 15 | electricity generated by power plants that were previously | ||||||
| 16 | owned by Illinois utilities and that have been or will be | ||||||
| 17 | converted into clean coal facilities, as defined by | ||||||
| 18 | Section 1-10 of this Act. Pursuant to such procurement | ||||||
| 19 | planning process, the owners of such facilities may | ||||||
| 20 | propose to the Agency sourcing agreements with utilities | ||||||
| 21 | and alternative retail electric suppliers required to | ||||||
| 22 | comply with subsection (d) of this Section and item (5) of | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 24 | Act, covering electricity generated by such facilities. In | ||||||
| 25 | the case of sourcing agreements that are power purchase | ||||||
| 26 | agreements, the contract price for electricity sales shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | be established on a cost of service basis. In the case of | ||||||
| 2 | sourcing agreements that are contracts for differences, | ||||||
| 3 | the contract price from which the reference price is | ||||||
| 4 | subtracted shall be established on a cost of service | ||||||
| 5 | basis. The Agency and the Commission may approve any such | ||||||
| 6 | utility sourcing agreements that do not exceed cost-based | ||||||
| 7 | benchmarks developed by the procurement administrator, in | ||||||
| 8 | consultation with the Commission staff, Agency staff and | ||||||
| 9 | the procurement monitor, subject to Commission review and | ||||||
| 10 | approval. The Commission shall have authority to inspect | ||||||
| 11 | all books and records associated with these clean coal | ||||||
| 12 | facilities during the term of any such contract. | ||||||
| 13 | (6) Costs incurred under this subsection (d) or | ||||||
| 14 | pursuant to a contract entered into under this subsection | ||||||
| 15 | (d) shall be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in | ||||||
| 16 | amount and the electric utility shall be entitled to full | ||||||
| 17 | cost recovery pursuant to the tariffs filed with the | ||||||
| 18 | Commission. | ||||||
| 19 | (d-5) Zero emission standard. | ||||||
| 20 | (1) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on | ||||||
| 21 | June 1, 2017, the Agency shall, for electric utilities | ||||||
| 22 | that serve at least 100,000 retail customers in this | ||||||
| 23 | State, procure contracts with zero emission facilities | ||||||
| 24 | that are reasonably capable of generating cost-effective | ||||||
| 25 | zero emission credits in an amount approximately equal to | ||||||
| 26 | 16% of the actual amount of electricity delivered by each | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | electric utility to retail customers in the State during | ||||||
| 2 | calendar year 2014. For an electric utility serving fewer | ||||||
| 3 | than 100,000 retail customers in this State that | ||||||
| 4 | requested, under Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 5 | Act, that the Agency procure power and energy for all or a | ||||||
| 6 | portion of the utility's Illinois load for the delivery | ||||||
| 7 | year commencing June 1, 2016, the Agency shall procure | ||||||
| 8 | contracts with zero emission facilities that are | ||||||
| 9 | reasonably capable of generating cost-effective zero | ||||||
| 10 | emission credits in an amount approximately equal to 16% | ||||||
| 11 | of the portion of power and energy to be procured by the | ||||||
| 12 | Agency for the utility. The duration of the contracts | ||||||
| 13 | procured under this subsection (d-5) shall be for a term | ||||||
| 14 | of 10 years ending May 31, 2027. The quantity of zero | ||||||
| 15 | emission credits to be procured under the contracts shall | ||||||
| 16 | be all of the zero emission credits generated by the zero | ||||||
| 17 | emission facility in each delivery year; however, if the | ||||||
| 18 | zero emission facility is owned by more than one entity, | ||||||
| 19 | then the quantity of zero emission credits to be procured | ||||||
| 20 | under the contracts shall be the amount of zero emission | ||||||
| 21 | credits that are generated from the portion of the zero | ||||||
| 22 | emission facility that is owned by the winning supplier. | ||||||
| 23 | The 16% value identified in this paragraph (1) is the | ||||||
| 24 | average of the percentage targets in subparagraph (B) of | ||||||
| 25 | paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section for the 5 | ||||||
| 26 | delivery years beginning June 1, 2017. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | The procurement process shall be subject to the | ||||||
| 2 | following provisions: | ||||||
| 3 | (A) Those zero emission facilities that intend to | ||||||
| 4 | participate in the procurement shall submit to the | ||||||
| 5 | Agency the following eligibility information for each | ||||||
| 6 | zero emission facility on or before the date | ||||||
| 7 | established by the Agency: | ||||||
| 8 | (i) the in-service date and remaining useful | ||||||
| 9 | life of the zero emission facility; | ||||||
| 10 | (ii) the amount of power generated annually | ||||||
| 11 | for each of the years 2005 through 2015, and the | ||||||
| 12 | projected zero emission credits to be generated | ||||||
| 13 | over the remaining useful life of the zero | ||||||
| 14 | emission facility, which shall be used to | ||||||
| 15 | determine the capability of each facility; | ||||||
| 16 | (iii) the annual zero emission facility cost | ||||||
| 17 | projections, expressed on a per megawatthour | ||||||
| 18 | basis, over the next 6 delivery years, which shall | ||||||
| 19 | include the following: operation and maintenance | ||||||
| 20 | expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which | ||||||
| 21 | shall be allocated using the methodology developed | ||||||
| 22 | by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations; | ||||||
| 23 | fuel expenditures; non-fuel capital expenditures; | ||||||
| 24 | spent fuel expenditures; a return on working | ||||||
| 25 | capital; the cost of operational and market risks | ||||||
| 26 | that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | any other costs necessary for continued | ||||||
| 2 | operations, provided that "necessary" means, for | ||||||
| 3 | purposes of this item (iii), that the costs could | ||||||
| 4 | reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations | ||||||
| 5 | of the zero emission facility; and | ||||||
| 6 | (iv) a commitment to continue operating, for | ||||||
| 7 | the duration of the contract or contracts executed | ||||||
| 8 | under the procurement held under this subsection | ||||||
| 9 | (d-5), the zero emission facility that produces | ||||||
| 10 | the zero emission credits to be procured in the | ||||||
| 11 | procurement. | ||||||
| 12 | The information described in item (iii) of this | ||||||
| 13 | subparagraph (A) may be submitted on a confidential | ||||||
| 14 | basis and shall be treated and maintained by the | ||||||
| 15 | Agency, the procurement administrator, and the | ||||||
| 16 | Commission as confidential and proprietary and exempt | ||||||
| 17 | from disclosure under subparagraphs (a) and (g) of | ||||||
| 18 | paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of | ||||||
| 19 | Information Act. The Office of Attorney General shall | ||||||
| 20 | have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of, | ||||||
| 21 | such information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the | ||||||
| 22 | Attorney General Act. | ||||||
| 23 | (B) The price for each zero emission credit | ||||||
| 24 | procured under this subsection (d-5) for each delivery | ||||||
| 25 | year shall be in an amount that equals the Social Cost | ||||||
| 26 | of Carbon, expressed on a price per megawatthour | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | basis. However, to ensure that the procurement remains | ||||||
| 2 | affordable to retail customers in this State if | ||||||
| 3 | electricity prices increase, the price in an | ||||||
| 4 | applicable delivery year shall be reduced below the | ||||||
| 5 | Social Cost of Carbon by the amount ("Price | ||||||
| 6 | Adjustment") by which the market price index for the | ||||||
| 7 | applicable delivery year exceeds the baseline market | ||||||
| 8 | price index for the consecutive 12-month period ending | ||||||
| 9 | May 31, 2016. If the Price Adjustment is greater than | ||||||
| 10 | or equal to the Social Cost of Carbon in an applicable | ||||||
| 11 | delivery year, then no payments shall be due in that | ||||||
| 12 | delivery year. The components of this calculation are | ||||||
| 13 | defined as follows: | ||||||
| 14 | (i) Social Cost of Carbon: The Social Cost of | ||||||
| 15 | Carbon is $16.50 per megawatthour, which is based | ||||||
| 16 | on the U.S. Interagency Working Group on Social | ||||||
| 17 | Cost of Carbon's price in the August 2016 | ||||||
| 18 | Technical Update using a 3% discount rate, | ||||||
| 19 | adjusted for inflation for each year of the | ||||||
| 20 | program. Beginning with the delivery year | ||||||
| 21 | commencing June 1, 2023, the price per | ||||||
| 22 | megawatthour shall increase by $1 per | ||||||
| 23 | megawatthour, and continue to increase by an | ||||||
| 24 | additional $1 per megawatthour each delivery year | ||||||
| 25 | thereafter. | ||||||
| 26 | (ii) Baseline market price index: The baseline | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | market price index for the consecutive 12-month | ||||||
| 2 | period ending May 31, 2016 is $31.40 per | ||||||
| 3 | megawatthour, which is based on the sum of (aa) | ||||||
| 4 | the average day-ahead energy price across all | ||||||
| 5 | hours of such 12-month period at the PJM | ||||||
| 6 | Interconnection LLC Northern Illinois Hub, (bb) | ||||||
| 7 | 50% multiplied by the Base Residual Auction, or | ||||||
| 8 | its successor, capacity price for the rest of the | ||||||
| 9 | RTO zone group determined by PJM Interconnection | ||||||
| 10 | LLC, divided by 24 hours per day, and (cc) 50% | ||||||
| 11 | multiplied by the Planning Resource Auction, or | ||||||
| 12 | its successor, capacity price for Zone 4 | ||||||
| 13 | determined by the Midcontinent Independent System | ||||||
| 14 | Operator, Inc., divided by 24 hours per day. | ||||||
| 15 | (iii) Market price index: The market price | ||||||
| 16 | index for a delivery year shall be the sum of | ||||||
| 17 | projected energy prices and projected capacity | ||||||
| 18 | prices determined as follows: | ||||||
| 19 | (aa) Projected energy prices: the | ||||||
| 20 | projected energy prices for the applicable | ||||||
| 21 | delivery year shall be calculated once for the | ||||||
| 22 | year using the forward market price for the | ||||||
| 23 | PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois | ||||||
| 24 | Hub. The forward market price shall be | ||||||
| 25 | calculated as follows: the energy forward | ||||||
| 26 | prices for each month of the applicable | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | delivery year averaged for each trade date | ||||||
| 2 | during the calendar year immediately preceding | ||||||
| 3 | that delivery year to produce a single energy | ||||||
| 4 | forward price for the delivery year. The | ||||||
| 5 | forward market price calculation shall use | ||||||
| 6 | data published by the Intercontinental | ||||||
| 7 | Exchange, or its successor. | ||||||
| 8 | (bb) Projected capacity prices: | ||||||
| 9 | (I) For the delivery years commencing | ||||||
| 10 | June 1, 2017, June 1, 2018, and June 1, | ||||||
| 11 | 2019, the projected capacity price shall | ||||||
| 12 | be equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied | ||||||
| 13 | by the Base Residual Auction, or its | ||||||
| 14 | successor, price for the rest of the RTO | ||||||
| 15 | zone group as determined by PJM | ||||||
| 16 | Interconnection LLC, divided by 24 hours | ||||||
| 17 | per day and, (2) 50% multiplied by the | ||||||
| 18 | resource auction price determined in the | ||||||
| 19 | resource auction administered by the | ||||||
| 20 | Midcontinent Independent System Operator, | ||||||
| 21 | Inc., in which the largest percentage of | ||||||
| 22 | load cleared for Local Resource Zone 4, | ||||||
| 23 | divided by 24 hours per day, and where | ||||||
| 24 | such price is determined by the | ||||||
| 25 | Midcontinent Independent System Operator, | ||||||
| 26 | Inc. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (II) For the delivery year commencing | ||||||
| 2 | June 1, 2020, and each year thereafter, | ||||||
| 3 | the projected capacity price shall be | ||||||
| 4 | equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied by | ||||||
| 5 | the Base Residual Auction, or its | ||||||
| 6 | successor, price for the ComEd zone as | ||||||
| 7 | determined by PJM Interconnection LLC, | ||||||
| 8 | divided by 24 hours per day, and (2) 50% | ||||||
| 9 | multiplied by the resource auction price | ||||||
| 10 | determined in the resource auction | ||||||
| 11 | administered by the Midcontinent | ||||||
| 12 | Independent System Operator, Inc., in | ||||||
| 13 | which the largest percentage of load | ||||||
| 14 | cleared for Local Resource Zone 4, divided | ||||||
| 15 | by 24 hours per day, and where such price | ||||||
| 16 | is determined by the Midcontinent | ||||||
| 17 | Independent System Operator, Inc. | ||||||
| 18 | For purposes of this subsection (d-5): | ||||||
| 19 | "Rest of the RTO" and "ComEd Zone" shall have | ||||||
| 20 | the meaning ascribed to them by PJM | ||||||
| 21 | Interconnection, LLC. | ||||||
| 22 | "RTO" means regional transmission | ||||||
| 23 | organization. | ||||||
| 24 | (C) No later than 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 25 | effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall | ||||||
| 26 | publish its proposed zero emission standard | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procurement plan. The plan shall be consistent with | ||||||
| 2 | the provisions of this paragraph (1) and shall provide | ||||||
| 3 | that winning bids shall be selected based on public | ||||||
| 4 | interest criteria that include, but are not limited | ||||||
| 5 | to, minimizing carbon dioxide emissions that result | ||||||
| 6 | from electricity consumed in Illinois and minimizing | ||||||
| 7 | sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter | ||||||
| 8 | emissions that adversely affect the citizens of this | ||||||
| 9 | State. In particular, the selection of winning bids | ||||||
| 10 | shall take into account the incremental environmental | ||||||
| 11 | benefits resulting from the procurement, such as any | ||||||
| 12 | existing environmental benefits that are preserved by | ||||||
| 13 | the procurements held under Public Act 99-906 and | ||||||
| 14 | would cease to exist if the procurements were not | ||||||
| 15 | held, including the preservation of zero emission | ||||||
| 16 | facilities. The plan shall also describe in detail how | ||||||
| 17 | each public interest factor shall be considered and | ||||||
| 18 | weighted in the bid selection process to ensure that | ||||||
| 19 | the public interest criteria are applied to the | ||||||
| 20 | procurement and given full effect. | ||||||
| 21 | For purposes of developing the plan, the Agency | ||||||
| 22 | shall consider any reports issued by a State agency, | ||||||
| 23 | board, or commission under House Resolution 1146 of | ||||||
| 24 | the 98th General Assembly and paragraph (4) of | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (d) of this Section, as well as publicly | ||||||
| 26 | available analyses and studies performed by or for | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | regional transmission organizations that serve the | ||||||
| 2 | State and their independent market monitors. | ||||||
| 3 | Upon publishing of the zero emission standard | ||||||
| 4 | procurement plan, copies of the plan shall be posted | ||||||
| 5 | and made publicly available on the Agency's website. | ||||||
| 6 | All interested parties shall have 10 days following | ||||||
| 7 | the date of posting to provide comment to the Agency on | ||||||
| 8 | the plan. All comments shall be posted to the Agency's | ||||||
| 9 | website. Following the end of the comment period, but | ||||||
| 10 | no more than 60 days later than June 1, 2017 (the | ||||||
| 11 | effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall | ||||||
| 12 | revise the plan as necessary based on the comments | ||||||
| 13 | received and file its zero emission standard | ||||||
| 14 | procurement plan with the Commission. | ||||||
| 15 | If the Commission determines that the plan will | ||||||
| 16 | result in the procurement of cost-effective zero | ||||||
| 17 | emission credits, then the Commission shall, after | ||||||
| 18 | notice and hearing, but no later than 45 days after the | ||||||
| 19 | Agency filed the plan, approve the plan or approve | ||||||
| 20 | with modification. For purposes of this subsection | ||||||
| 21 | (d-5), "cost effective" means the projected costs of | ||||||
| 22 | procuring zero emission credits from zero emission | ||||||
| 23 | facilities do not cause the limit stated in paragraph | ||||||
| 24 | (2) of this subsection to be exceeded. | ||||||
| 25 | (C-5) As part of the Commission's review and | ||||||
| 26 | acceptance or rejection of the procurement results, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the Commission shall, in its public notice of | ||||||
| 2 | successful bidders: | ||||||
| 3 | (i) identify how the winning bids satisfy the | ||||||
| 4 | public interest criteria described in subparagraph | ||||||
| 5 | (C) of this paragraph (1) of minimizing carbon | ||||||
| 6 | dioxide emissions that result from electricity | ||||||
| 7 | consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur | ||||||
| 8 | dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter | ||||||
| 9 | emissions that adversely affect the citizens of | ||||||
| 10 | this State; | ||||||
| 11 | (ii) specifically address how the selection of | ||||||
| 12 | winning bids takes into account the incremental | ||||||
| 13 | environmental benefits resulting from the | ||||||
| 14 | procurement, including any existing environmental | ||||||
| 15 | benefits that are preserved by the procurements | ||||||
| 16 | held under Public Act 99-906 and would have ceased | ||||||
| 17 | to exist if the procurements had not been held, | ||||||
| 18 | such as the preservation of zero emission | ||||||
| 19 | facilities; | ||||||
| 20 | (iii) quantify the environmental benefit of | ||||||
| 21 | preserving the resources identified in item (ii) | ||||||
| 22 | of this subparagraph (C-5), including the | ||||||
| 23 | following: | ||||||
| 24 | (aa) the value of avoided greenhouse gas | ||||||
| 25 | emissions measured as the product of the zero | ||||||
| 26 | emission facilities' output over the contract | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | term multiplied by the U.S. Environmental | ||||||
| 2 | Protection Agency eGrid subregion carbon | ||||||
| 3 | dioxide emission rate and the U.S. Interagency | ||||||
| 4 | Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon's price | ||||||
| 5 | in the August 2016 Technical Update using a 3% | ||||||
| 6 | discount rate, adjusted for inflation for each | ||||||
| 7 | delivery year; and | ||||||
| 8 | (bb) the costs of replacement with other | ||||||
| 9 | zero carbon dioxide resources, including wind | ||||||
| 10 | and photovoltaic, based upon the simple | ||||||
| 11 | average of the following: | ||||||
| 12 | (I) the price, or if there is more | ||||||
| 13 | than one price, the average of the prices, | ||||||
| 14 | paid for renewable energy credits from new | ||||||
| 15 | utility-scale wind projects in the | ||||||
| 16 | procurement events specified in item (i) | ||||||
| 17 | of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 18 | subsection (c) of this Section; and | ||||||
| 19 | (II) the price, or if there is more | ||||||
| 20 | than one price, the average of the prices, | ||||||
| 21 | paid for renewable energy credits from new | ||||||
| 22 | utility-scale solar projects and | ||||||
| 23 | brownfield site photovoltaic projects in | ||||||
| 24 | the procurement events specified in item | ||||||
| 25 | (ii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) | ||||||
| 26 | of subsection (c) of this Section and, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | after January 1, 2015, renewable energy | ||||||
| 2 | credits from photovoltaic distributed | ||||||
| 3 | generation projects in procurement events | ||||||
| 4 | held under subsection (c) of this Section. | ||||||
| 5 | Each utility shall enter into binding contractual | ||||||
| 6 | arrangements with the winning suppliers. | ||||||
| 7 | The procurement described in this subsection | ||||||
| 8 | (d-5), including, but not limited to, the execution of | ||||||
| 9 | all contracts procured, shall be completed no later | ||||||
| 10 | than May 10, 2017. Based on the effective date of | ||||||
| 11 | Public Act 99-906, the Agency and Commission may, as | ||||||
| 12 | appropriate, modify the various dates and timelines | ||||||
| 13 | under this subparagraph and subparagraphs (C) and (D) | ||||||
| 14 | of this paragraph (1). The procurement and plan | ||||||
| 15 | approval processes required by this subsection (d-5) | ||||||
| 16 | shall be conducted in conjunction with the procurement | ||||||
| 17 | and plan approval processes required by subsection (c) | ||||||
| 18 | of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 19 | Utilities Act, to the extent practicable. | ||||||
| 20 | Notwithstanding whether a procurement event is | ||||||
| 21 | conducted under Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 22 | Utilities Act, the Agency shall immediately initiate a | ||||||
| 23 | procurement process on June 1, 2017 (the effective | ||||||
| 24 | date of Public Act 99-906). | ||||||
| 25 | (D) Following the procurement event described in | ||||||
