Questions and Answers
What is the purpose of the Illinois Shines Program?
To facilitate the development of new photovoltaic distributed generation and community solar projects.
What are the project categories established by the Illinois Shines Program? (Select all that apply)
The Illinois Shines Program is only intended for community solar projects.
False
When is a project considered submitted?
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When does the Program year for the Illinois Shines Program begin and end?
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What happens to waitlisted projects when capacity opens up?
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The renewable energy credits generated by participating projects are paid over the first ___ years of operation.
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Projects in waitlist can skip ahead of others if they have a higher REC price.
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Who is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Illinois Shines Program?
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What is the maximum REC price a project can receive based on?
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Which act requires the development of an Adjustable Block program in Illinois?
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Approved Vendors must renew their approval once a year.
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What is the Minimum Equity Standard (MES) percentage required for equity eligible persons on projects in 2023?
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What happens if an Approved Vendor fails to fulfill program requirements?
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What were some key changes in the 2023-24 Guidebook edition? (Select all that apply)
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Which of the following is required for Equity Eligible Contractor registration?
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The Program does not require a specific delegation of duties between the Approved Vendor, installer/developer, and __________.
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Why is the contact information for Approved Vendors important?
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What must Approved Vendors demonstrate as part of the evaluation criteria?
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What must Approved Vendors maintain records of?
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If a Designee is suspended, they will also be suspended from the Illinois Solar for All Program.
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Designees must indicate if they are __________, __________, __________, or considered a small business.
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What is required from a Designee during the registration process?
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What is a Disclosure Form Designee authorized to do?
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Nested Designees can hold the role of Community Solar Subscriber Agent Designee.
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What happens if a Designee fails to comply with program requirements?
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What does the Program Administrator maintain?
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Designees will be listed in a __________ database on both the ABP website and the Illinois Shines website.
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What is the maximum size for Small Distributed Generation projects?
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What scoring mechanism is used if the capacity for Traditional Community Solar projects is exceeded?
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What is the minimum score required for a Community-Driven Community Solar project to be eligible for a REC contract?
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Which groups are allocated the 100 MW for Public Schools?
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Community solar projects can be placed on land leased by a school or district.
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What is an Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC)?
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A Public School project is defined as a distributed generation or community solar project located at a __________ in Illinois.
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What is the purpose of the 20% developer cap for Traditional Community Solar projects?
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Match the categories with their definitions:
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What happens if a block's capacity is filled?
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Study Notes
Illinois Shines Program Overview
- Illinois Shines, also called the Adjustable Block Program, is a state-administered solar incentive initiative for photovoltaic and community solar projects.
- Aims to facilitate project development through the issuance of renewable energy credit (REC) delivery contracts, as mandated by Illinois law.
Program Administration
- Managed by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) and third-party Program Administrator, Energy Solutions, Inc.
- Guidebook serves as a comprehensive resource for current and prospective participants, detailing application and participation requirements.
Key Updates and Changes (2023-24 Program Year)
- New prohibition on TBD Disclosure Forms for Community-Driven Community Solar projects.
- Updated requirements for projects involving battery storage systems.
- Introduction of disciplinary decision publication for Program violations.
- Clarification on public school anchor tenant waivers and Minimum Equity Standard (MES) waivers.
- Information organization has been refined, with essential requirements moved to appendices.
Program Eligibility and Structure
- New photovoltaic distributed generation (DG) and community solar (CS) projects receive incentives based on REC generation over 15 or 20 years, depending on the project category.
- Categories include:
- Small Distributed Generation: Projects up to 10 kW AC.
- Large Distributed Generation: Projects over 10 kW AC and up to 2 MW AC.
- Community Solar Projects.
Regulatory Framework
- Established by Public Act 99-0906 (Future Energy Jobs Act), effective June 1, 2017.
- Requires a transparent schedule of REC prices and quantities to promote market scaling and predictable price adjustments.
Consumer Protection and Compliance
- The Program includes mechanisms for customer service, handling complaints, and addressing consumer protection violations.
- Violations of Program requirements can result in specific consequences, ensuring adherence to established standards.