| 26 | this paragraph (1) and consistent with subparagraph | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (B) of this paragraph (1), the Agency shall calculate | ||||||
| 2 | the payments to be made under each contract for the | ||||||
| 3 | next delivery year based on the market price index for | ||||||
| 4 | that delivery year. The Agency shall publish the | ||||||
| 5 | payment calculations no later than May 25, 2017 and | ||||||
| 6 | every May 25 thereafter. | ||||||
| 7 | (E) Notwithstanding the requirements of this | ||||||
| 8 | subsection (d-5), the contracts executed under this | ||||||
| 9 | subsection (d-5) shall provide that the zero emission | ||||||
| 10 | facility may, as applicable, suspend or terminate | ||||||
| 11 | performance under the contracts in the following | ||||||
| 12 | instances: | ||||||
| 13 | (i) A zero emission facility shall be excused | ||||||
| 14 | from its performance under the contract for any | ||||||
| 15 | cause beyond the control of the resource, | ||||||
| 16 | including, but not restricted to, acts of God, | ||||||
| 17 | flood, drought, earthquake, storm, fire, | ||||||
| 18 | lightning, epidemic, war, riot, civil disturbance | ||||||
| 19 | or disobedience, labor dispute, labor or material | ||||||
| 20 | shortage, sabotage, acts of public enemy, | ||||||
| 21 | explosions, orders, regulations or restrictions | ||||||
| 22 | imposed by governmental, military, or lawfully | ||||||
| 23 | established civilian authorities, which, in any of | ||||||
| 24 | the foregoing cases, by exercise of commercially | ||||||
| 25 | reasonable efforts the zero emission facility | ||||||
| 26 | could not reasonably have been expected to avoid, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | and which, by the exercise of commercially | ||||||
| 2 | reasonable efforts, it has been unable to | ||||||
| 3 | overcome. In such event, the zero emission | ||||||
| 4 | facility shall be excused from performance for the | ||||||
| 5 | duration of the event, including, but not limited | ||||||
| 6 | to, delivery of zero emission credits, and no | ||||||
| 7 | payment shall be due to the zero emission facility | ||||||
| 8 | during the duration of the event. | ||||||
| 9 | (ii) A zero emission facility shall be | ||||||
| 10 | permitted to terminate the contract if legislation | ||||||
| 11 | is enacted into law by the General Assembly that | ||||||
| 12 | imposes or authorizes a new tax, special | ||||||
| 13 | assessment, or fee on the generation of | ||||||
| 14 | electricity, the ownership or leasehold of a | ||||||
| 15 | generating unit, or the privilege or occupation of | ||||||
| 16 | such generation, ownership, or leasehold of | ||||||
| 17 | generation units by a zero emission facility. | ||||||
| 18 | However, the provisions of this item (ii) do not | ||||||
| 19 | apply to any generally applicable tax, special | ||||||
| 20 | assessment or fee, or requirements imposed by | ||||||
| 21 | federal law. | ||||||
| 22 | (iii) A zero emission facility shall be | ||||||
| 23 | permitted to terminate the contract in the event | ||||||
| 24 | that the resource requires capital expenditures in | ||||||
| 25 | excess of $40,000,000 that were neither known nor | ||||||
| 26 | reasonably foreseeable at the time it executed the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | contract and that a prudent owner or operator of | ||||||
| 2 | such resource would not undertake. | ||||||
| 3 | (iv) A zero emission facility shall be | ||||||
| 4 | permitted to terminate the contract in the event | ||||||
| 5 | the Nuclear Regulatory Commission terminates the | ||||||
| 6 | resource's license. | ||||||
| 7 | (F) If the zero emission facility elects to | ||||||
| 8 | terminate a contract under subparagraph (E) of this | ||||||
| 9 | paragraph (1), then the Commission shall reopen the | ||||||
| 10 | docket in which the Commission approved the zero | ||||||
| 11 | emission standard procurement plan under subparagraph | ||||||
| 12 | (C) of this paragraph (1) and, after notice and | ||||||
| 13 | hearing, enter an order acknowledging the contract | ||||||
| 14 | termination election if such termination is consistent | ||||||
| 15 | with the provisions of this subsection (d-5). | ||||||
| 16 | (2) For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the amount | ||||||
| 17 | paid per kilowatthour means the total amount paid for | ||||||
| 18 | electric service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. | ||||||
| 19 | For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the total amount | ||||||
| 20 | paid for electric service includes, without limitation, | ||||||
| 21 | amounts paid for supply, transmission, distribution, | ||||||
| 22 | surcharges, and add-on taxes. | ||||||
| 23 | Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection | ||||||
| 24 | (d-5), the contracts executed under this subsection (d-5) | ||||||
| 25 | shall provide that the total of zero emission credits | ||||||
| 26 | procured under a procurement plan shall be subject to the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | limitations of this paragraph (2). For each delivery year, | ||||||
| 2 | the contractual volume receiving payments in such year | ||||||
| 3 | shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the | ||||||
| 4 | amount necessary to limit the net increase that delivery | ||||||
| 5 | year to the costs of those credits included in the amounts | ||||||
| 6 | paid by eligible retail customers in connection with | ||||||
| 7 | electric service to no more than 1.65% of the amount paid | ||||||
| 8 | per kilowatthour by eligible retail customers during the | ||||||
| 9 | year ending May 31, 2009. The result of this computation | ||||||
| 10 | shall apply to and reduce the procurement for all retail | ||||||
| 11 | customers, and all those customers shall pay the same | ||||||
| 12 | single, uniform cents per kilowatthour charge under | ||||||
| 13 | subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 14 | Act. To arrive at a maximum dollar amount of zero emission | ||||||
| 15 | credits to be paid for the particular delivery year, the | ||||||
| 16 | resulting per kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the | ||||||
| 17 | actual amount of kilowatthours of electricity delivered by | ||||||
| 18 | the electric utility in the delivery year immediately | ||||||
| 19 | prior to the procurement, to all retail customers in its | ||||||
| 20 | service territory. Unpaid contractual volume for any | ||||||
| 21 | delivery year shall be paid in any subsequent delivery | ||||||
| 22 | year in which such payments can be made without exceeding | ||||||
| 23 | the amount specified in this paragraph (2). The | ||||||
| 24 | calculations required by this paragraph (2) shall be made | ||||||
| 25 | only once for each procurement plan year. Once the | ||||||
| 26 | determination as to the amount of zero emission credits to | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | be paid is made based on the calculations set forth in this | ||||||
| 2 | paragraph (2), no subsequent rate impact determinations | ||||||
| 3 | shall be made and no adjustments to those contract amounts | ||||||
| 4 | shall be allowed. All costs incurred under those contracts | ||||||
| 5 | and in implementing this subsection (d-5) shall be | ||||||
| 6 | recovered by the electric utility as provided in this | ||||||
| 7 | Section. | ||||||
| 8 | No later than June 30, 2019, the Commission shall | ||||||
| 9 | review the limitation on the amount of zero emission | ||||||
| 10 | credits procured under this subsection (d-5) and report to | ||||||
| 11 | the General Assembly its findings as to whether that | ||||||
| 12 | limitation unduly constrains the procurement of | ||||||
| 13 | cost-effective zero emission credits. | ||||||
| 14 | (3) Six years after the execution of a contract under | ||||||
| 15 | this subsection (d-5), the Agency shall determine whether | ||||||
| 16 | the actual zero emission credit payments received by the | ||||||
| 17 | supplier over the 6-year period exceed the Average ZEC | ||||||
| 18 | Payment. In addition, at the end of the term of a contract | ||||||
| 19 | executed under this subsection (d-5), or at the time, if | ||||||
| 20 | any, a zero emission facility's contract is terminated | ||||||
| 21 | under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 22 | (d-5), then the Agency shall determine whether the actual | ||||||
| 23 | zero emission credit payments received by the supplier | ||||||
| 24 | over the term of the contract exceed the Average ZEC | ||||||
| 25 | Payment, after taking into account any amounts previously | ||||||
| 26 | credited back to the utility under this paragraph (3). If | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the Agency determines that the actual zero emission credit | ||||||
| 2 | payments received by the supplier over the relevant period | ||||||
| 3 | exceed the Average ZEC Payment, then the supplier shall | ||||||
| 4 | credit the difference back to the utility. The amount of | ||||||
| 5 | the credit shall be remitted to the applicable electric | ||||||
| 6 | utility no later than 120 days after the Agency's | ||||||
| 7 | determination, which the utility shall reflect as a credit | ||||||
| 8 | on its retail customer bills as soon as practicable; | ||||||
| 9 | however, the credit remitted to the utility shall not | ||||||
| 10 | exceed the total amount of payments received by the | ||||||
| 11 | facility under its contract. | ||||||
| 12 | For purposes of this Section, the Average ZEC Payment | ||||||
| 13 | shall be calculated by multiplying the quantity of zero | ||||||
| 14 | emission credits delivered under the contract times the | ||||||
| 15 | average contract price. The average contract price shall | ||||||
| 16 | be determined by subtracting the amount calculated under | ||||||
| 17 | subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3) from the amount | ||||||
| 18 | calculated under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (3), | ||||||
| 19 | as follows: | ||||||
| 20 | (A) The average of the Social Cost of Carbon, as | ||||||
| 21 | defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this | ||||||
| 22 | subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract. | ||||||
| 23 | (B) The average of the market price indices, as | ||||||
| 24 | defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this | ||||||
| 25 | subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract, | ||||||
| 26 | minus the baseline market price index, as defined in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection | ||||||
| 2 | (d-5). | ||||||
| 3 | If the subtraction yields a negative number, then the | ||||||
| 4 | Average ZEC Payment shall be zero. | ||||||
| 5 | (4) Cost-effective zero emission credits procured from | ||||||
| 6 | zero emission facilities shall satisfy the applicable | ||||||
| 7 | definitions set forth in Section 1-10 of this Act. | ||||||
| 8 | (5) The electric utility shall retire all zero | ||||||
| 9 | emission credits used to comply with the requirements of | ||||||
| 10 | this subsection (d-5). | ||||||
| 11 | (6) Electric utilities shall be entitled to recover | ||||||
| 12 | all of the costs associated with the procurement of zero | ||||||
| 13 | emission credits through an automatic adjustment clause | ||||||
| 14 | tariff in accordance with subsection (k) and (m) of | ||||||
| 15 | Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, and the | ||||||
| 16 | contracts executed under this subsection (d-5) shall | ||||||
| 17 | provide that the utilities' payment obligations under such | ||||||
| 18 | contracts shall be reduced if an adjustment is required | ||||||
| 19 | under subsection (m) of Section 16-108 of the Public | ||||||
| 20 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 21 | (7) This subsection (d-5) shall become inoperative on | ||||||
| 22 | January 1, 2028. | ||||||
| 23 | (d-10) Nuclear Plant Assistance; carbon mitigation | ||||||
| 24 | credits. | ||||||
| 25 | (1) The General Assembly finds: | ||||||
| 26 | (A) The health, welfare, and prosperity of all | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Illinois citizens require that the State of Illinois act | ||||||
| 2 | to avoid and not increase carbon emissions from electric | ||||||
| 3 | generation sources while continuing to ensure affordable, | ||||||
| 4 | stable, and reliable electricity to all citizens. | ||||||
| 5 | (B) Absent immediate action by the State to preserve | ||||||
| 6 | existing carbon-free energy resources, those resources may | ||||||
| 7 | retire, and the electric generation needs of Illinois' | ||||||
| 8 | retail customers may be met instead by facilities that | ||||||
| 9 | emit significant amounts of carbon pollution and other | ||||||
| 10 | harmful air pollutants at a high social and economic cost | ||||||
| 11 | until Illinois is able to develop other forms of clean | ||||||
| 12 | energy. | ||||||
| 13 | (C) The General Assembly finds that nuclear power | ||||||
| 14 | generation is necessary for the State's transition to 100% | ||||||
| 15 | clean energy, and ensuring continued operation of nuclear | ||||||
| 16 | plants advances environmental and public health interests | ||||||
| 17 | through providing carbon-free electricity while reducing | ||||||
| 18 | the air pollution profile of the Illinois energy | ||||||
| 19 | generation fleet. | ||||||
| 20 | (D) The clean energy attributes of nuclear generation | ||||||
| 21 | facilities support the State in its efforts to achieve | ||||||
| 22 | 100% clean energy. | ||||||
| 23 | (E) The State currently invests in various forms of | ||||||
| 24 | clean energy, including, but not limited to, renewable | ||||||
| 25 | energy, energy efficiency, and low-emission vehicles, | ||||||
| 26 | among others. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (F) The Environmental Protection Agency commissioned | ||||||
| 2 | an independent audit which provided a detailed assessment | ||||||
| 3 | of the financial condition of the Illinois nuclear fleet | ||||||
| 4 | to evaluate its financial viability and whether the | ||||||
| 5 | environmental benefits of such resources were at risk. The | ||||||
| 6 | report identified the risk of losing the environmental | ||||||
| 7 | benefits of several specific nuclear units. The report | ||||||
| 8 | also identified that the LaSalle County Generating Station | ||||||
| 9 | will continue to operate through 2026 and therefore is not | ||||||
| 10 | eligible to participate in the carbon mitigation credit | ||||||
| 11 | program. | ||||||
| 12 | (G) Nuclear plants provide carbon-free energy, which | ||||||
| 13 | helps to avoid many health-related negative impacts for | ||||||
| 14 | Illinois residents. | ||||||
| 15 | (H) The procurement of carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 16 | representing the environmental benefits of carbon-free | ||||||
| 17 | generation will further the State's efforts at achieving | ||||||
| 18 | 100% clean energy and decarbonizing the electricity sector | ||||||
| 19 | in a safe, reliable, and affordable manner. Further, the | ||||||
| 20 | procurement of carbon emission credits will enhance the | ||||||
| 21 | health and welfare of Illinois residents through decreased | ||||||
| 22 | reliance on more highly polluting generation. | ||||||
| 23 | (I) The General Assembly therefore finds it necessary | ||||||
| 24 | to establish carbon mitigation credits to ensure decreased | ||||||
| 25 | reliance on more carbon-intensive energy resources, for | ||||||
| 26 | transitioning to a fully decarbonized electricity sector, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | and to help ensure health and welfare of the State's | ||||||
| 2 | residents. | ||||||
| 3 | (2) As used in this subsection: | ||||||
| 4 | "Baseline costs" means costs used to establish a customer | ||||||
| 5 | protection cap that have been evaluated through an independent | ||||||
| 6 | audit of a carbon-free energy resource conducted by the | ||||||
| 7 | Environmental Protection Agency that evaluated projected | ||||||
| 8 | annual costs for operation and maintenance expenses; fully | ||||||
| 9 | allocated overhead costs, which shall be allocated using the | ||||||
| 10 | methodology developed by the Institute for Nuclear Power | ||||||
| 11 | Operations; fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures; | ||||||
| 12 | spent fuel expenditures; a return on working capital; the cost | ||||||
| 13 | of operational and market risks that could be avoided by | ||||||
| 14 | ceasing operation; and any other costs necessary for continued | ||||||
| 15 | operations, provided that "necessary" means, for purposes of | ||||||
| 16 | this definition, that the costs could reasonably be avoided | ||||||
| 17 | only by ceasing operations of the carbon-free energy resource. | ||||||
| 18 | "Carbon mitigation credit" means a tradable credit that | ||||||
| 19 | represents the carbon emission reduction attributes of one | ||||||
| 20 | megawatt-hour of energy produced from a carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 21 | resource. | ||||||
| 22 | "Carbon-free energy resource" means a generation facility | ||||||
| 23 | that: (1) is fueled by nuclear power; and (2) is | ||||||
| 24 | interconnected to PJM Interconnection, LLC. | ||||||
| 25 | (3) Procurement. | ||||||
| 26 | (A) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | June 1, 2022, the Agency shall, for electric utilities | ||||||
| 2 | serving at least 3,000,000 retail customers in the State, | ||||||
| 3 | seek to procure contracts for no more than approximately | ||||||
| 4 | 54,500,000 cost-effective carbon mitigation credits from | ||||||
| 5 | carbon-free energy resources because such credits are | ||||||
| 6 | necessary to support current levels of carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 7 | generation and ensure the State meets its carbon dioxide | ||||||
| 8 | emissions reduction goals. The Agency shall not make a | ||||||
| 9 | partial award of a contract for carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 10 | covering a fractional amount of a carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 11 | resource's projected output. | ||||||
| 12 | (B) Each carbon-free energy resource that intends to | ||||||
| 13 | participate in a procurement shall be required to submit | ||||||
| 14 | to the Agency the following information for the resource | ||||||
| 15 | on or before the date established by the Agency: | ||||||
| 16 | (i) the in-service date and remaining useful life | ||||||
| 17 | of the carbon-free energy resource; | ||||||
| 18 | (ii) the amount of power generated annually for | ||||||
| 19 | each of the past 10 years, which shall be used to | ||||||
| 20 | determine the capability of each facility; | ||||||
| 21 | (iii) a commitment to be reflected in any contract | ||||||
| 22 | entered into pursuant to this subsection (d-10) to | ||||||
| 23 | continue operating the carbon-free energy resource at | ||||||
| 24 | a capacity factor of at least 88% annually on average | ||||||
| 25 | for the duration of the contract or contracts executed | ||||||
| 26 | under the procurement held under this subsection | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (d-10), except in an instance described in | ||||||
| 2 | subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subsection (d-5) | ||||||
| 3 | of this Section or made impracticable as a result of | ||||||
| 4 | compliance with law or regulation; | ||||||
| 5 | (iv) financial need and the risk of loss of the | ||||||
| 6 | environmental benefits of such resource, which shall | ||||||
| 7 | include the following information: | ||||||
| 8 | (I) the carbon-free energy resource's cost | ||||||
| 9 | projections, expressed on a per megawatt-hour | ||||||
| 10 | basis, over the next 5 delivery years, which shall | ||||||
| 11 | include the following: operation and maintenance | ||||||
| 12 | expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which | ||||||
| 13 | shall be allocated using the methodology developed | ||||||
| 14 | by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations; | ||||||
| 15 | fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures; | ||||||
| 16 | spent fuel expenditures; a return on working | ||||||
| 17 | capital; the cost of operational and market risks | ||||||
| 18 | that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and | ||||||
| 19 | any other costs necessary for continued | ||||||
| 20 | operations, provided that "necessary" means, for | ||||||
| 21 | purposes of this subitem (I), that the costs could | ||||||
| 22 | reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations | ||||||
| 23 | of the carbon-free energy resource; and | ||||||
| 24 | (II) the carbon-free energy resource's revenue | ||||||
| 25 | projections, including energy, capacity, ancillary | ||||||
| 26 | services, any other direct State support, known or | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | anticipated federal attribute credits, known or | ||||||
| 2 | anticipated tax credits, and any other direct | ||||||
| 3 | federal support. | ||||||
| 4 | The information described in this subparagraph (B) may | ||||||
| 5 | be submitted on a confidential basis and shall be treated | ||||||
| 6 | and maintained by the Agency, the procurement | ||||||
| 7 | administrator, and the Commission as confidential and | ||||||
| 8 | proprietary and exempt from disclosure under subparagraphs | ||||||
| 9 | (a) and (g) of paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of | ||||||
| 10 | Information Act. The Office of the Attorney General shall | ||||||
| 11 | have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of, such | ||||||
| 12 | information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney | ||||||
| 13 | General Act. | ||||||
| 14 | (C) The Agency shall solicit bids for the contracts | ||||||
| 15 | described in this subsection (d-10) from carbon-free | ||||||
| 16 | energy resources that have satisfied the requirements of | ||||||
| 17 | subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3). The contracts | ||||||
| 18 | procured pursuant to a procurement event shall reflect, | ||||||
| 19 | and be subject to, the following terms, requirements, and | ||||||
| 20 | limitations: | ||||||
| 21 | (i) Contracts are for delivery of carbon | ||||||
| 22 | mitigation credits, and are not energy or capacity | ||||||
| 23 | sales contracts requiring physical delivery. Pursuant | ||||||
| 24 | to item (iii), contract payments shall fully deduct | ||||||
| 25 | the value of any monetized federal production tax | ||||||
| 26 | credits, credits issued pursuant to a federal clean | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | energy standard, and other federal credits if | ||||||
| 2 | applicable. | ||||||
| 3 | (ii) Contracts for carbon mitigation credits shall | ||||||
| 4 | commence with the delivery year beginning on June 1, | ||||||
| 5 | 2022 and shall be for a term of 5 delivery years | ||||||
| 6 | concluding on May 31, 2027. | ||||||
| 7 | (iii) The price per carbon mitigation credit to be | ||||||
| 8 | paid under a contract for a given delivery year shall | ||||||
| 9 | be equal to an accepted bid price less the sum of: | ||||||
| 10 | (I) one of the following energy price indices, | ||||||
| 11 | selected by the bidder at the time of the bid for | ||||||
| 12 | the term of the contract: | ||||||
| 13 | (aa) the weighted-average hourly day-ahead | ||||||
| 14 | price for the applicable delivery year at the | ||||||
| 15 | busbar of all resources procured pursuant to | ||||||
| 16 | this subsection (d-10), weighted by actual | ||||||
| 17 | production from the resources; or | ||||||
| 18 | (bb) the projected energy price for the | ||||||
| 19 | PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois Hub | ||||||
| 20 | for the applicable delivery year determined | ||||||
| 21 | according to subitem (aa) of item (iii) of | ||||||
| 22 | subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (d-5). | ||||||
| 24 | (II) the Base Residual Auction Capacity Price | ||||||
| 25 | for the ComEd zone as determined by PJM | ||||||
| 26 | Interconnection, LLC, divided by 24 hours per day, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | for the applicable delivery year for the first 3 | ||||||
| 2 | delivery years, and then any subsequent delivery | ||||||
| 3 | years unless the PJM Interconnection, LLC applies | ||||||
| 4 | the Minimum Offer Price Rule to participating | ||||||
| 5 | carbon-free energy resources because they supply | ||||||
| 6 | carbon mitigation credits pursuant to this Section | ||||||
| 7 | at which time, upon notice by the carbon-free | ||||||
| 8 | energy resource to the Commission and subject to | ||||||
| 9 | the Commission's confirmation, the value under | ||||||
| 10 | this subitem shall be zero, as further described | ||||||
| 11 | in the carbon mitigation credit procurement plan; | ||||||
| 12 | and | ||||||
| 13 | (III) any value of monetized federal tax | ||||||
| 14 | credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy | ||||||
| 15 | provided to the carbon-free energy resource from | ||||||
| 16 | any unit of government that is not already | ||||||
| 17 | reflected in energy prices. | ||||||
| 18 | If the price-per-megawatt-hour calculation | ||||||
| 19 | performed under item (iii) of this subparagraph (C) | ||||||
| 20 | for a given delivery year results in a net positive | ||||||
| 21 | value, then the electric utility counterparty to the | ||||||
| 22 | contract shall multiply such net value by the | ||||||
| 23 | applicable contract quantity and remit the amount to | ||||||
| 24 | the supplier. | ||||||
| 25 | To protect retail customers from retail rate | ||||||
| 26 | impacts that may arise upon the initiation of carbon | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | policy changes, if the price-per-megawatt-hour | ||||||
| 2 | calculation performed under item (iii) of this | ||||||
| 3 | subparagraph (C) for a given delivery year results in | ||||||
| 4 | a net negative value, then the supplier counterparty | ||||||
| 5 | to the contract shall multiply such net value by the | ||||||
| 6 | applicable contract quantity and remit such amount to | ||||||
| 7 | the electric utility counterparty. The electric | ||||||
| 8 | utility shall reflect such amounts remitted by | ||||||
| 9 | suppliers as a credit on its retail customer bills as | ||||||
| 10 | soon as practicable. | ||||||
| 11 | (iv) To ensure that retail customers in Northern | ||||||
| 12 | Illinois do not pay more for carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 13 | than the value such credits provide, and | ||||||
| 14 | notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection | ||||||
| 15 | (d-10), the Agency shall not accept bids for contracts | ||||||
| 16 | that exceed a customer protection cap equal to the | ||||||
| 17 | baseline costs of carbon-free energy resources. | ||||||
| 18 | The baseline costs for the applicable year shall | ||||||
| 19 | be the following: | ||||||
| 20 | (I) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 21 | 2022, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 22 | to $30.30 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 23 | (II) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 24 | 2023, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 25 | to $32.50 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 26 | (III) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 2024, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 2 | to $33.43 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 3 | (IV) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 4 | 2025, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 5 | to $33.50 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 6 | (V) For the delivery year beginning June 1, | ||||||
| 7 | 2026, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal | ||||||
| 8 | to $34.50 per megawatt-hour. | ||||||
| 9 | An Environmental Protection Agency consultant | ||||||
| 10 | forecast, included in a report issued April 14, 2021, | ||||||
| 11 | projects that a carbon-free energy resource has the | ||||||
| 12 | opportunity to earn on average approximately $30.28 | ||||||
| 13 | per megawatt-hour, for the sale of energy and capacity | ||||||
| 14 | during the time period between 2022 and 2027. | ||||||
| 15 | Therefore, the sale of carbon mitigation credits | ||||||
| 16 | provides the opportunity to receive an additional | ||||||
| 17 | amount per megawatt-hour in addition to the projected | ||||||
| 18 | prices for energy and capacity. | ||||||
| 19 | Although actual energy and capacity prices may | ||||||
| 20 | vary from year-to-year, the General Assembly finds | ||||||
| 21 | that this customer protection cap will help ensure | ||||||
| 22 | that the cost of carbon mitigation credits will be | ||||||
| 23 | less than its value, based upon the social cost of | ||||||
| 24 | carbon identified in the Technical Support Document | ||||||
| 25 | issued in February 2021 by the U.S. Interagency | ||||||
| 26 | Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the PJM Interconnection, LLC carbon dioxide marginal | ||||||
| 2 | emission rate for 2020, and that a carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 3 | resource receiving payment for carbon mitigation | ||||||
| 4 | credits receives no more than necessary to keep those | ||||||
| 5 | units in operation. | ||||||
| 6 | (D) No later than 7 days after the effective date of | ||||||
| 7 | this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the | ||||||
| 8 | Agency shall publish its proposed carbon mitigation credit | ||||||
| 9 | procurement plan. The Plan shall provide that winning bids | ||||||
| 10 | shall be selected by taking into consideration which | ||||||
| 11 | resources best match public interest criteria that | ||||||
| 12 | include, but are not limited to, minimizing carbon dioxide | ||||||
| 13 | emissions that result from electricity consumed in | ||||||
| 14 | Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, | ||||||
| 15 | and particulate matter emissions that adversely affect the | ||||||
| 16 | citizens of this State. The selection of winning bids | ||||||
| 17 | shall also take into account the incremental environmental | ||||||
| 18 | benefits resulting from the procurement or procurements, | ||||||
| 19 | such as any existing environmental benefits that are | ||||||
| 20 | preserved by a procurement held under this subsection | ||||||
| 21 | (d-10) and would cease to exist if the procurement were | ||||||
| 22 | not held, including the preservation of carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 23 | resources. For those bidders having the same public | ||||||
| 24 | interest criteria score, the relative ranking of such | ||||||
| 25 | bidders shall be determined by price. The Plan shall | ||||||
| 26 | describe in detail how each public interest factor shall | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | be considered and weighted in the bid selection process to | ||||||
| 2 | ensure that the public interest criteria are applied to | ||||||
| 3 | the procurement. The Plan shall, to the extent practical | ||||||
| 4 | and permissible by federal law, ensure that successful | ||||||
| 5 | bidders make commercially reasonable efforts to apply for | ||||||
| 6 | federal tax credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy | ||||||
| 7 | programs that support carbon-free generation and for which | ||||||
| 8 | the successful bidder is eligible. Upon publishing of the | ||||||
| 9 | carbon mitigation credit procurement plan, copies of the | ||||||
| 10 | plan shall be posted and made publicly available on the | ||||||
| 11 | Agency's website. All interested parties shall have 7 days | ||||||
| 12 | following the date of posting to provide comment to the | ||||||
| 13 | Agency on the plan. All comments shall be posted to the | ||||||
| 14 | Agency's website. Following the end of the comment period, | ||||||
| 15 | but no more than 19 days later than the effective date of | ||||||
| 16 | this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the | ||||||
| 17 | Agency shall revise the plan as necessary based on the | ||||||
| 18 | comments received and file its carbon mitigation credit | ||||||
| 19 | procurement plan with the Commission. | ||||||
| 20 | (E) If the Commission determines that the plan is | ||||||
| 21 | likely to result in the procurement of cost-effective | ||||||
| 22 | carbon mitigation credits, then the Commission shall, | ||||||
| 23 | after notice and hearing and opportunity for comment, but | ||||||
| 24 | no later than 42 days after the Agency filed the plan, | ||||||
| 25 | approve the plan or approve it with modification. For | ||||||
| 26 | purposes of this subsection (d-10), "cost-effective" means | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | carbon mitigation credits that are procured from | ||||||
| 2 | carbon-free energy resources at prices that are within the | ||||||
| 3 | limits specified in this paragraph (3). As part of the | ||||||
| 4 | Commission's review and acceptance or rejection of the | ||||||
| 5 | procurement results, the Commission shall, in its public | ||||||
| 6 | notice of successful bidders: | ||||||
| 7 | (i) identify how the selected carbon-free energy | ||||||
| 8 | resources satisfy the public interest criteria | ||||||
| 9 | described in this paragraph (3) of minimizing carbon | ||||||
| 10 | dioxide emissions that result from electricity | ||||||
| 11 | consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide, | ||||||
| 12 | nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions that | ||||||
| 13 | adversely affect the citizens of this State; | ||||||
| 14 | (ii) specifically address how the selection of | ||||||
| 15 | carbon-free energy resources takes into account the | ||||||
| 16 | incremental environmental benefits resulting from the | ||||||
| 17 | procurement, including any existing environmental | ||||||
| 18 | benefits that are preserved by the procurements held | ||||||
| 19 | under this amendatory Act of the 102nd General | ||||||
| 20 | Assembly and would have ceased to exist if the | ||||||
| 21 | procurements had not been held, such as the | ||||||
| 22 | preservation of carbon-free energy resources; | ||||||
| 23 | (iii) quantify the environmental benefit of | ||||||
| 24 | preserving the carbon-free energy resources procured | ||||||
| 25 | pursuant to this subsection (d-10), including the | ||||||
| 26 | following: | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (I) an assessment value of avoided greenhouse | ||||||
| 2 | gas emissions measured as the product of the | ||||||
| 3 | carbon-free energy resources' output over the | ||||||
| 4 | contract term, using generally accepted | ||||||
| 5 | methodologies for the valuation of avoided | ||||||
| 6 | emissions; and | ||||||
| 7 | (II) an assessment of costs of replacement | ||||||
| 8 | with other carbon-free energy resources and | ||||||
| 9 | renewable energy resources, including wind and | ||||||
| 10 | photovoltaic generation, based upon an assessment | ||||||
| 11 | of the prices paid for renewable energy credits | ||||||
| 12 | through programs and procurements conducted | ||||||
| 13 | pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this | ||||||
| 14 | Act, and the additional storage necessary to | ||||||
| 15 | produce the same or similar capability of matching | ||||||
| 16 | customer usage patterns. | ||||||
| 17 | (F) The procurements described in this paragraph (3), | ||||||
| 18 | including, but not limited to, the execution of all | ||||||
| 19 | contracts procured, shall be completed no later than | ||||||
| 20 | December 3, 2021. The procurement and plan approval | ||||||
| 21 | processes required by this paragraph (3) shall be | ||||||
| 22 | conducted in conjunction with the procurement and plan | ||||||
| 23 | approval processes required by Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 24 | Public Utilities Act, to the extent practicable. However, | ||||||
| 25 | the Agency and Commission may, as appropriate, modify the | ||||||
| 26 | various dates and timelines under this subparagraph and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraphs (D) and (E) of this paragraph (3) to meet | ||||||
| 2 | the December 3, 2021 contract execution deadline. | ||||||
| 3 | Following the completion of such procurements, and | ||||||
| 4 | consistent with this paragraph (3), the Agency shall | ||||||
| 5 | calculate the payments to be made under each contract in a | ||||||
| 6 | timely fashion. | ||||||
| 7 | (F-1) Costs incurred by the electric utility pursuant | ||||||
| 8 | to a contract authorized by this subsection (d-10) shall | ||||||
| 9 | be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in amount, and | ||||||
| 10 | the electric utility shall be entitled to full cost | ||||||
| 11 | recovery pursuant to a tariff or tariffs filed with the | ||||||
| 12 | Commission. | ||||||
| 13 | (G) The counterparty electric utility shall retire all | ||||||
| 14 | carbon mitigation credits used to comply with the | ||||||
| 15 | requirements of this subsection (d-10). | ||||||
| 16 | (H) If a carbon-free energy resource is sold to | ||||||
| 17 | another owner, the rights, obligations, and commitments | ||||||
| 18 | under this subsection (d-10) shall continue to the | ||||||
| 19 | subsequent owner. | ||||||
| 20 | (I) This subsection (d-10) shall become inoperative on | ||||||
| 21 | January 1, 2028. | ||||||
| 22 | (d-20) Energy storage system portfolio standard. | ||||||
| 23 | (1) The General Assembly finds that the deployment of | ||||||
| 24 | energy storage systems is necessary to successfully | ||||||
| 25 | integrate high levels of renewable energy, to avoid the | ||||||
| 26 | creation and increase of carbon emissions from electric | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | generation sources, and to ensure affordable, stable, | ||||||
| 2 | clean, reliable, and resilient electricity. | ||||||
| 3 | (2) The Agency shall develop an energy storage system | ||||||
| 4 | resources procurement plan that includes the competitive | ||||||
| 5 | procurement events, procurement programs, or both, as | ||||||
| 6 | necessary (i) to meet the goals set forth in this | ||||||
| 7 | subsection (d-20), (ii) to meet the planning requirements | ||||||
| 8 | established under Sections 16-201 and 16-202 of the Public | ||||||
| 9 | Utilities Act, (iii) to meet the clean energy policy | ||||||
| 10 | established by Public Act 102-662, and (iv) to cause | ||||||
| 11 | electric utilities serving more than 300,000 customers in | ||||||
| 12 | the State as of January 1, 2019 to contract for energy | ||||||
| 13 | storage resources. The energy storage system resources | ||||||
| 14 | procurement plan approval processes shall be conducted | ||||||
| 15 | consistent with the processes outlined in paragraph (6) of | ||||||
| 16 | subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 17 | Act, with the initial energy storage system resources | ||||||
| 18 | procurement plan released for comment in calendar year | ||||||
| 19 | 2027. The Agency shall review and may revise the energy | ||||||
| 20 | storage system resources procurement plan at least every 2 | ||||||
| 21 | years. The Agency shall establish, and the Commission | ||||||
| 22 | shall approve or approve as modified, an energy storage | ||||||
| 23 | system resources procurement plan that includes: | ||||||
| 24 | (A) storage targets in addition to the initial | ||||||
| 25 | procurements specified in paragraph (3) of this | ||||||
| 26 | subsection (d-20) at levels identified through the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | integrated resource planning process outlined in | ||||||
| 2 | Section 16-202 of the Public Utilities Act; | ||||||
| 3 | (B) a bid selection process that is based on the | ||||||
| 4 | bid price, when compared with an equal energy storage | ||||||
| 5 | duration and interconnected to the same independent | ||||||
| 6 | system operator (ISO) or regional transmission | ||||||
| 7 | organization (RTO), and that may provide for | ||||||
| 8 | consideration of the following: | ||||||
| 9 | (i) the project's viability and ability to | ||||||
| 10 | meet or exceed operational date targets; | ||||||
| 11 | (ii) the developer's experience; | ||||||
| 12 | (iii) requirements for demonstration of | ||||||
| 13 | binding site control that are sufficient for | ||||||
| 14 | proposed energy storage facilities; | ||||||
| 15 | (iv) the availability or dependence on any | ||||||
| 16 | transmission expansion or upgrades needed; and | ||||||
| 17 | (v) other resource adequacy and reliability | ||||||
| 18 | considerations; | ||||||
| 19 | (C) consideration of the need to ensure adequate, | ||||||
| 20 | reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally | ||||||
| 21 | sustainable electric service at the lowest total cost | ||||||
| 22 | over time; | ||||||
| 23 | (D) proposals for the financial support of energy | ||||||
| 24 | storage systems using contract models, which may | ||||||
| 25 | include, but are not limited to, the following: | ||||||
| 26 | (i) an indexed storage credit procurement, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | including payments to energy storage system owners | ||||||
| 2 | or operators with any offsets and refunds for | ||||||
| 3 | potential energy and capacity revenues; | ||||||
| 4 | (ii) support for energy storage system | ||||||
| 5 | resources through contract structures that do not | ||||||
| 6 | create contractual obligations on utilities that | ||||||
| 7 | are not contingent on full and timely cost | ||||||
| 8 | recovery, that avoid negative financial impacts on | ||||||
| 9 | the utilities, and that are agreed upon by the | ||||||
| 10 | utilities; and | ||||||
| 11 | (iii) other approaches as deemed suitable by | ||||||
| 12 | the Agency and the Commission; and | ||||||
| 13 | (E) consideration that the Agency may include a | ||||||
| 14 | methodology that could prioritize procurement of | ||||||
| 15 | energy storage resources that are located in | ||||||
| 16 | communities eligible to receive Energy Transition | ||||||
| 17 | Community Grants pursuant to Section 10-20 of the | ||||||
| 18 | Energy Community Reinvestment Act. | ||||||
| 19 | In developing its procurement plan and conducting the | ||||||
| 20 | storage procurements outlined in this paragraph (2) and in | ||||||
| 21 | paragraph (3), the Agency may use the services of expert | ||||||
| 22 | consulting firms identified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (a) of this Section. | ||||||
| 24 | (3) Notwithstanding whether an energy storage system | ||||||
| 25 | resources procurement plan has been approved, the | ||||||
| 26 | following provisions shall apply to the Agency's initial | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | procurement of energy storage system resources under this | ||||||
| 2 | subsection (d-20): | ||||||
| 3 | (A) The Agency shall conduct an initial energy | ||||||
| 4 | storage procurement on or before August 26, 2026 or 90 | ||||||
| 5 | days after the effective date of this amendatory Act | ||||||
| 6 | of the 104th General Assembly, whichever is earlier. | ||||||
| 7 | For the purposes of this initial energy storage | ||||||
| 8 | procurement, the Agency shall conduct a procurement | ||||||
| 9 | that results in electric utilities that served more | ||||||
| 10 | than 300,000 customers in the State as of January 1, | ||||||
| 11 | 2019 contracting for at least 1,038 megawatts of | ||||||
| 12 | cost-effective stand-alone energy storage systems that | ||||||
| 13 | can achieve commercial operation on or before December | ||||||
| 14 | 31, 2029 or an alternative date proposed by the Agency | ||||||
| 15 | that is no later than December 31, 2030. The | ||||||
| 16 | procurement target shall be separated for projects | ||||||
| 17 | interconnected within Midcontinent Independent System | ||||||
| 18 | Operator Local Resource Zone 4 (MISO Zone 4) and for | ||||||
| 19 | projects interconnected within the PJM | ||||||
| 20 | Interconnection, LLC ComEd Locational Deliverability | ||||||
| 21 | Area (PJM ComEd Area) as follows: | ||||||
| 22 | (i) 450 megawatts in MISO Zone 4; and | ||||||
| 23 | (ii) 588 megawatts in the PJM ComEd Area. | ||||||
| 24 | For purposes of this subsection (d-20), | ||||||
| 25 | "stand-alone" means systems that are (i) separately | ||||||
| 26 | metered by a revenue-quality meter that satisfies the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | requirements of the RTO; (ii) operate independently | ||||||
| 2 | without constraints or hindrances from other | ||||||
| 3 | generation units; and (iii) demonstrate the ability to | ||||||
| 4 | charge and discharge independent of any generation | ||||||
| 5 | unit output. | ||||||
| 6 | (B) The Agency shall conduct a series of | ||||||
| 7 | additional energy storage procurements that result in | ||||||
| 8 | electric utilities contracting for energy storage | ||||||
| 9 | resources in an amount of 3,000 megawatts of | ||||||
| 10 | cumulative energy storage capacity for projects | ||||||
| 11 | committed to reaching commercial operation on or | ||||||
| 12 | before December 31, 2030, or an alternative date | ||||||
| 13 | proposed by the Agency, subject to extension for a | ||||||
| 14 | delay due to interconnection of the energy storage | ||||||
| 15 | system, a delay in obtaining permits necessary to | ||||||
| 16 | build or operate the energy storage system, or other | ||||||
| 17 | circumstances at the discretion of the Agency. | ||||||
| 18 | The additional energy storage resources | ||||||
| 19 | procurements shall be conducted in calendar years 2027 | ||||||
| 20 | and 2028 in a manner that ensures the quantities | ||||||
| 21 | listed in this subparagraph (B), and as updated in the | ||||||
| 22 | integrated resource plan approved by the Commission | ||||||
| 23 | pursuant to Section 16-201 of the Public Utilities | ||||||
| 24 | Act, are met in the specified timeframe. To the extent | ||||||
| 25 | the integrated resource planning process outlined in | ||||||
| 26 | Section 16-202 of the Public Utilities Act authorizes | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | energy storage system procurement amounts above the | ||||||
| 2 | amount identified in this subparagraph (B), the Agency | ||||||
| 3 | shall conduct additional energy storage procurements | ||||||
| 4 | in 2028, 2029, 2030, and thereafter that result in | ||||||
| 5 | electric utilities contracting for energy storage | ||||||
| 6 | resources at those additional identified levels. The | ||||||
| 7 | procurements shall be conducted in a manner that | ||||||
| 8 | maximizes projects available in the MISO and PJM | ||||||
| 9 | queues, ensures the likelihood of project development | ||||||
| 10 | through the development of project maturity | ||||||
| 11 | requirements, enables sufficient competition for price | ||||||
| 12 | competitiveness, and aligns to the extent practicable | ||||||
| 13 | with regional transmission organization study phases. | ||||||
| 14 | The procurements shall select projects interconnected | ||||||
| 15 | to MISO Zone 4 and the PJM ComEd Area and shall follow | ||||||
| 16 | either (i) a similar geographic split to the ratio of | ||||||
| 17 | quantities established in subparagraph (A) of this | ||||||
| 18 | paragraph (3), (ii) an alternative geographic split | ||||||
| 19 | proposed by the Agency based on project availability | ||||||
| 20 | in advanced stages of the MISO and PJM queues, or (iii) | ||||||
| 21 | that is informed by MISO and PJM planning activities, | ||||||
| 22 | auctions, or reports that indicate capacity resource | ||||||
| 23 | shortages or impending shortages and that reflect the | ||||||
| 24 | assessments made through the processes outlined in | ||||||
| 25 | subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2). The additional | ||||||
| 26 | energy storage capacity procurements may be adjusted | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | upward if determined necessary through the planning | ||||||
| 2 | process outlined in Section 16-201 of the Public | ||||||
| 3 | Utilities Act at times determined by the Commission. | ||||||
| 4 | (C) The initial energy storage resources | ||||||
| 5 | procurement under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph | ||||||
| 6 | (3) shall adopt a standard indexed storage credit | ||||||
| 7 | contract modeled after the contract and follow a | ||||||
| 8 | process modeled after the process included in the | ||||||
| 9 | staff report submitted to the Governor, General | ||||||
| 10 | Assembly, and Commission pursuant to subsection (g) of | ||||||
| 11 | Section 16-135 of the Public Utilities Act on May 1, | ||||||
| 12 | 2025. In developing the procurement rules and | ||||||
| 13 | procurement process for the initial procurement, the | ||||||
| 14 | Agency shall provide an opportunity for comment on the | ||||||
| 15 | indexed storage credit contract included in the May 1, | ||||||
| 16 | 2025 staff report and shall adopt modifications to the | ||||||
| 17 | contract consistent with the process outlined in | ||||||
| 18 | paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 16-111.5 of | ||||||
| 19 | the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 20 | (D) For the additional energy storage resources | ||||||
| 21 | procurements conducted in accordance with subparagraph | ||||||
| 22 | (B) of this paragraph (3), the Agency may, among other | ||||||
| 23 | considerations, consider other contract structures if | ||||||
| 24 | such contract structures and agreements do not create | ||||||
| 25 | contractual obligations on utilities that are not | ||||||
| 26 | contingent on full and timely cost recovery, avoid | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | negative financial impacts on the utilities, and are | ||||||
| 2 | agreed upon by the participating utility. | ||||||
| 3 | (E) The initial and additional energy storage | ||||||
| 4 | resources procurements under this paragraph (3) shall | ||||||
| 5 | solicit 20-year contracts. | ||||||
| 6 | (F) The Agency shall submit its proposed selection | ||||||
| 7 | of successful bids for each procurement event pursuant | ||||||
| 8 | to paragraphs (2) and (3) to the Commission for | ||||||
| 9 | approval consistent with the processes outlined in | ||||||
| 10 | Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the | ||||||
| 11 | extent practicable. | ||||||
| 12 | (4) The energy storage system resources procurement | ||||||
| 13 | plans developed by the Agency may consider alternatives to | ||||||
| 14 | the initial and additional procurement terms described in | ||||||
| 15 | paragraph (3) of this subsection (d-20), including, but | ||||||
| 16 | not limited to: | ||||||
| 17 | (A) alternatives to the standard indexed storage | ||||||
| 18 | credit contract used in the initial terms described in | ||||||
| 19 | subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of this subsection | ||||||
| 20 | (d-20); | ||||||
| 21 | (B) energy storage systems that are not | ||||||
| 22 | stand-alone; | ||||||
| 23 | (C) proportionate allocations between MISO Zone 4 | ||||||
| 24 | and the PJM ComEd Area that are not based upon load | ||||||
| 25 | share, including allocations reflecting the | ||||||
| 26 | assessments made through the processes outlined in | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2); | ||||||
| 2 | (D) contract lengths other than 20 years; | ||||||
| 3 | (E) energy storage system durations other than 4 | ||||||
| 4 | hours; and | ||||||
| 5 | (F) energy storage systems connected to the | ||||||
| 6 | distribution systems of the electric utilities. | ||||||
| 7 | The Agency may propose specific timelines for energy | ||||||
| 8 | storage system resources procurements, which may differ | ||||||
| 9 | across RTO zones, that are based in part upon a | ||||||
| 10 | consideration of (i) the timing of the release of | ||||||
| 11 | interconnection cost information through both MISO and PJM | ||||||
| 12 | interconnection queue processes, (ii) factors that | ||||||
| 13 | maximize the likelihood of successful project development, | ||||||
| 14 | (iii) enabling sufficient competition for price | ||||||
| 15 | competitiveness, and (iv) aligning to the extent | ||||||
| 16 | practicable with RTO study phases. | ||||||
| 17 | (5) The Agency shall procure cost-effective energy | ||||||
| 18 | storage credits or other contract instruments intended to | ||||||
| 19 | facilitate the successful development of energy storage | ||||||
| 20 | projects. The procurement administrator shall establish | ||||||
| 21 | confidential price benchmarks based on publicly available | ||||||
| 22 | data on regional technology costs. Confidential price | ||||||
| 23 | benchmarks shall be developed by the procurement | ||||||
| 24 | administrator, in consultation with Commission staff, | ||||||
| 25 | Agency staff, and the procurement monitor, and shall be | ||||||
| 26 | subject to Commission review and approval. Price | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | benchmarks shall reflect development costs, financing | ||||||
| 2 | costs, and related costs resulting from requirements | ||||||
| 3 | imposed through other provisions of State law. As used in | ||||||
| 4 | this paragraph (5), "cost-effective" means a bidder's bid | ||||||
| 5 | price that does not exceed confidential price benchmarks. | ||||||
| 6 | (6) All procurements under this subsection (d-20) | ||||||
| 7 | shall comply with the geographic requirements in | ||||||
| 8 | subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of | ||||||
| 9 | Section 1-75 and shall follow the procurement processes | ||||||
| 10 | and procedures described in this Section and Section | ||||||
| 11 | 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, to the extent | ||||||
| 12 | practicable. The processes and procedures may be expedited | ||||||
| 13 | to accommodate the schedule established by this Section. | ||||||
| 14 | The Agency shall require all bidders to pay to the Agency a | ||||||
| 15 | nonrefundable deposit determined by the Agency and no less | ||||||
| 16 | than $10,000 per bid as practical. The Agency may also | ||||||
| 17 | assess bidder and supplier fees to cover the cost of | ||||||
| 18 | procurement events and develop collateral requirements to | ||||||
| 19 | maximize the likelihood of successful project development. | ||||||
| 20 | Bidders in the initial and additional procurements | ||||||
| 21 | described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d-20) shall | ||||||
| 22 | also demonstrate experience in developing to commercial | ||||||
| 23 | readiness. As used in this paragraph (6), "developing to | ||||||
| 24 | commercial readiness" means having notice to proceed in | ||||||
| 25 | owning or operating energy facilities with a combined | ||||||
| 26 | nameplate capacity of at least 100 megawatts. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (7) In order to advance priority access to the clean | ||||||
| 2 | energy economy for businesses and workers from communities | ||||||
| 3 | that have been excluded from economic opportunities in the | ||||||
| 4 | energy sector, have been subject to disproportionate | ||||||
| 5 | levels of pollution, and have disproportionately | ||||||
| 6 | experienced negative public health outcomes, the Agency | ||||||
| 7 | shall apply its equity accountability system and minimum | ||||||
| 8 | equity standards established under subsections (c-10), | ||||||
| 9 | (c-15), (c-20), (c-25), and (c-30) of this Section to | ||||||
| 10 | energy storage procurement and programs and may include | ||||||
| 11 | any proposed modifications to the equity accountability | ||||||
| 12 | system and minimum equity standards that may be warranted | ||||||
| 13 | with respect to energy storage resources in its plan | ||||||
| 14 | submission to the Commission under Section 16-111.5 of the | ||||||
| 15 | Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 16 | (8) Projects shall be developed in compliance with the | ||||||
| 17 | prevailing wage and project labor agreement requirements | ||||||
| 18 | for renewable energy projects in subparagraph (Q) of | ||||||
| 19 | paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75. | ||||||
| 20 | (9) An entity operating an energy storage facility | ||||||
| 21 | shall demonstrate that it has entered into a labor peace | ||||||
| 22 | agreement with a bona fide labor organization that is | ||||||
| 23 | actively engaged in representing its employees. The labor | ||||||
| 24 | peace agreement shall apply to the employees necessary for | ||||||
| 25 | the ongoing maintenance and operation of the energy | ||||||
| 26 | storage facility. The existence of a labor peace agreement | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | shall be an ongoing material condition of an entity's | ||||||
| 2 | authorization to maintain and operate the energy storage | ||||||
| 3 | facility. | ||||||
| 4 | (10) In order to promote the competitive development | ||||||
| 5 | of energy storage systems in furtherance of the State's | ||||||
| 6 | interest in the health, safety, and welfare of its | ||||||
| 7 | residents, storage credits shall not be eligible to be | ||||||
| 8 | selected under this subsection (d-20) if the energy | ||||||
| 9 | storage resources are sourced from an energy storage | ||||||
| 10 | system whose costs were being recovered through rates | ||||||
| 11 | regulated by the State or any other state or states on or | ||||||
| 12 | after January 1, 2017. No entity shall be permitted to bid | ||||||
| 13 | unless it certifies to the Agency that it is not an | ||||||
| 14 | electric utility, as defined in Section 16-102 of the | ||||||
| 15 | Public Utilities Act, serving more than 10,000 customers | ||||||
| 16 | in the State. | ||||||
| 17 | (11) The Agency shall require, as a prerequisite to | ||||||
| 18 | payment for any storage credits, that the winning bidder | ||||||
| 19 | provide the Agency or its designee a copy of the | ||||||
| 20 | interconnection agreement under which the applicable | ||||||
| 21 | energy storage system is connected to the transmission or | ||||||
| 22 | distribution system. | ||||||
| 23 | (12) Contracts shall provide that, if the cost | ||||||
| 24 | recovery mechanism referenced in subsection (k) of Section | ||||||
| 25 | 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act remains in full force | ||||||
| 26 | without amendment or the utility is otherwise authorized | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | or entitled to full, prompt, and uninterrupted recovery of | ||||||
| 2 | its costs through any other mechanism, then such seller | ||||||
| 3 | shall be entitled to full, prompt, and uninterrupted | ||||||
| 4 | payment under the applicable contract notwithstanding the | ||||||
| 5 | application of this paragraph (12). | ||||||
| 6 | (e) The draft procurement plans are subject to public | ||||||
| 7 | comment, as required by Section 16-111.5 of the Public | ||||||
| 8 | Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 9 | (f) The Agency shall submit the final procurement plan to | ||||||
| 10 | the Commission. The Agency shall revise a procurement plan if | ||||||
| 11 | the Commission determines that it does not meet the standards | ||||||
| 12 | set forth in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. | ||||||
| 13 | (g) The Agency shall assess fees to each affected utility | ||||||
| 14 | to recover the costs incurred in preparation of procurement | ||||||
| 15 | plans and in the operation of programs. | ||||||
| 16 | (h) The Agency shall assess fees to each bidder to recover | ||||||
| 17 | the costs incurred in connection with a competitive | ||||||
| 18 | procurement process. | ||||||
| 19 | (i) A renewable energy credit, carbon emission credit, | ||||||
| 20 | zero emission credit, or carbon mitigation credit can only be | ||||||
| 21 | used once to comply with a single portfolio or other standard | ||||||
| 22 | as set forth in subsection (c), subsection (d), or subsection | ||||||
| 23 | (d-5) of this Section, respectively. A renewable energy | ||||||
| 24 | credit, carbon emission credit, zero emission credit, or | ||||||
| 25 | carbon mitigation credit cannot be used to satisfy the | ||||||
| 26 | requirements of more than one standard. If more than one type | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | of credit is issued for the same megawatt hour of energy, only | ||||||
| 2 | one credit can be used to satisfy the requirements of a single | ||||||
| 3 | standard. After such use, the credit must be retired together | ||||||
| 4 | with any other credits issued for the same megawatt hour of | ||||||
| 5 | energy. | ||||||
| 6 | (Source: P.A. 103-380, eff. 1-1-24; 103-580, eff. 12-8-23; | ||||||
| 7 | 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; 104-458, eff. 6-1-26.) | ||||||
| 8 | Section 30. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by | ||||||
| 9 | changing Section 15-35 as follows: | ||||||
| 10 | (30 ILCS 500/15-35) | ||||||
| 11 | Sec. 15-35. Vendor portal. Each chief procurement officer | ||||||
| 12 | may, in consultation with the agencies under his or her | ||||||
| 13 | jurisdiction and the Procurement Policy Board, establish a | ||||||
| 14 | vendor portal. The vendor portal shall allow a potential | ||||||
| 15 | vendor to provide certifications, disclosures, registrations, | ||||||
| 16 | and other documentation needed to do business with a State | ||||||
| 17 | agency in advance of any particular procurement. A potential | ||||||
| 18 | vendor who registers with the vendor portal and provides this | ||||||
| 19 | information may submit its registration number, with a | ||||||
| 20 | confirmation that the portal information remains current, as | ||||||
| 21 | part of its response to a competitive selection or a | ||||||
| 22 | contracting process, rather than submit the same information | ||||||
| 23 | in full. One or more chief procurement officers may jointly | ||||||
| 24 | operate a vendor portal if a single portal would better serve | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the needs of the State agencies and the vendor community. A | ||||||
| 2 | chief procurement officer may accept, for use on procurements | ||||||
| 3 | and contracts under his or her jurisdiction, the registration | ||||||
| 4 | from another chief procurement officer's vendor portal. This | ||||||
| 5 | Section applies notwithstanding any laws to the contrary | ||||||
| 6 | except for later enacted laws that specifically refer to this | ||||||
| 7 | Section. | ||||||
| 8 | Nothing in this Section shall preclude a State agency from | ||||||
| 9 | implementing its own pre-qualification, certification, | ||||||
| 10 | disclosure, and registration requirements necessary to conduct | ||||||
| 11 | and manage its program operation. | ||||||
| 12 | This Section does not apply to any contract for any | ||||||
| 13 | project as to which federal funds are available for | ||||||
| 14 | expenditure when its provisions may be in conflict with | ||||||
| 15 | federal law or federal regulation. | ||||||
| 16 | Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the vendor | ||||||
| 17 | portal for the Department of Transportation shall include any | ||||||
| 18 | locally applicable project labor agreement requirements. | ||||||
| 19 | (Source: P.A. 97-895, eff. 8-3-12; 98-1076, eff. 1-1-15.) | ||||||
| 20 | Section 35. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by | ||||||
| 21 | changing Section 214 as follows: | ||||||
| 22 | (35 ILCS 5/214) | ||||||
| 23 | Sec. 214. Tax credit for affordable housing donations. | ||||||
| 24 | (a) Beginning with taxable years ending on or after | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | December 31, 2001 and until the taxable year ending on | ||||||
| 2 | December 31, 2026, a taxpayer who makes a donation under | ||||||
| 3 | Section 7.28 of the Illinois Housing Development Act is | ||||||
| 4 | entitled to a credit against the tax imposed by subsections | ||||||
| 5 | (a) and (b) of Section 201 in an amount equal to 50% of the | ||||||
| 6 | value of the donation. For taxable years ending before | ||||||
| 7 | December 31, 2023, partners, shareholders of subchapter S | ||||||
| 8 | corporations, and owners of limited liability companies (if | ||||||
| 9 | the limited liability company is treated as a partnership for | ||||||
| 10 | purposes of federal and State income taxation) are entitled to | ||||||
| 11 | a credit under this Section to be determined in accordance | ||||||
| 12 | with the determination of income and distributive share of | ||||||
| 13 | income under Sections 702 and 703 and subchapter S of the | ||||||
| 14 | Internal Revenue Code. For taxable years ending on or after | ||||||
| 15 | December 31, 2023, partners and shareholders of subchapter S | ||||||
| 16 | corporations are entitled to a credit under this Section as | ||||||
| 17 | provided in Section 251. Persons or entities not subject to | ||||||
| 18 | the tax imposed by subsections (a) and (b) of Section 201 and | ||||||
| 19 | who make a donation under Section 7.28 of the Illinois Housing | ||||||
| 20 | Development Act are entitled to a credit as described in this | ||||||
| 21 | subsection and may transfer that credit as described in | ||||||
| 22 | subsection (c). | ||||||
| 23 | (b) If the amount of the credit exceeds the tax liability | ||||||
| 24 | for the year, the excess may be carried forward and applied to | ||||||
| 25 | the tax liability of the 5 taxable years following the excess | ||||||
| 26 | credit year. The tax credit shall be applied to the earliest | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | year for which there is a tax liability. If there are credits | ||||||
| 2 | for more than one year that are available to offset a | ||||||
| 3 | liability, the earlier credit shall be applied first. | ||||||
| 4 | (c) The transfer of the tax credit allowed under this | ||||||
| 5 | Section may be made (i) to the purchaser of land that has been | ||||||
| 6 | designated solely for affordable housing projects in | ||||||
| 7 | accordance with the Illinois Housing Development Act or (ii) | ||||||
| 8 | to another donor who has also made a donation in accordance | ||||||
| 9 | with Section 7.28 of the Illinois Housing Development Act. | ||||||
| 10 | Construction projects funded in whole or in part by the | ||||||
| 11 | proceeds of tax credits transferred pursuant to this | ||||||
| 12 | subsection shall be considered public works within the meaning | ||||||
| 13 | of the Prevailing Wage Act, unless such construction projects | ||||||
| 14 | are owner-occupied residential structures. This requirement | ||||||
| 15 | applies only to the initial construction of the project and | ||||||
| 16 | does not apply in perpetuity to either future modifications to | ||||||
| 17 | the structure or other construction projects not funded by the | ||||||
| 18 | proceeds of the transfer or sale of the credit. | ||||||
| 19 | (d) A taxpayer claiming the credit provided by this | ||||||
| 20 | Section must maintain and record any information that the | ||||||
| 21 | Department may require by regulation regarding the project for | ||||||
| 22 | which the credit is claimed. When claiming the credit provided | ||||||
| 23 | by this Section, the taxpayer must provide information | ||||||
| 24 | regarding the taxpayer's donation to the project under the | ||||||
| 25 | Illinois Housing Development Act. | ||||||
| 26 | (Source: P.A. 102-16, eff. 6-17-21; 102-175, eff. 7-29-21; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 103-396, eff. 1-1-24.) | ||||||
| 2 | Section 40. The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act | ||||||
| 3 | is amended by changing Section 12 as follows: | ||||||
| 4 | (115 ILCS 5/12) (from Ch. 48, par. 1712) | ||||||
| 5 | Sec. 12. Impasse procedures. | ||||||
| 6 | (a) This subsection (a) applies only to collective | ||||||
| 7 | bargaining between an educational employer that is not a | ||||||
| 8 | public school district organized under Article 34 of the | ||||||
| 9 | School Code and an exclusive representative of its employees. | ||||||
| 10 | If the parties engaged in collective bargaining have not | ||||||
| 11 | reached an agreement by 90 days before the scheduled start of | ||||||
| 12 | the forthcoming school year, the parties shall notify the | ||||||
| 13 | Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board concerning the | ||||||
| 14 | status of negotiations. This notice shall include a statement | ||||||
| 15 | on whether mediation has been used. | ||||||
| 16 | Upon demand of either party, collective bargaining between | ||||||
| 17 | the employer and an exclusive bargaining representative must | ||||||
| 18 | begin within 60 days of the date of certification of the | ||||||
| 19 | representative by the Board, or in the case of an existing | ||||||
| 20 | exclusive bargaining representative, within 60 days of the | ||||||
| 21 | receipt by a party of a demand to bargain issued by the other | ||||||
| 22 | party. Once commenced, collective bargaining must continue for | ||||||
| 23 | at least a 60 day period, unless a contract is entered into. | ||||||
| 24 | Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Section, if after a reasonable period of negotiation and | ||||||
| 2 | within 90 days of the scheduled start of the forth-coming | ||||||
| 3 | school year, the parties engaged in collective bargaining have | ||||||
| 4 | reached an impasse, either party may petition the Board to | ||||||
| 5 | initiate mediation. Alternatively, the Board on its own motion | ||||||
| 6 | may initiate mediation during this period. However, mediation | ||||||
| 7 | shall be initiated by the Board at any time when jointly | ||||||
| 8 | requested by the parties and the services of the mediators | ||||||
| 9 | shall continuously be made available to the employer and to | ||||||
| 10 | the exclusive bargaining representative for purposes of | ||||||
| 11 | arbitration of grievances and mediation or arbitration of | ||||||
| 12 | contract disputes. If requested by the parties, the mediator | ||||||
| 13 | may perform fact-finding and in so doing conduct hearings and | ||||||
| 14 | make written findings and recommendations for resolution of | ||||||
| 15 | the dispute. Such mediation shall be provided by the Board and | ||||||
| 16 | shall be held before qualified impartial individuals. Nothing | ||||||
| 17 | prohibits the use of other individuals or organizations such | ||||||
| 18 | as the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the | ||||||
| 19 | Illinois Department of Labor, or the American Arbitration | ||||||
| 20 | Association selected by both the exclusive bargaining | ||||||
| 21 | representative and the employer. | ||||||
| 22 | If the parties engaged in collective bargaining fail to | ||||||
| 23 | reach an agreement within 45 days of the scheduled start of the | ||||||
| 24 | forthcoming school year and have not requested mediation, the | ||||||
| 25 | Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board shall invoke | ||||||
| 26 | mediation. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Whenever mediation is initiated or invoked under this | ||||||
| 2 | subsection (a), the parties may stipulate to defer selection | ||||||
| 3 | of a mediator in accordance with rules adopted by the Board. | ||||||
| 4 | (a-5) This subsection (a-5) applies only to collective | ||||||
| 5 | bargaining between a public school district or a combination | ||||||
| 6 | of public school districts, including, but not limited to, | ||||||
| 7 | joint cooperatives, that is not organized under Article 34 of | ||||||
| 8 | the School Code and an exclusive representative of its | ||||||
| 9 | employees. | ||||||
| 10 | (1) Any time 15 days after mediation has commenced, | ||||||
| 11 | either party may initiate the public posting process. The | ||||||
| 12 | mediator may initiate the public posting process at any | ||||||
| 13 | time 15 days after mediation has commenced during the | ||||||
| 14 | mediation process. Initiation of the public posting | ||||||
| 15 | process must be filed in writing with the Board, and | ||||||
| 16 | copies must be submitted to the parties on the same day the | ||||||
| 17 | initiation is filed with the Board. | ||||||
| 18 | (2) Within 7 days after the initiation of the public | ||||||
| 19 | posting process, each party shall submit to the mediator, | ||||||
| 20 | the Board, and the other party in writing the most recent | ||||||
| 21 | offer of the party, including a cost summary of the offer. | ||||||
| 22 | Seven days after receipt of the parties' offers, the Board | ||||||
| 23 | shall make public the offers and each party's cost summary | ||||||
| 24 | dealing with those issues on which the parties have failed | ||||||
| 25 | to reach agreement by immediately posting the offers on | ||||||
| 26 | its Internet website, unless otherwise notified by the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | mediator or jointly by the parties that agreement has been | ||||||
| 2 | reached. On the same day of publication by the Board, at a | ||||||
| 3 | minimum, the school district shall distribute notice of | ||||||
| 4 | the availability of the offers on the Board's Internet | ||||||
| 5 | website to all news media that have filed an annual | ||||||
| 6 | request for notices from the school district pursuant to | ||||||
| 7 | Section 2.02 of the Open Meetings Act. The parties' offers | ||||||
| 8 | shall remain on the Board's Internet website until the | ||||||
| 9 | parties have reached and ratified an agreement. | ||||||
| 10 | (a-10) This subsection (a-10) applies only to collective | ||||||
| 11 | bargaining between a public school district organized under | ||||||
| 12 | Article 34 of the School Code and an exclusive representative | ||||||
| 13 | of its employees, other than educational employees who are | ||||||
| 14 | forbidden from striking under this Act. For educational | ||||||
| 15 | employees who are forbidden from striking, either the employer | ||||||
| 16 | or exclusive representative may elect to utilize the | ||||||
| 17 | fact-finding procedures set forth in this subsection (a-10), | ||||||
| 18 | except as otherwise specified in paragraph (5) of this | ||||||
| 19 | subsection (a-10). | ||||||
| 20 | (1) For collective bargaining agreements between an | ||||||
| 21 | educational employer to which this subsection (a-10) | ||||||
| 22 | applies and an exclusive representative of its employees, | ||||||
| 23 | if the parties fail to reach an agreement after a | ||||||
| 24 | reasonable period of mediation, the dispute shall be | ||||||
| 25 | submitted to fact-finding in accordance with this | ||||||
| 26 | subsection (a-10). Either the educational employer or the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | exclusive representative may initiate fact-finding by | ||||||
| 2 | submitting a written demand to the other party with a copy | ||||||
| 3 | of the demand submitted simultaneously to the Board. | ||||||
| 4 | (2) Within 3 days following a party's demand for | ||||||
| 5 | fact-finding, each party shall appoint one member of the | ||||||
| 6 | fact-finding panel, unless the parties agree to proceed | ||||||
| 7 | without a tri-partite panel. Following these appointments, | ||||||
| 8 | if any, the parties shall select a qualified impartial | ||||||
| 9 | individual to serve as the fact-finder and chairperson of | ||||||
| 10 | the fact-finding panel, if applicable. An individual shall | ||||||
| 11 | be considered qualified to serve as the fact-finder and | ||||||
| 12 | chairperson of the fact-finding panel, if applicable, if | ||||||
| 13 | he or she was not the same individual who was appointed as | ||||||
| 14 | the mediator and if he or she satisfies the following | ||||||
| 15 | requirements: membership in good standing with the | ||||||
| 16 | National Academy of Arbitrators, Federal Mediation and | ||||||
| 17 | Conciliation Service, or American Arbitration Association | ||||||
| 18 | for a minimum of 10 years; membership on the mediation | ||||||
| 19 | roster for the Illinois Labor Relations Board or Illinois | ||||||
| 20 | Educational Labor Relations Board; issuance of at least 5 | ||||||
| 21 | interest arbitration awards arising under the Illinois | ||||||
| 22 | Public Labor Relations Act; and participation in impasse | ||||||
| 23 | resolution processes arising under private or public | ||||||
| 24 | sector collective bargaining statutes in other states. If | ||||||
| 25 | the parties are unable to agree on a fact-finder, the | ||||||
| 26 | parties shall request a panel of fact-finders who satisfy | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the requirements set forth in this paragraph (2) from | ||||||
| 2 | either the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or | ||||||
| 3 | the American Arbitration Association and shall select a | ||||||
| 4 | fact-finder from such panel in accordance with the | ||||||
| 5 | procedures established by the organization providing the | ||||||
| 6 | panel. | ||||||
| 7 | (3) The fact-finder shall have the following duties | ||||||
| 8 | and powers: | ||||||
| 9 | (A) to require the parties to submit a statement | ||||||
| 10 | of disputed issues and their positions regarding each | ||||||
| 11 | issue either jointly or separately; | ||||||
| 12 | (B) to identify disputed issues that are economic | ||||||
| 13 | in nature; | ||||||
| 14 | (C) to meet with the parties either separately or | ||||||
| 15 | in executive sessions; | ||||||
| 16 | (D) to conduct hearings and regulate the time, | ||||||
| 17 | place, course, and manner of the hearings; | ||||||
| 18 | (E) to request the Board to issue subpoenas | ||||||
| 19 | requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses or | ||||||
| 20 | the production of evidence; | ||||||
| 21 | (F) to administer oaths and affirmations; | ||||||
| 22 | (G) to examine witnesses and documents; | ||||||
| 23 | (H) to create a full and complete written record | ||||||
| 24 | of the hearings; | ||||||
| 25 | (I) to attempt mediation or remand a disputed | ||||||
| 26 | issue to the parties for further collective | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | bargaining; | ||||||
| 2 | (J) to require the parties to submit final offers | ||||||
| 3 | for each disputed issue either individually or as a | ||||||
| 4 | package or as a combination of both; and | ||||||
| 5 | (K) to employ any other measures deemed | ||||||
| 6 | appropriate to resolve the impasse. | ||||||
| 7 | (4) If the dispute is not settled within 75 days after | ||||||
| 8 | the appointment of the fact-finding panel, the | ||||||
| 9 | fact-finding panel shall issue a private report to the | ||||||
| 10 | parties that contains advisory findings of fact and | ||||||
| 11 | recommended terms of settlement for all disputed issues | ||||||
| 12 | and that sets forth a rationale for each recommendation. | ||||||
| 13 | The fact-finding panel, acting by a majority of its | ||||||
| 14 | members, shall base its findings and recommendations upon | ||||||
| 15 | the following criteria as applicable: | ||||||
| 16 | (A) the lawful authority of the employer; | ||||||
| 17 | (B) the federal and State statutes or local | ||||||
| 18 | ordinances and resolutions applicable to the employer; | ||||||
| 19 | (C) prior collective bargaining agreements and the | ||||||
| 20 | bargaining history between the parties; | ||||||
| 21 | (D) stipulations of the parties; | ||||||
| 22 | (E) the interests and welfare of the public and | ||||||
| 23 | the students and families served by the employer; | ||||||
| 24 | (F) the employer's financial ability to fund the | ||||||
| 25 | proposals based on existing available resources, | ||||||
| 26 | provided that such ability is not predicated on an | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are | ||||||
| 2 | available or that the employer may or will receive or | ||||||
| 3 | develop new sources of revenue or increase existing | ||||||
| 4 | sources of revenue; | ||||||
| 5 | (G) the impact of any economic adjustments on the | ||||||
| 6 | employer's ability to pursue its educational mission; | ||||||
| 7 | (H) the present and future general economic | ||||||
| 8 | conditions in the locality and State; | ||||||
| 9 | (I) a comparison of the wages, hours, and | ||||||
| 10 | conditions of employment of the employees involved in | ||||||
| 11 | the dispute with the wages, hours, and conditions of | ||||||
| 12 | employment of employees performing similar services in | ||||||
| 13 | public education in the 10 largest U.S. cities, except | ||||||
| 14 | that for educational employees who are forbidden to | ||||||
| 15 | strike, this comparison shall be based on comparable | ||||||
| 16 | communities; | ||||||
| 17 | (J) the average consumer prices in urban areas for | ||||||
| 18 | goods and services, which is commonly known as the | ||||||
| 19 | cost of living; | ||||||
| 20 | (K) the overall compensation presently received by | ||||||
| 21 | the employees involved in the dispute, including | ||||||
| 22 | direct wage compensation; vacations, holidays, and | ||||||
| 23 | other excused time; insurance and pensions; medical | ||||||
| 24 | and hospitalization benefits; the continuity and | ||||||
| 25 | stability of employment and all other benefits | ||||||
| 26 | received; and how each party's proposed compensation | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | structure supports the educational goals of the | ||||||
| 2 | district, however for educational employees who are | ||||||
| 3 | forbidden from striking, this analysis shall also | ||||||
| 4 | include all other employees who are employed by the | ||||||
| 5 | educational employer; | ||||||
| 6 | (L) changes in any of the circumstances listed in | ||||||
| 7 | items (A) through (K) of this paragraph (4) during the | ||||||
| 8 | fact-finding proceedings; | ||||||
| 9 | (M) the effect that any term the parties are at | ||||||
| 10 | impasse on has or may have on the overall educational | ||||||
| 11 | environment, learning conditions, and working | ||||||
| 12 | conditions with the school district; and | ||||||
| 13 | (N) the effect that any term the parties are at | ||||||
| 14 | impasse on has or may have in promoting the public | ||||||
| 15 | policy of this State. | ||||||
| 16 | (5) The fact-finding panel's recommended terms of | ||||||
| 17 | settlement shall be deemed agreed upon by the parties as | ||||||
| 18 | the final resolution of the disputed issues and | ||||||
| 19 | incorporated into the collective bargaining agreement | ||||||
| 20 | executed by the parties, unless either party tenders to | ||||||
| 21 | the other party and the chairperson of the fact-finding | ||||||
| 22 | panel a notice of rejection of the recommended terms of | ||||||
| 23 | settlement with a rationale for the rejection, within 15 | ||||||
| 24 | days after the date of issuance of the fact-finding | ||||||
| 25 | panel's report. With regard to educational employees who | ||||||
| 26 | are forbidden from striking, if either party submits a | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | notice of rejection, either party may utilize mandatory | ||||||
| 2 | interest arbitration proceedings established in subsection | ||||||
| 3 | (e). For all other educational employees subject to this | ||||||
| 4 | subsection (a-10), if either party submits a notice of | ||||||
| 5 | rejection, the chairperson of the fact-finding panel shall | ||||||
| 6 | publish the fact-finding panel's report and the notice of | ||||||
| 7 | rejection for public information by delivering a copy to | ||||||
| 8 | all newspapers of general circulation in the community | ||||||
| 9 | with simultaneous written notice to the parties. | ||||||
| 10 | The changes made to this subsection (a-10) by this | ||||||
| 11 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly apply only to | ||||||
| 12 | collective bargaining agreements entered into, modified, | ||||||
| 13 | extended, or renewed on or after the effective date of this | ||||||
| 14 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. | ||||||
| 15 | (b) (Blank). | ||||||
| 16 | (c) The costs of fact finding and mediation shall be | ||||||
| 17 | shared equally between the employer and the exclusive | ||||||
| 18 | bargaining agent, provided that, for purposes of mediation | ||||||
| 19 | under this Act, if either party requests the use of mediation | ||||||
| 20 | services from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service | ||||||
| 21 | or, if the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is | ||||||
| 22 | unable to provide mediation services, from the Illinois | ||||||
| 23 | Department of Labor, the other party shall either join in such | ||||||
| 24 | request or bear the additional cost of mediation services from | ||||||
| 25 | another source. All other costs and expenses of complying with | ||||||
| 26 | this Section must be borne by the party incurring them. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (c-5) If an educational employer or exclusive bargaining | ||||||
| 2 | representative refuses to participate in mediation or fact | ||||||
| 3 | finding when required by this Section, the refusal shall be | ||||||
| 4 | deemed a refusal to bargain in good faith. | ||||||
| 5 | (d) Nothing in this Act prevents an employer and an | ||||||
| 6 | exclusive bargaining representative from mutually submitting | ||||||
| 7 | to final and binding impartial arbitration unresolved issues | ||||||
| 8 | concerning the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement. | ||||||
| 9 | (e) This subsection only applies to collective bargaining | ||||||
| 10 | between a public school district organized under Article 34 of | ||||||
| 11 | the School Code and an exclusive representative of educational | ||||||
| 12 | employees who are forbidden from striking under this Act after | ||||||
| 13 | the parties reach impasse when bargaining an initial and any | ||||||
| 14 | successor collective bargaining agreements. Educational | ||||||
| 15 | employees who are forbidden from striking have the right to | ||||||
| 16 | submit negotiation disputes regarding wages, hours, and | ||||||
| 17 | conditions of employment that are mandatory subjects of | ||||||
| 18 | bargaining for resolution through the following mandatory | ||||||
| 19 | arbitration procedures: | ||||||
| 20 | (1) For collective bargaining agreements between an | ||||||
| 21 | educational employer and exclusive representative, | ||||||
| 22 | mediation shall commence 30 days prior to the expiration | ||||||
| 23 | of a collective bargaining agreement; or upon 15 days' | ||||||
| 24 | notice from either party; or at such later time as the | ||||||
| 25 | mediation services chosen can be provided to the parties. | ||||||
| 26 | In mediation under this Section, if either party requests | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the use of mediation services from the Federal Mediation | ||||||
| 2 | and Conciliation Service, the other party shall either | ||||||
| 3 | join in such request or bear the additional cost of | ||||||
| 4 | mediation services from another source. The mediator shall | ||||||
| 5 | have a duty to keep the Board informed on the progress of | ||||||
| 6 | the mediation. If any dispute has not been resolved within | ||||||
| 7 | 15 days after the first meeting of the parties and the | ||||||
| 8 | mediator, or within such other time limit as may be | ||||||
| 9 | mutually agreed upon by the parties, either the exclusive | ||||||
| 10 | representative or employer may request of the other, in | ||||||
| 11 | writing, arbitration, and shall submit a copy of the | ||||||
| 12 | request to the Board. | ||||||
| 13 | (2) Within 10 days after such a request for | ||||||
| 14 | arbitration has been made, the educational employer shall | ||||||
| 15 | choose a delegate and the employees' exclusive | ||||||
| 16 | representative shall choose a delegate to a panel of | ||||||
| 17 | arbitration as provided in this Section. The employer and | ||||||
| 18 | employees shall forthwith advise the other and the Board | ||||||
| 19 | of their selections. The parties may agree to waive the | ||||||
| 20 | tripartite panel and use a sole arbitrator to resolve this | ||||||
| 21 | issue. | ||||||
| 22 | (3) Within 7 days after the request of either party, | ||||||
| 23 | the parties shall request a panel of impartial arbitrators | ||||||
| 24 | from which they shall select the neutral chairperson, or | ||||||
| 25 | sole arbitrator, according to the procedures provided in | ||||||
| 26 | this Section. If the parties have agreed to a contract | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | that contains a grievance resolution procedure, the | ||||||
| 2 | chairperson or sole arbitrator shall be selected using | ||||||
| 3 | their agreed contract procedure unless they mutually agree | ||||||
| 4 | to another procedure. If the parties fail to notify the | ||||||
| 5 | Board of their selection of a neutral chairperson within 7 | ||||||
| 6 | days after receipt of the list of impartial arbitrators, | ||||||
| 7 | the Board shall appoint, at random, a neutral chairperson | ||||||
| 8 | from the list. In the absence of an agreed contract | ||||||
| 9 | procedure for selecting an impartial arbitrator, the | ||||||
| 10 | parties shall submit a request to the Federal Mediation | ||||||
| 11 | and Conciliation Service for a panel of 7 arbitrators who | ||||||
| 12 | are members in good standing with the National Academy of | ||||||
| 13 | Arbitrators, and have issued at least 5 interest | ||||||
| 14 | arbitration awards arising under the Illinois Public Labor | ||||||
| 15 | Relations Act or this Act. The parties shall conduct a | ||||||
| 16 | coin toss to determine who strikes first, and the parties | ||||||
| 17 | shall alternately strike arbitrators from the list until | ||||||
| 18 | one remains. The parties shall promptly notify the Board | ||||||
| 19 | of their selection. | ||||||
| 20 | (4) The chairperson or sole arbitrator shall call a | ||||||
| 21 | hearing to begin within 15 days and give reasonable notice | ||||||
| 22 | of the time and place of the hearing. The hearing shall be | ||||||
| 23 | held at the offices of the Board or at such other location | ||||||
| 24 | as the Board deems appropriate. The chairperson or sole | ||||||
| 25 | arbitrator shall preside over the hearing and shall take | ||||||
| 26 | testimony. Any oral or documentary evidence and other data | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | deemed relevant by the arbitration panel may be received | ||||||
| 2 | in evidence. The proceedings shall be informal. Technical | ||||||
| 3 | rules of evidence shall not apply and the competency of | ||||||
| 4 | the evidence shall not thereby be deemed impaired. A | ||||||
| 5 | verbatim record of the proceedings shall be made and the | ||||||
| 6 | arbitrator shall arrange for the necessary recording | ||||||
| 7 | service. Transcripts may be ordered at the expense of the | ||||||
| 8 | party ordering them, but the transcripts shall not be | ||||||
| 9 | necessary for a decision by the arbitration panel or sole | ||||||
| 10 | arbitrator. The expense of the proceedings, including a | ||||||
| 11 | fee for the chairperson or sole arbitrator, shall be borne | ||||||
| 12 | equally by each of the parties to the dispute. The | ||||||
| 13 | delegates, if public officers or employees, shall continue | ||||||
| 14 | on the payroll of the public employer without loss of pay. | ||||||
| 15 | The hearing conducted by the arbitration panel or sole | ||||||
| 16 | arbitrator may be adjourned from time to time, but unless | ||||||
| 17 | otherwise agreed by the parties, shall be concluded within | ||||||
| 18 | 30 days of the time of its commencement. Majority actions | ||||||
| 19 | and rulings shall constitute the actions and rulings of | ||||||
| 20 | the arbitration panel. Arbitration proceedings under this | ||||||
| 21 | Section shall not be interrupted or terminated by reason | ||||||
| 22 | of any unfair labor practice charge filed by either party | ||||||
| 23 | at any time. | ||||||
| 24 | (5) The arbitration panel or sole arbitrator may | ||||||
| 25 | administer oaths, require the attendance of witnesses, and | ||||||
| 26 | the production of such books, papers, contracts, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | agreements, and documents as may be deemed by it material | ||||||
| 2 | to a just determination of the issues in dispute, and for | ||||||
| 3 | such purpose may issue subpoenas. If any person refuses to | ||||||
| 4 | obey a subpoena, or refuses to be sworn or to testify, or | ||||||
| 5 | if any witness, party, or attorney is guilty of any | ||||||
| 6 | contempt while in attendance at any hearing, the | ||||||
| 7 | arbitration panel or sole arbitrator may, or the Attorney | ||||||
| 8 | General if requested shall, invoke the aid of any circuit | ||||||
| 9 | court within the jurisdiction in which the hearing is | ||||||
| 10 | being held, which court shall issue an appropriate order. | ||||||
| 11 | Any failure to obey the order may be punished by the court | ||||||
| 12 | as contempt. | ||||||
| 13 | (6) At any time before the rendering of an award, the | ||||||
| 14 | chairperson of the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator, | ||||||
| 15 | if the chairperson of the arbitration panel or sole | ||||||
| 16 | arbitrator is of the opinion that it would be useful or | ||||||
| 17 | beneficial to do so, may remand the dispute to the parties | ||||||
| 18 | for further collective bargaining for a period not to | ||||||
| 19 | exceed 2 weeks. If the dispute is remanded for further | ||||||
| 20 | collective bargaining, the time provisions of this Act | ||||||
| 21 | shall be extended for a time period equal to that of the | ||||||
| 22 | remand. The chairperson of the arbitration panel or sole | ||||||
| 23 | arbitrator shall notify the Board of the remand. | ||||||
| 24 | (7) At or before the conclusion of the hearing held | ||||||
| 25 | pursuant to paragraph (4), the arbitration panel or sole | ||||||
| 26 | arbitrator shall identify the economic issues in dispute, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | and direct each of the parties to submit, within such time | ||||||
| 2 | limit as the panel shall prescribe, to the arbitration | ||||||
| 3 | panel or sole arbitrator and to each other its last offer | ||||||
| 4 | of settlement on each economic issue. The determination of | ||||||
| 5 | the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator as to the issues | ||||||
| 6 | in dispute and as to which of these issues are economic | ||||||
| 7 | shall be conclusive. The arbitration panel or sole | ||||||
| 8 | arbitrator, within 30 days after the conclusion of the | ||||||
| 9 | hearing, or such further additional periods to which the | ||||||
| 10 | parties may agree, shall make written findings of fact and | ||||||
| 11 | adopt a written opinion and shall mail or otherwise | ||||||
| 12 | deliver a true copy thereof to the parties and their | ||||||
| 13 | representatives and to the Board. As to each economic | ||||||
| 14 | issue, the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator shall | ||||||
| 15 | adopt the last offer of settlement which, in the opinion | ||||||
| 16 | of the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator, more nearly | ||||||
| 17 | complies with the applicable factors prescribed in | ||||||
| 18 | paragraph (8). The findings, opinions, and order as to all | ||||||
| 19 | other issues shall be based upon the applicable factors | ||||||
| 20 | prescribed in paragraph (8). | ||||||
| 21 | (8) The arbitration decision shall be limited to | ||||||
| 22 | mandatory subjects of bargaining. If there is no agreement | ||||||
| 23 | between the parties, or if there is an agreement but the | ||||||
| 24 | parties have begun negotiations or discussions looking to | ||||||
| 25 | a new agreement or amendment of the existing agreement, | ||||||
| 26 | and wage rates or other conditions of employment under the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | proposed new or amended agreement are in dispute, the | ||||||
| 2 | arbitration panel shall base its findings, opinions, and | ||||||
| 3 | order upon the following factors, as applicable: | ||||||
| 4 | (A) the lawful authority of the employer; | ||||||
| 5 | (B) the federal and State statutes or local | ||||||
| 6 | ordinances and resolutions applicable to the employer; | ||||||
| 7 | (C) prior collective bargaining agreements and the | ||||||
| 8 | bargaining history between the parties; | ||||||
| 9 | (D) stipulations of the parties; | ||||||
| 10 | (E) the interests and welfare of the public and | ||||||
| 11 | the students and families served by the employer; | ||||||
| 12 | (F) the employer's financial ability to fund the | ||||||
| 13 | proposals based on existing available resources, | ||||||
| 14 | provided that such ability is not predicated on an | ||||||
| 15 | assumption that lines of credit or reserve funds are | ||||||
| 16 | available or that the employer may or will receive or | ||||||
| 17 | develop new sources of revenue or increase existing | ||||||
| 18 | sources of revenue; | ||||||
| 19 | (G) the impact of any economic adjustments on the | ||||||
| 20 | employer's ability to pursue its educational mission; | ||||||
| 21 | (H) the present and future general economic | ||||||
| 22 | conditions in the locality and State; | ||||||
| 23 | (I) a comparison of the wages, hours, and | ||||||
| 24 | conditions of employment of the employees involved in | ||||||
| 25 | the arbitration proceeding with the wages, hours, and | ||||||
| 26 | conditions of employment of other employees performing | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | similar services in public education in the 10 largest | ||||||
| 2 | cities in the United States; | ||||||
| 3 | (J) the average consumer prices in urban areas for | ||||||
| 4 | goods and services, which is commonly known as the | ||||||
| 5 | cost of living; | ||||||
| 6 | (K) the overall compensation presently received by | ||||||
| 7 | the employees involved in the dispute and by all other | ||||||
| 8 | employees who are employed by the educational | ||||||
| 9 | employer, including direct wage compensation; | ||||||
| 10 | vacations, holidays, and other excused time, insurance | ||||||
| 11 | and pensions, medical and hospitalization benefits, | ||||||
| 12 | the continuity and stability of employment and all | ||||||
| 13 | other benefits received, and how each party's proposed | ||||||
| 14 | compensation structure supports the educational goals | ||||||
| 15 | of the district; | ||||||
| 16 | (L) changes in any of the circumstances listed in | ||||||
| 17 | items (A) through (K) of this paragraph (8) during the | ||||||
| 18 | arbitration proceedings; | ||||||
| 19 | (M) the effect that any term the parties are at | ||||||
| 20 | impasse on has or may have on the overall educational | ||||||
| 21 | environment, learning conditions, and working | ||||||
| 22 | conditions with the school district; and | ||||||
| 23 | (N) the effect that any term the parties are at | ||||||
| 24 | impasse on has or may have in promoting the public | ||||||
| 25 | policy of this State. | ||||||
| 26 | No terms in the arbitration award or order may | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | conflict with any terms and conditions set forth in a | ||||||
| 2 | collective bargaining agreement between the educational | ||||||
| 3 | employer and another collective bargaining representative. | ||||||
| 4 | (9) Arbitration procedures shall be deemed to be | ||||||
| 5 | initiated by the filing of a letter requesting mediation | ||||||
| 6 | as required under paragraph (1). The commencement of a new | ||||||
| 7 | fiscal year after the initiation of arbitration procedures | ||||||
| 8 | under this Act, but before the arbitration decision, or | ||||||
| 9 | its enforcement, shall not be deemed to render a dispute | ||||||
| 10 | moot, or to otherwise impair the jurisdiction or authority | ||||||
| 11 | of the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator or its | ||||||
| 12 | decision. Increases in rates of compensation awarded by | ||||||
| 13 | the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator may be effective | ||||||
| 14 | only at the start of the fiscal year next commencing after | ||||||
| 15 | the date of the arbitration award. If a new fiscal year has | ||||||
| 16 | commenced either since the initiation of arbitration | ||||||
| 17 | procedures under this Act or since any mutually agreed | ||||||
| 18 | extension of the statutorily required period of mediation | ||||||
| 19 | under this Act by the parties to the labor dispute causing | ||||||
| 20 | a delay in the initiation of arbitration, the foregoing | ||||||
| 21 | limitations shall be inapplicable, and such awarded | ||||||
| 22 | increases may be retroactive to the commencement of the | ||||||
| 23 | fiscal year, any other statute or charter provisions to | ||||||
| 24 | the contrary, notwithstanding. At any time the parties, by | ||||||
| 25 | stipulation, may amend or modify an award of arbitration. | ||||||
| 26 | (10) Orders of the arbitration panel or sole | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | arbitrator shall be reviewable, upon appropriate petition | ||||||
| 2 | by either the educational employer or the exclusive | ||||||
| 3 | bargaining representative, by the circuit court for the | ||||||
| 4 | county in which the dispute arose or in which a majority of | ||||||
| 5 | the affected employees reside, but only for reasons that | ||||||
| 6 | the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator was without or | ||||||
| 7 | exceeded its statutory authority; the order is arbitrary, | ||||||
| 8 | or capricious; or the order was procured by fraud, | ||||||
| 9 | collusion, or other similar and unlawful means. Such | ||||||
| 10 | petitions for review must be filed with the appropriate | ||||||
| 11 | circuit court within 90 days following the issuance of the | ||||||
| 12 | arbitration order. The pendency of such proceeding for | ||||||
| 13 | review shall not automatically stay the order of the | ||||||
| 14 | arbitration panel or sole arbitrator. The party against | ||||||
| 15 | whom the final decision of any such court shall be | ||||||
| 16 | adverse, if such court finds such appeal or petition to be | ||||||
| 17 | frivolous, shall pay reasonable attorney's fees and costs | ||||||
| 18 | to the successful party as determined by said court in its | ||||||
| 19 | discretion. If said court's decision affirms the award of | ||||||
| 20 | money, such award, if retroactive, shall bear interest at | ||||||
| 21 | the rate of 12% per annum from the effective retroactive | ||||||
| 22 | date. | ||||||
| 23 | (11) During the pendency of proceedings before the | ||||||
| 24 | arbitration panel or sole arbitrator, existing wages, | ||||||
| 25 | hours, and other conditions of employment shall not be | ||||||
| 26 | changed by action of either party without the consent of | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | the other but a party may so consent without prejudice to | ||||||
| 2 | the party's rights or position under this Act. The | ||||||
| 3 | proceedings are deemed to be pending before the | ||||||
| 4 | arbitration panel or sole arbitrator upon the initiation | ||||||
| 5 | of arbitration procedures under this Act. | ||||||
| 6 | (12) The educational employees covered by this Section | ||||||
| 7 | may not withhold services, nor may educational employers | ||||||
| 8 | lock out or prevent such employees from performing | ||||||
| 9 | services at any time. | ||||||
| 10 | (13) All of the terms decided upon by the arbitration | ||||||
| 11 | panel or sole arbitrator shall be included in an agreement | ||||||
| 12 | to be submitted to the educational employer's governing | ||||||
| 13 | body for ratification and adoption by law, ordinance, or | ||||||
| 14 | the equivalent appropriate means. | ||||||
| 15 | The governing body shall review each term decided by | ||||||
| 16 | the arbitration panel or sole arbitrator. If the governing | ||||||
| 17 | body fails to reject one or more terms of the arbitration | ||||||
| 18 | panel's or sole arbitrator's decision by a 3/5 vote of | ||||||
| 19 | those duly elected and qualified members of the governing | ||||||
| 20 | body, at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the | ||||||
| 21 | governing body after issuance, such term or terms shall | ||||||
| 22 | become a part of the collective bargaining agreement of | ||||||
| 23 | the parties. If the governing body affirmatively rejects | ||||||
| 24 | one or more terms of the arbitration panel's or sole | ||||||
| 25 | arbitrator's decision, it must provide reasons for such | ||||||
| 26 | rejection with respect to each term so rejected, within 20 | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | days of such rejection and the parties shall return to the | ||||||
| 2 | arbitration panel or sole arbitrator for further | ||||||
| 3 | proceedings and issuance of a supplemental decision with | ||||||
| 4 | respect to the rejected terms. Any supplemental decision | ||||||
| 5 | by an arbitration panel, sole arbitrator, or other | ||||||
| 6 | decision maker agreed to by the parties shall be submitted | ||||||
| 7 | to the governing body for ratification and adoption in | ||||||
| 8 | accordance with the procedures and voting requirements set | ||||||
| 9 | forth in this Section. The voting requirements of this | ||||||
| 10 | subsection shall apply to all disputes submitted to | ||||||
| 11 | arbitration pursuant to this Section notwithstanding any | ||||||
| 12 | contrary voting requirements contained in any existing | ||||||
| 13 | collective bargaining agreement between the parties. | ||||||
| 14 | (14) If the governing body of the employer votes to | ||||||
| 15 | reject the panel's or sole arbitrator's decision, the | ||||||
| 16 | parties shall return to the panel or sole arbitrator | ||||||
| 17 | within 30 days from the issuance of the reasons for | ||||||
| 18 | rejection for further proceedings and issuance of a | ||||||
| 19 | supplemental decision. All reasonable costs of such | ||||||
| 20 | supplemental proceeding including the exclusive | ||||||
| 21 | representative's reasonable attorney's fees, as | ||||||
| 22 | established by the Board, shall be paid by the educational | ||||||
| 23 | employer. | ||||||
| 24 | (15) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, | ||||||
| 25 | the educational employer and exclusive representative may | ||||||
| 26 | agree to submit unresolved disputes concerning wages, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | hours, terms, and conditions of employment to an | ||||||
| 2 | alternative form of impasse resolution. | ||||||
| 3 | (16) The costs of mediation and arbitration shall be | ||||||
| 4 | shared equally between the educational employer and the | ||||||
| 5 | exclusive bargaining agent, provided that for purposes of | ||||||
| 6 | mediation under this Act, if either party requests the use | ||||||
| 7 | of mediation services from the Federal Mediation and | ||||||
| 8 | Conciliation Service, the other party shall either join in | ||||||
| 9 | such request or bear the additional cost of mediation | ||||||
| 10 | services from another source. All other costs and expenses | ||||||
| 11 | of complying with this Section must be borne by the party | ||||||
| 12 | incurring them, except as otherwise expressly provided. | ||||||
| 13 | (17) If an educational employer or exclusive | ||||||
| 14 | bargaining representative refuses to participate in | ||||||
| 15 | mediation or arbitration when required by this Section, | ||||||
| 16 | the refusal shall be deemed a refusal to bargain in good | ||||||
| 17 | faith. | ||||||
| 18 | (18) Nothing in this Act prevents an employer and an | ||||||
| 19 | exclusive bargaining representative who are not subject to | ||||||
| 20 | mandatory arbitration under this Section from mutually | ||||||
| 21 | submitting to final and binding impartial arbitration | ||||||
| 22 | unresolved issues concerning the terms of a new collective | ||||||
| 23 | bargaining agreement. | ||||||
| 24 | This subsection (e) applies only to collective bargaining | ||||||
| 25 | agreements entered into, modified, extended, or renewed on or | ||||||
| 26 | after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | General Assembly. | ||||||
| 2 | (Source: P.A. 103-1067, eff. 1-1-26.) | ||||||
| 3 | Section 45. The Broadband Infrastructure Advancement Act | ||||||
| 4 | is amended by changing Section 4-20 and by adding Section 4-30 | ||||||
| 5 | as follows: | ||||||
| 6 | (220 ILCS 81/4-20) | ||||||
| 7 | Sec. 4-20. Use of other broadband funds. The Department of | ||||||
| 8 | Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Office of Broadband, or | ||||||
| 9 | any other State agency, board, office, or commission | ||||||
| 10 | appropriated funding to provide grants for broadband | ||||||
| 11 | deployment, broadband expansion, broadband access, broadband | ||||||
| 12 | affordability, and broadband improvement projects must | ||||||
| 13 | establish program eligibility and selection criteria by | ||||||
| 14 | administrative rules. | ||||||
| 15 | The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, when | ||||||
| 16 | evaluating grant applications for the deployment of broadband | ||||||
| 17 | network, must consider the expediency with which a project can | ||||||
| 18 | be completed and broadband Internet access service delivered. | ||||||
| 19 | Projects for which the Department awards grants to deploy | ||||||
| 20 | broadband service in unserved areas or underserved areas shall | ||||||
| 21 | include, as a project expense, costs necessarily incurred for | ||||||
| 22 | the acquisition of any license, easement, right-of-way, or | ||||||
| 23 | other property interest, or for the use of or for access to | ||||||
| 24 | public utility (as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Utilities Act) owned or State or local government owned | ||||||
| 2 | infrastructure or assets for such project that are used | ||||||
| 3 | directly in the provision of broadband service to locations in | ||||||
| 4 | such unserved or underserved areas. | ||||||
| 5 | If a grantee for the Connect Illinois Program or the | ||||||
| 6 | grantee's contractors intend to solicit bids for the | ||||||
| 7 | construction or development of the project, the grantee or the | ||||||
| 8 | contractor shall post the solicitation on a public website for | ||||||
| 9 | the duration of the solicitation period and for 30 days after | ||||||
| 10 | the close of the solicitation period. The grantee shall | ||||||
| 11 | provide the URL for the public website to the Department and | ||||||
| 12 | the Office of Broadband shall make one URL for each grantee | ||||||
| 13 | publicly available on the Office of Broadband's website. Each | ||||||
| 14 | bid solicitation by a grantee shall be posted to the same URL. | ||||||
| 15 | (Source: P.A. 104-426, eff. 8-15-25.) | ||||||
| 16 | (220 ILCS 81/4-30 new) | ||||||
| 17 | Sec. 4-30. Apprenticeship participation requirements for | ||||||
| 18 | covered broadband projects. | ||||||
| 19 | (a) As used in this Section: | ||||||
| 20 | "Covered broadband project" means any broadband | ||||||
| 21 | infrastructure deployment that receives, in whole or in part, | ||||||
| 22 | grant or loan funds administered by the Department after the | ||||||
| 23 | effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General | ||||||
| 24 | Assembly or any successor broadband funding program | ||||||
| 25 | administered by the Department. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "Registered apprenticeship program" means a program | ||||||
| 2 | registered with and approved by the Office of Apprenticeship | ||||||
| 3 | within the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training | ||||||
| 4 | Administration under 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30 and that covers one | ||||||
| 5 | or more trades employed in construction, installation, or | ||||||
| 6 | maintenance of a covered broadband project. | ||||||
| 7 | (b) Not less than 60 days after the effective date of this | ||||||
| 8 | amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly, a person or | ||||||
| 9 | entity shall not be eligible to receive grant or loan funds for | ||||||
| 10 | a covered broadband project unless the applicant demonstrates, | ||||||
| 11 | at the time of application and on a continuous basis | ||||||
| 12 | throughout project construction, that the applicant, if | ||||||
| 13 | self-performing, or the applicant's contractor and | ||||||
| 14 | subcontractors, participation in a registered apprenticeship | ||||||
| 15 | program. A covered broadband project shall comply with the | ||||||
| 16 | requirements of this Section as a continuing condition of | ||||||
| 17 | eligibility throughout the construction phase of the project. | ||||||
| 18 | The project owner shall be responsible for ensuring that each | ||||||
| 19 | contractor and subcontractor performing work on the covered | ||||||
| 20 | broadband project complies with the apprenticeship | ||||||
| 21 | participation requirement of this Section, unless a good-faith | ||||||
| 22 | effort determination or waiver has been granted under | ||||||
| 23 | subsection (c). | ||||||
| 24 | (c) An applicant, contractor, or subcontractor that cannot | ||||||
| 25 | satisfy the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) through | ||||||
| 26 | immediate program participation may demonstrate a good-faith | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | effort to comply with the requirements by showing that the | ||||||
| 2 | applicant, contractor, or subcontractor: | ||||||
| 3 | (1) contacted at least 3 registered apprenticeship | ||||||
| 4 | programs in each applicable trade and requested apprentice | ||||||
| 5 | referrals not less than 30 days before beginning | ||||||
| 6 | construction; and | ||||||
| 7 | (2) documented responses, including the identity of | ||||||
| 8 | each registered apprenticeship program contacted, the date | ||||||
| 9 | of contact, and the reason any referred apprentices were | ||||||
| 10 | not employed. | ||||||
| 11 | An applicant, contractor, or subcontractor may seek a full | ||||||
| 12 | waiver upon a showing that no registered apprenticeship | ||||||
| 13 | program exists covering any of the occupational | ||||||
| 14 | classifications required for the covered broadband project. A | ||||||
| 15 | waiver granted under this subsection is valid only for the | ||||||
| 16 | duration of the project and only for the specific trade | ||||||
| 17 | classifications for which program unavailability is | ||||||
| 18 | demonstrated. | ||||||
| 19 | An applicant may seek a partial waiver upon a showing that | ||||||
| 20 | all programs contacted under paragraph (1) declined to refer | ||||||
| 21 | apprentices and no alternative programs are available within | ||||||
| 22 | 50 miles. | ||||||
| 23 | The Department shall document and publish all waivers | ||||||
| 24 | granted under this subsection in its annual report. | ||||||
| 25 | (d) The Department may withhold, suspend, or recover grant | ||||||
| 26 | or loan funds from any recipient of a covered broadband | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | project that fails to comply with the requirements of this | ||||||
| 2 | Section. | ||||||
| 3 | Before imposing sanctions under this subsection, the | ||||||
| 4 | Department shall provide the applicant or recipient with | ||||||
| 5 | written notice of non-compliance and a 60-day period to cure | ||||||
| 6 | the deficiency, except where the non-compliance is willful, | ||||||
| 7 | involves falsification of certified payroll records, or | ||||||
| 8 | constitutes a second or subsequent violation within a 3-year | ||||||
| 9 | period. | ||||||
| 10 | Any applicant that submits a materially false compliance | ||||||
| 11 | certification under subsection (f) shall be ineligible to | ||||||
| 12 | apply for covered broadband project grants for a period of 3 | ||||||
| 13 | years from the date of the adverse determination. The | ||||||
| 14 | Department shall maintain a public debarment list and shall | ||||||
| 15 | notify the Department of Labor of all debarment | ||||||
| 16 | determinations. | ||||||
| 17 | (e) Each applicant for a covered broadband project shall | ||||||
| 18 | submit, with the initial application, a signed certification | ||||||
| 19 | of compliance with this Section, identifying the registered | ||||||
| 20 | apprenticeship program or programs under which construction | ||||||
| 21 | work will be performed, or documenting the basis for a | ||||||
| 22 | good-faith effort claim or waiver request under subsection | ||||||
| 23 | (d). The Department shall include in its annual report a | ||||||
| 24 | summary of: | ||||||
| 25 | (1) the number and total construction value of covered | ||||||
| 26 | broadband projects subject to this Section; | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (2) the number of apprentices employed on covered | ||||||
| 2 | broadband projects and estimated total apprentice labor | ||||||
| 3 | hours; | ||||||
| 4 | (3) waivers and good-faith effort determinations | ||||||
| 5 | granted, including geographic and trade classification | ||||||
| 6 | data; and | ||||||
| 7 | (4) enforcement actions taken, including fund recovery | ||||||
| 8 | amounts. | ||||||
| 9 | (f) The Department may adopt rules necessary to implement | ||||||
| 10 | and administer this Section. | ||||||
| 11 | (g) This Section applies to grant applications submitted | ||||||
| 12 | to the Department at least 60 days after the effective date of | ||||||
| 13 | this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. | ||||||
| 14 | Section 50. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by | ||||||
| 15 | adding Section 8-804.6 as follows: | ||||||
| 16 | (735 ILCS 5/8-804.6 new) | ||||||
| 17 | Sec. 8-804.6. Mediator and parties to mediation. | ||||||
| 18 | (a) A mediator or an agency employing a mediator shall not | ||||||
| 19 | be compelled to disclose, in any court or to any | ||||||
| 20 | administrative board or agency arbitration or proceeding, | ||||||
| 21 | whether civil or criminal, any mediation communications or | ||||||
| 22 | mediation documents received or created during a mediation. | ||||||
| 23 | Mediation communications and mediation documents shall not be | ||||||
| 24 | admissible as evidence in any action or proceeding, including, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | but not limited to, a judicial, administrative, or arbitration | ||||||
| 2 | action or proceeding. | ||||||
| 3 | (b) A mediator may not testify about, use, or reveal any | ||||||
| 4 | information obtained during the course of a mediation in any | ||||||
| 5 | proceeding. | ||||||
| 6 | Section 55. The Prevailing Wage Act is amended by changing | ||||||
| 7 | Sections 2, 3, and 5 and by adding Section 2.2 as follows: | ||||||
| 8 | (820 ILCS 130/2) | ||||||
| 9 | Sec. 2. This Act applies to the wages of laborers, | ||||||
| 10 | mechanics, and other workers employed in any public works, as | ||||||
| 11 | hereinafter defined, by any public body and to anyone under | ||||||
| 12 | contracts for public works. This includes any maintenance, | ||||||
| 13 | repair, assembly, or disassembly work performed on equipment | ||||||
| 14 | whether owned, leased, or rented. | ||||||
| 15 | As used in this Act, unless the context indicates | ||||||
| 16 | otherwise: | ||||||
| 17 | "Public works" means all fixed works constructed or | ||||||
| 18 | demolished by any public body, or paid for wholly or in part | ||||||
| 19 | out of public funds. "Public works" as defined herein includes | ||||||
| 20 | all projects financed in whole or in part with bonds, grants, | ||||||
| 21 | loans, or other funds made available by or through the State or | ||||||
| 22 | any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited | ||||||
| 23 | to: bonds issued under the Industrial Project Revenue Bond Act | ||||||
| 24 | (Article 11, Division 74 of the Illinois Municipal Code), the | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Industrial Building Revenue Bond Act, the Illinois Finance | ||||||
| 2 | Authority Act, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act, | ||||||
| 3 | or the Build Illinois Bond Act; loans or other funds made | ||||||
| 4 | available pursuant to the Build Illinois Act; loans or other | ||||||
| 5 | funds made available pursuant to the Riverfront Development | ||||||
| 6 | Fund under Section 10-15 of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone | ||||||
| 7 | Act; funds received from the sale or transfer of tax credits | ||||||
| 8 | awarded by the State under Section 214 of the Illinois Income | ||||||
| 9 | Tax Act if the sale or transfer occurs prior to construction | ||||||
| 10 | beginning; or funds from the Fund for Illinois' Future under | ||||||
| 11 | Section 6z-47 of the State Finance Act, funds for school | ||||||
| 12 | construction under Section 5 of the General Obligation Bond | ||||||
| 13 | Act, funds authorized under Section 3 of the School | ||||||
| 14 | Construction Bond Act, funds for school infrastructure under | ||||||
| 15 | Section 6z-45 of the State Finance Act, and funds for | ||||||
| 16 | transportation purposes under Section 4 of the General | ||||||
| 17 | Obligation Bond Act. "Public works" also includes all federal | ||||||
| 18 | construction projects administered or controlled by a public | ||||||
| 19 | body if the prevailing rate of wages is equal to or greater | ||||||
| 20 | than the prevailing wage determination by the United States | ||||||
| 21 | Secretary of Labor for the same locality for the same type of | ||||||
| 22 | construction used to classify the federal construction | ||||||
| 23 | project. "Public works" also includes (i) all projects | ||||||
| 24 | financed in whole or in part with funds from the Environmental | ||||||
| 25 | Protection Agency under the Illinois Renewable Fuels | ||||||
| 26 | Development Program Act for which there is no project labor | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | agreement; (ii) all work performed pursuant to a public | ||||||
| 2 | private agreement under the Public Private Agreements for the | ||||||
| 3 | Illiana Expressway Act or the Public-Private Agreements for | ||||||
| 4 | the South Suburban Airport Act; (iii) all projects undertaken | ||||||
| 5 | under a public-private agreement under the Public-Private | ||||||
| 6 | Partnerships for Transportation Act or the Department of | ||||||
| 7 | Natural Resources World Shooting and Recreational Complex Act; | ||||||
| 8 | and (iv) all transportation facilities undertaken under a | ||||||
| 9 | design-build contract or a Construction Manager/General | ||||||
| 10 | Contractor contract under the Innovations for Transportation | ||||||
| 11 | Infrastructure Act. "Public works" also includes all projects | ||||||
| 12 | at leased facility property used for airport purposes under | ||||||
| 13 | Section 35 of the Local Government Facility Lease Act. "Public | ||||||
| 14 | works" also includes the construction of a new wind power | ||||||
| 15 | facility by a business designated as a High Impact Business | ||||||
| 16 | under Section 5.5(a)(3)(E) of the Illinois Enterprise Zone | ||||||
| 17 | Act, the construction of a new utility-scale solar power | ||||||
| 18 | facility by a business designated as a High Impact Business | ||||||
| 19 | under Section 5.5(a)(3)(E-5) of the Illinois Enterprise Zone | ||||||
| 20 | Act, the construction of a new battery energy storage solution | ||||||
| 21 | facility by a business designated as a High Impact Business | ||||||
| 22 | under Section 5.5(a)(3)(I) of the Illinois Enterprise Zone | ||||||
| 23 | Act, and the construction of a high voltage direct current | ||||||
| 24 | converter station by a business designated as a High Impact | ||||||
| 25 | Business under Section 5.5(a)(3)(J) of the Illinois Enterprise | ||||||
| 26 | Zone Act. "Public works" also includes electric vehicle | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | charging station projects financed pursuant to the Electric | ||||||
| 2 | Vehicle Act and renewable energy projects required to pay the | ||||||
| 3 | prevailing wage pursuant to the Illinois Power Agency Act. | ||||||
| 4 | "Public works" also includes power washing projects by a | ||||||
| 5 | public body or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds | ||||||
| 6 | in which steam or pressurized water, with or without added | ||||||
| 7 | abrasives or chemicals, is used to remove paint or other | ||||||
| 8 | coatings, oils or grease, corrosion, or debris from a surface | ||||||
| 9 | or to prepare a surface for a coating. "Public works" also | ||||||
| 10 | includes all electric transmission systems projects subject to | ||||||
| 11 | the Electric Transmission Systems Construction Standards Act. | ||||||
| 12 | "Public works" does not include work done directly by any | ||||||
| 13 | public utility company, whether or not done under public | ||||||
| 14 | supervision or direction, or paid for wholly or in part out of | ||||||
| 15 | public funds. "Public works" also includes construction | ||||||
| 16 | projects performed by a third party contracted by any public | ||||||
| 17 | utility, as described in subsection (a) of Section 2.1, in | ||||||
| 18 | public rights-of-way, as defined in Section 21-201 of the | ||||||
| 19 | Public Utilities Act, whether or not done under public | ||||||
| 20 | supervision or direction, or paid for wholly or in part out of | ||||||
| 21 | public funds. "Public works" also includes construction | ||||||
| 22 | projects that exceed 15 aggregate miles of new fiber optic | ||||||
| 23 | cable, performed by a third party contracted by any public | ||||||
| 24 | utility, as described in subsection (b) of Section 2.1, in | ||||||
| 25 | public rights-of-way, as defined in Section 21-201 of the | ||||||
| 26 | Public Utilities Act, whether or not done under public | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | supervision or direction, or paid for wholly or in part out of | ||||||
| 2 | public funds. "Public works" also includes any corrective | ||||||
| 3 | action performed pursuant to Title XVI of the Environmental | ||||||
| 4 | Protection Act for which payment from the Underground Storage | ||||||
| 5 | Tank Fund is requested. "Public works" also includes all | ||||||
| 6 | construction projects involving fixtures or permanent | ||||||
| 7 | attachments affixed to light poles that are owned by a public | ||||||
| 8 | body, including street light poles, traffic light poles, and | ||||||
| 9 | other lighting fixtures, whether or not done under public | ||||||
| 10 | supervision or direction, or paid for wholly or in part out of | ||||||
| 11 | public funds, unless the project is performed by employees | ||||||
| 12 | employed directly by the public body. "Public works" also | ||||||
| 13 | includes work performed subject to the Mechanical Insulation | ||||||
| 14 | Energy and Safety Assessment Act. "Public works" also includes | ||||||
| 15 | the removal, hauling, and transportation of biosolids, lime | ||||||
| 16 | sludge, and lime residue from a water treatment plant or | ||||||
| 17 | facility and the disposal of biosolids, lime sludge, and lime | ||||||
| 18 | residue removed from a water treatment plant or facility at a | ||||||
| 19 | landfill. "Public works" also includes sewer inspection | ||||||
| 20 | projects that use a closed-circuit television to identify | ||||||
| 21 | issues in a sewer system, such as cracks in pipes, root | ||||||
| 22 | intrusion, blockages, or other structural damage. "Public | ||||||
| 23 | works" also includes the routine inspection or testing of any | ||||||
| 24 | fire sprinkler system, as defined in Section 10 of the Fire | ||||||
| 25 | Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act, when performed by a third | ||||||
| 26 | party under contract with a public body or when paid for wholly | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | or in part out of public funds. "Public works" also includes | ||||||
| 2 | the installation, service, maintenance, on-site programming, | ||||||
| 3 | configuration, calibration, commissioning, repair, or | ||||||
| 4 | integration of a building automation system used to monitor or | ||||||
| 5 | control heating, ventilation, air conditioning, hydronic, | ||||||
| 6 | steam, or other mechanical building systems when performed by | ||||||
| 7 | a third party under contract with a public body or paid for | ||||||
| 8 | wholly or in part out of public funds. "Public works" does not | ||||||
| 9 | include projects undertaken by the owner at an owner-occupied | ||||||
| 10 | single-family residence or at an owner-occupied unit of a | ||||||
| 11 | multi-family residence. "Public works" does not include work | ||||||
| 12 | performed for soil and water conservation purposes on | ||||||
| 13 | agricultural lands, whether or not done under public | ||||||
| 14 | supervision or paid for wholly or in part out of public funds, | ||||||
| 15 | done directly by an owner or person who has legal control of | ||||||
| 16 | those lands. "Public works" does not include routine | ||||||
| 17 | inspection or testing performed by employees of the State, a | ||||||
| 18 | municipality, a county, a fire department, a fire protection | ||||||
| 19 | district, or the Office of the State Fire Marshal when those | ||||||
| 20 | employees perform the inspection or testing in the course of | ||||||
| 21 | their official duties as described in subsection (c) of | ||||||
| 22 | Section 17 of the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. | ||||||
| 23 | "Construction" means all work on public works involving | ||||||
| 24 | laborers, workers or mechanics. This includes any maintenance, | ||||||
| 25 | repair, assembly, or disassembly work performed on equipment | ||||||
| 26 | whether owned, leased, or rented. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "Locality" means the county where the physical work upon | ||||||
| 2 | public works is performed, except (1) that if there is not | ||||||
| 3 | available in the county a sufficient number of competent | ||||||
| 4 | skilled laborers, workers and mechanics to construct the | ||||||
| 5 | public works efficiently and properly, "locality" includes any | ||||||
| 6 | other county nearest the one in which the work or construction | ||||||
| 7 | is to be performed and from which such persons may be obtained | ||||||
| 8 | in sufficient numbers to perform the work and (2) that, with | ||||||
| 9 | respect to contracts for highway work with the Department of | ||||||
| 10 | Transportation of this State, "locality" may at the discretion | ||||||
| 11 | of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation be | ||||||
| 12 | construed to include two or more adjacent counties from which | ||||||
| 13 | workers may be accessible for work on such construction. | ||||||
| 14 | "Public body" means the State or any officer, board or | ||||||
| 15 | commission of the State or any political subdivision or | ||||||
| 16 | department thereof, or any institution supported in whole or | ||||||
| 17 | in part by public funds, and includes every county, city, | ||||||
| 18 | town, village, township, school district, irrigation, utility, | ||||||
| 19 | reclamation improvement or other district and every other | ||||||
| 20 | political subdivision, district or municipality of the state | ||||||
| 21 | whether such political subdivision, municipality or district | ||||||
| 22 | operates under a special charter or not. | ||||||
| 23 | "Labor organization" means an organization that is the | ||||||
| 24 | exclusive representative of an employer's employees recognized | ||||||
| 25 | or certified pursuant to the National Labor Relations Act. | ||||||
| 26 | The terms "general prevailing rate of hourly wages", | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "general prevailing rate of wages" or "prevailing rate of | ||||||
| 2 | wages" when used in this Act mean the hourly cash wages plus | ||||||
| 3 | full journeyman annualized fringe benefits for training and | ||||||
| 4 | apprenticeship programs registered with the Office of | ||||||
| 5 | Apprenticeship within the U.S. Department of Labor's | ||||||
| 6 | Employment and Training Administration with full journeymen | ||||||
| 7 | annualized fringe benefits for health and welfare, insurance, | ||||||
| 8 | vacations, and pensions paid generally, in the locality in | ||||||
| 9 | which the work is being performed, to employees engaged in | ||||||
| 10 | work of a similar character on public works. | ||||||
| 11 | (Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23; 103-327, eff. 1-1-24; | ||||||
| 12 | 103-346, eff. 1-1-24; 103-359, eff. 7-28-23; 103-447, eff. | ||||||
| 13 | 8-4-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-1066, eff. 2-20-25; 104-17, | ||||||
| 14 | eff. 7-1-26 (see Section 35-5 of P.A. 104-434 for effective | ||||||
| 15 | date of P.A. 104-17); 104-23, eff. 6-30-25; 104-160, eff. | ||||||
| 16 | 8-14-25; revised 12-2-25.) | ||||||
| 17 | (820 ILCS 130/2.2 new) | ||||||
| 18 | Sec. 2.2. Multiple classifications. A laborer, mechanic, | ||||||
| 19 | or other worker entitled to prevailing wages under this Act | ||||||
| 20 | who is classified under 2 or more prevailing wage | ||||||
| 21 | classifications on a single public works project shall be paid | ||||||
| 22 | the higher applicable prevailing wage rate for all subsequent | ||||||
| 23 | hours worked on that project, beginning on the date the higher | ||||||
| 24 | classification is assigned and continuing through the end of | ||||||
| 25 | the worker's employment on the project. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | (820 ILCS 130/3) (from Ch. 48, par. 39s-3) | ||||||
| 2 | Sec. 3. Not less than the general prevailing rate of | ||||||
| 3 | hourly wages for work of a similar character on public works in | ||||||
| 4 | the locality in which the work is performed, and not less than | ||||||
| 5 | the general prevailing rate of hourly wages for legal holiday | ||||||
| 6 | and overtime work, shall be paid to all laborers, workers, and | ||||||
| 7 | mechanics employed by or on behalf of any public body engaged | ||||||
| 8 | in the construction or demolition of public works. This | ||||||
| 9 | includes any maintenance, repair, assembly, or disassembly | ||||||
| 10 | work performed on equipment whether owned, leased, or rented | ||||||
| 11 | and, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, applies | ||||||
| 12 | to field mechanics, technicians, or similar positions, | ||||||
| 13 | including time spent transporting parts, materials, or | ||||||
| 14 | equipment to and from a site, regardless of whether the person | ||||||
| 15 | is employed by a contractor, subcontractor, seller, or | ||||||
| 16 | supplier. Only such laborers, workers and mechanics as are | ||||||
| 17 | directly employed by contractors or subcontractors in actual | ||||||
| 18 | construction work on the site of the building or construction | ||||||
| 19 | job, and laborers, workers and mechanics engaged in the | ||||||
| 20 | transportation of materials and equipment to or from the site, | ||||||
| 21 | but not including the transportation by the sellers and | ||||||
| 22 | suppliers or the manufacture or processing of materials or | ||||||
| 23 | equipment, in the execution of any contract or contracts for | ||||||
| 24 | public works with any public body shall be deemed to be | ||||||
| 25 | employed upon public works. The wage for a tradesman | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | performing maintenance is equivalent to that of a tradesman | ||||||
| 2 | engaged in construction or demolition. | ||||||
| 3 | (Source: P.A. 95-341, eff. 8-21-07; 96-186, eff. 1-1-10.) | ||||||
| 4 | (820 ILCS 130/5) (from Ch. 48, par. 39s-5) | ||||||
| 5 | Sec. 5. Certified payroll. | ||||||
| 6 | (a) Any contractor and each subcontractor who participates | ||||||
| 7 | in public works shall: | ||||||
| 8 | (1) make and keep, for a period of not less than 3 | ||||||
| 9 | years from the date of the last payment made before | ||||||
| 10 | January 1, 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-328) | ||||||
| 11 | and for a period of 5 years from the date of the last | ||||||
| 12 | payment made on or after January 1, 2014 (the effective | ||||||
| 13 | date of Public Act 98-328) on a contract or subcontract | ||||||
| 14 | for public works, records of all laborers, mechanics, and | ||||||
| 15 | other workers employed by them on the project; the records | ||||||
| 16 | shall include (i) the worker's name, (ii) the worker's | ||||||
| 17 | address, (iii) the worker's telephone number when | ||||||
| 18 | available, (iv) the last 4 digits of the worker's social | ||||||
| 19 | security number, (v) the worker's gender, (vi) the | ||||||
| 20 | worker's race, (vii) the worker's ethnicity, (viii) | ||||||
| 21 | veteran status, (ix) the worker's classification or | ||||||
| 22 | classifications, (x) the worker's skill level, such as | ||||||
| 23 | apprentice or journeyman, (xi) the worker's gross and net | ||||||
| 24 | wages paid in each pay period, (xii) the worker's number | ||||||
| 25 | of hours worked each day, (xiii) the worker's starting and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | ending times of work each day, (xiv) the worker's hourly | ||||||
| 2 | wage rate, (xv) the worker's hourly overtime wage rate, | ||||||
| 3 | (xvi) the worker's hourly fringe benefit rates, (xvii) the | ||||||
| 4 | name and address of each fringe benefit fund, (xviii) the | ||||||
| 5 | plan sponsor of each fringe benefit, if applicable, and | ||||||
| 6 | (xix) the plan administrator of each fringe benefit, if | ||||||
| 7 | applicable, and (xx) copies of the contractor's or | ||||||
| 8 | subcontractor's registered apprenticeship program | ||||||
| 9 | documentation, including the United States Department of | ||||||
| 10 | Labor registered apprenticeship program number, and, for | ||||||
| 11 | each apprentice employed by the contractor or | ||||||
| 12 | subcontractor on the public works project, documentation | ||||||
| 13 | sufficient to verify that the apprentice is registered in | ||||||
| 14 | good standing in the applicable registered apprenticeship | ||||||
| 15 | program; and | ||||||
| 16 | (2) no later than the 15th day of each calendar month | ||||||
| 17 | file a certified payroll for the immediately preceding | ||||||
| 18 | month with the public body in charge of the project until | ||||||
| 19 | the Department of Labor activates the database created | ||||||
| 20 | under Section 5.1 at which time certified payroll shall | ||||||
| 21 | only be submitted to that database, except for projects | ||||||
| 22 | done by State agencies that opt to have contractors submit | ||||||
| 23 | certified payrolls directly to that State agency. A State | ||||||
| 24 | agency that opts to directly receive certified payrolls | ||||||
| 25 | must submit the required information in a specified | ||||||
| 26 | electronic format to the Department of Labor no later than | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | 10 days after the certified payroll was filed with the | ||||||
| 2 | State agency. A certified payroll must be filed for only | ||||||
| 3 | those calendar months during which construction on a | ||||||
| 4 | public works project has occurred. The certified payroll | ||||||
| 5 | shall consist of a complete copy of the records identified | ||||||
| 6 | in paragraph (1) of this subsection (a), but may exclude | ||||||
| 7 | the starting and ending times of work each day and any | ||||||
| 8 | copies of the contractor's registered apprenticeship | ||||||
| 9 | programs documentation. The certified payroll shall | ||||||
| 10 | contain all other information identified in paragraph (1) | ||||||
| 11 | pertaining to apprentices. The certified payroll shall be | ||||||
| 12 | accompanied by a statement signed by the contractor or | ||||||
| 13 | subcontractor or an officer, employee, or agent of the | ||||||
| 14 | contractor or subcontractor which avers that: (i) he or | ||||||
| 15 | she has examined the certified payroll records required to | ||||||
| 16 | be submitted by the Act and such records are true and | ||||||
| 17 | accurate; (ii) the hourly rate paid to each worker is not | ||||||
| 18 | less than the general prevailing rate of hourly wages | ||||||
| 19 | required by this Act; and (iii) the contractor or | ||||||
| 20 | subcontractor is aware that filing a certified payroll | ||||||
| 21 | that he or she knows to be false is a Class A misdemeanor. | ||||||
| 22 | A general contractor is not prohibited from relying on the | ||||||
| 23 | certification of a lower tier subcontractor, provided the | ||||||
| 24 | general contractor does not knowingly rely upon a | ||||||
| 25 | subcontractor's false certification. Any contractor or | ||||||
| 26 | subcontractor subject to this Act and any officer, | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | employee, or agent of such contractor or subcontractor | ||||||
| 2 | whose duty as such officer, employee, or agent it is to | ||||||
| 3 | file such certified payroll who willfully fails to file | ||||||
| 4 | such a certified payroll on or before the date such | ||||||
| 5 | certified payroll is required by this paragraph to be | ||||||
| 6 | filed and any person who willfully files a false certified | ||||||
| 7 | payroll that is false as to any material fact is in | ||||||
| 8 | violation of this Act and guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. | ||||||
| 9 | The public body in charge of the project shall keep the | ||||||
| 10 | records submitted in accordance with this paragraph (2) of | ||||||
| 11 | subsection (a) before January 1, 2014 (the effective date | ||||||
| 12 | of Public Act 98-328) for a period of not less than 3 | ||||||
| 13 | years, and the records submitted in accordance with this | ||||||
| 14 | paragraph (2) of subsection (a) on or after January 1, | ||||||
| 15 | 2014 (the effective date of Public Act 98-328) for a | ||||||
| 16 | period of 5 years, from the date of the last payment for | ||||||
| 17 | work on a contract or subcontract for public works or | ||||||
| 18 | until the Department of Labor activates the database | ||||||
| 19 | created under Section 5.1, whichever is less. After the | ||||||
| 20 | activation of the database created under Section 5.1, the | ||||||
| 21 | Department of Labor rather than the public body in charge | ||||||
| 22 | of the project shall keep the records and maintain the | ||||||
| 23 | database. The records submitted in accordance with this | ||||||
| 24 | paragraph (2) of subsection (a) shall be considered public | ||||||
| 25 | records, except an employee's address, telephone number, | ||||||
| 26 | social security number, race, ethnicity, and gender, and | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | made available in accordance with the Freedom of | ||||||
| 2 | Information Act. The public body shall accept any | ||||||
| 3 | reasonable submissions by the contractor that meet the | ||||||
| 4 | requirements of this Section. | ||||||
| 5 | A contractor, subcontractor, or public body may retain | ||||||
| 6 | records required under this Section in paper or electronic | ||||||
| 7 | format. | ||||||
| 8 | (b) Upon 7 business days' notice, the contractor and each | ||||||
| 9 | subcontractor shall make available for inspection and copying | ||||||
| 10 | at a location within this State during reasonable hours, the | ||||||
| 11 | records identified in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this | ||||||
| 12 | Section to the public body in charge of the project, its | ||||||
| 13 | officers and agents, the Director of Labor and his deputies | ||||||
| 14 | and agents, and to federal, State, or local law enforcement | ||||||
| 15 | agencies and prosecutors. | ||||||
| 16 | (c) A contractor or subcontractor who remits contributions | ||||||
| 17 | to fringe benefit funds that are jointly maintained and | ||||||
| 18 | jointly governed by one or more employers and one or more labor | ||||||
| 19 | organizations in accordance with the federal Labor Management | ||||||
| 20 | Relations Act shall make and keep certified payroll records | ||||||
| 21 | that include the information required under items (i) through | ||||||
| 22 | (viii) of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) only. However, the | ||||||
| 23 | information required under items (ix) through (xv) of | ||||||
| 24 | paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall be required for any | ||||||
| 25 | contractor or subcontractor who remits contributions to a | ||||||
| 26 | fringe benefit fund that is not jointly maintained and jointly | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | governed by one or more employers and one or more labor | ||||||
| 2 | organizations in accordance with the federal Labor Management | ||||||
| 3 | Relations Act. | ||||||
| 4 | (d) Any contractor or subcontractor subject to this Act | ||||||
| 5 | and any officer, employee, or agent of the contractor or | ||||||
| 6 | subcontractor whose duty as the officer, employee, or agent is | ||||||
| 7 | to file the certified payroll, who the Department of Labor | ||||||
| 8 | finds has failed to file the certified payroll for any public | ||||||
| 9 | works project as required under this Act, is subject to a civil | ||||||
| 10 | penalty, payable to the Department of Labor, of up to $1,000 | ||||||
| 11 | for a first offense and up to $2,000 for a second or subsequent | ||||||
| 12 | offense no more than 5 years after the first offense. A second | ||||||
| 13 | or subsequent offense that occurs more than 5 years after the | ||||||
| 14 | first offense shall be considered a first offense. Each month | ||||||
| 15 | in which a violation of this Section occurs shall constitute a | ||||||
| 16 | separate offense. | ||||||
| 17 | A finding of an offense by the Department of Labor for | ||||||
| 18 | failure to file the certified payroll may be challenged if a | ||||||
| 19 | request for administrative hearing is received no later than | ||||||
| 20 | 10 business days after receipt of the notice of the offense. | ||||||
| 21 | The Department of Labor shall have the burden of establishing | ||||||
| 22 | good cause for its action. Good cause exists if the Department | ||||||
| 23 | of Labor establishes that the contractor or subcontractor | ||||||
| 24 | participated in a public works project under this Act and | ||||||
| 25 | failed to submit a certified payroll to the Department of | ||||||
| 26 | Labor's electronic database no later than 15 calendar days | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | after the immediately preceding month in which the public | ||||||
| 2 | works were performed by the contractor or subcontractor. Any | ||||||
| 3 | mitigating evidence that a contractor or subcontractor | ||||||
| 4 | attempted to timely submit certified payrolls to the | ||||||
| 5 | Department of Labor's electronic database but failed due to | ||||||
| 6 | technical issues shall be considered. A contractor or | ||||||
| 7 | subcontractor's lack of knowledge of the requirements of this | ||||||
| 8 | Section shall not be considered as mitigating evidence. | ||||||
| 9 | All hearings held under this Section shall comply with the | ||||||
| 10 | Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the Department of | ||||||
| 11 | Labor's rules for administrative hearings. The final | ||||||
| 12 | administrative decision by the Department of Labor shall be | ||||||
| 13 | rendered after the conclusion of the hearing. A final | ||||||
| 14 | administrative decision made under this Section is subject to | ||||||
| 15 | the Administrative Review Law. If a final administrative | ||||||
| 16 | decision issued by the Department of Labor requires a | ||||||
| 17 | contractor or subcontractor to pay a civil penalty, and the | ||||||
| 18 | subcontractor or contractor has not: (i) made the required | ||||||
| 19 | payment within 35 days after the issuance of the final | ||||||
| 20 | administrative decision; or (ii) timely filed a complaint | ||||||
| 21 | seeking review of the final administrative decision within 35 | ||||||
| 22 | days after the issuance of the final administrative decision | ||||||
| 23 | in a court of competent jurisdiction, the Department of Labor, | ||||||
| 24 | by and through the Office of the Attorney General, may file a | ||||||
| 25 | verified petition against the contractor or subcontractor to | ||||||
| 26 | enforce the final administrative decision and to collect any | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | amounts due in the circuit court of any county where an office | ||||||
| 2 | of the Department of Labor is located. | ||||||
| 3 | (Source: P.A. 104-23, eff. 6-30-25.) | ||||||
| 4 | Section 60. The Paid Leave for All Workers Act is amended | ||||||
| 5 | by changing Section 10 as follows: | ||||||
| 6 | (820 ILCS 192/10) | ||||||
| 7 | Sec. 10. Definitions. As used in this Act: | ||||||
| 8 | "Construction industry" means any constructing, altering, | ||||||
| 9 | reconstructing, repairing, rehabilitating, refinishing, | ||||||
| 10 | refurbishing, remodeling, remediating, renovating, custom | ||||||
| 11 | fabricating, maintenance, landscaping, improving, wrecking, | ||||||
| 12 | painting, decorating, demolishing, or adding to or subtracting | ||||||
| 13 | from any building, structure, highway, roadway, street, | ||||||
| 14 | bridge, alley, sewer, ditch, sewage disposal plant, | ||||||
| 15 | waterworks, parking facility, railroad, excavation or other | ||||||
| 16 | structure, project, development, real property, or | ||||||
| 17 | improvement, or to do any part thereof, whether or not the | ||||||
| 18 | performance of the work herein described involves the addition | ||||||
| 19 | to or fabrication into, any structure, project, development, | ||||||
| 20 | real property, or improvement herein described of any material | ||||||
| 21 | or article of merchandise. | ||||||
| 22 | "Construction industry" also includes moving construction | ||||||
| 23 | related materials on the job site or to or from the job site, | ||||||
| 24 | snow plowing, snow removal, and refuse collection. | ||||||
| 25 | "Department" means the Illinois Department of Labor. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | "Domestic work" and "domestic worker" have the same | ||||||
| 2 | meanings as defined in Section 10 of the Domestic Workers' | ||||||
| 3 | Bill of Rights Act, except that "domestic worker" also | ||||||
| 4 | includes independent contractors, sole proprietors, and | ||||||
| 5 | partnerships. | ||||||
| 6 | "Employee" has the same application and meaning as that | ||||||
| 7 | provided in Sections 1 and 2 of the Illinois Wage Payment and | ||||||
| 8 | Collection Act. "Employee" also includes all domestic workers, | ||||||
| 9 | and, for the purposes of this Act, domestic workers shall not | ||||||
| 10 | be excluded as employees under the provisions of item (1), | ||||||
| 11 | (2), or (3) of Section 2 of the Illinois Wage Payment and | ||||||
| 12 | Collection Act. "Employee" does not include: | ||||||
| 13 | (1) an employee as defined in the federal Railroad | ||||||
| 14 | Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) or the | ||||||
| 15 | Railway Labor Act; | ||||||
| 16 | (2) a student enrolled in and regularly attending | ||||||
| 17 | classes in a college or university that is also the | ||||||
| 18 | student's employer, and who is employed on a temporary | ||||||
| 19 | basis at less than full time at the college or university, | ||||||
| 20 | but this exclusion applies only to work performed for that | ||||||
| 21 | college or university; or | ||||||
| 22 | (3) a short-term employee who is employed by an | ||||||
| 23 | institution of higher education for less than 2 | ||||||
| 24 | consecutive calendar quarters during a calendar year and | ||||||
| 25 | who does not have a reasonable expectation that they will | ||||||
| 26 | be rehired by the same employer of the same service in a | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | subsequent calendar year; or . | ||||||
| 2 | (4) an employee employed as a crew member of a towing | ||||||
| 3 | vessel as defined by 46 CFR 136.105. | ||||||
| 4 | "Employer" has the same application and meaning as that | ||||||
| 5 | provided in Sections 1 and 2 of the Illinois Wage Payment and | ||||||
| 6 | Collection Act, except that for purposes of this Act, | ||||||
| 7 | "employer" also means the State and units of local government, | ||||||
| 8 | any political subdivision of the State or units of local | ||||||
| 9 | government, or any State or local government agency. | ||||||
| 10 | "Employer" does not include school districts organized | ||||||
| 11 | under the School Code or park districts organized under the | ||||||
| 12 | Park District Code. | ||||||
| 13 | "Writing" or "written" means a printed or printable | ||||||
| 14 | communication in physical or electronic format, including a | ||||||
| 15 | communication that is transmitted through electronic mail, | ||||||
| 16 | text message, or a computer system or is otherwise sent or | ||||||
| 17 | stored electronically. | ||||||
| 18 | (Source: P.A. 102-1143, eff. 1-1-24.) | ||||||
| 19 | Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes | ||||||
| 20 | changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text | ||||||
| 21 | that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section | ||||||
| 22 | represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does | ||||||
| 23 | not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes | ||||||
| 24 | made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other | ||||||
| 25 | Public Act. | ||||||
| |||||||
| |||||||
| 1 | Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are | ||||||
| 2 | severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes. | ||||||
| 3 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
| 4 | becoming law.". | ||||||