Application and Project Processes
- Structured application process divided into Part I and Part II, including inspection and energization protocols.
- Requirements for community solar projects are specifically outlined, along with checklists for documentation needed.
Additional Reference Materials
- Glossary of terms is provided for clarity on key concepts.
- Appendices offer supplementary information regarding REC pricing, vendor requirements, and program application procedures.
- Past REC prices and evaluation criteria for traditional and community-driven solar projects are documented for reference.
Performance and Reporting
- Annual reporting requirements for participants ensure accountability and compliance with equity standards.
- Performance evaluation mechanisms are established to assess the Program's effectiveness and participant adherence.### Overview of Public Act 102-0662
- Effective date: September 15, 2021.
- Amended the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) Act and other significant Illinois laws impacting the Illinois Shines program.
- Expanded project categories from three to six, adding Community-Driven Community Solar, Public Schools, and Equity Eligible Contractor categories.
New Requirements Introduced
- Most participating projects now subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, ensuring fair wages for construction workers.
- Minimum Equity Standard (MES) mandates that by June 1, 2023, 10% of the workforce on projects must consist of equity eligible persons, rising to 30% by 2030.
- Transition from a cascading block program to an annual block program beginning June 1, aligning with the delivery year.
Data Collection and Equity Accountability
- The IPA is responsible for collecting demographic data to assess equitable distribution of program benefits.
- Data collection includes racial/ethnic identities and residential information of employees involved in projects.
- Additional requirements to track involvement of graduates from specialized training programs established under P.A. 102-0662.
Program Administration and Rules
- The IPA may retain expert consultants to assist with program administration.
- Program participants can appeal decisions made by the Program Administrator to the IPA.
- Key program documents include the Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, Program Guidebook, and Consumer Protection Handbook.
Program Categories and Descriptions
- Includes six project categories:
- Small Distributed Generation (SDG): Projects up to 25 kW.
- Large Distributed Generation (LDG): Projects ranging from 25 kW to 5 MW.
- Traditional Community Solar (TCS): Community solar projects up to 5 MW.
- Public Schools: Distributed generation and community solar projects serving public schools.
- Community-Driven Community Solar (CDCS): Community solar projects that meet specific criteria.
- Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC): Projects submitted by equity eligible contractors.
Capacity and Allocation for Community Solar
- A scoring system is in place for Traditional Community Solar projects when capacity exceeds limits.
- Community-Driven Community Solar projects must score a minimum of six points for eligibility.
Public Schools Program Specifics
- Allocated 100 MW capacity for public school projects, divided between Groups A and B.
- Capacity allocation favors schools within Environmental Justice Communities (70% for Tier 1 and 2 schools).
- Projects must be submitted to the Adjustable Block Program starting from the 2023-2024 program year, discontinuing previous participation in Illinois Solar for All programs.
Conclusion
- P.A. 102-0662 signifies a major shift towards equity, wage fairness, and structured capacity in Illinois energy projects, emphasizing community involvement and workforce development.### Project Location Requirements
- Distributed generation projects must be located at the serving public school or school district facility.
- Community solar projects should be on school- or district-owned land per the 2022 Long-Term Plan.
- Proximity to anchor tenants is permissible, but not required for adjacent land.
- Projects on leased land are ineligible unless a public school is on the same parcel.
- Land ownership must be retained for the entire duration of the REC Contract (20 years).
- Changes in land ownership must be reported and assessed for program continuation.
Anchor Tenant Requirements
- Public schools or school districts must be anchor subscribers, committing to 10-40% of the project’s capacity.
- 20-year REC Contract requires ongoing subscription commitment by the anchor tenant.
- Approved Vendors must provide a letter of intent from the subscribing school/district during the application process.
- Community solar projects are mandated to have at least 50% small subscribers.
Waivers for Anchor Tenant
- Anchor tenants can request waivers to transfer subscriptions or adjust sizes within established limits.
- Waivers are to be used for unforeseen circumstances (e.g., school closure, reduced electric load).
- A minimum remaining subscription of 10% from the anchor tenant is required.
- Documentation is necessary for waiver requests, which are assessed case-by-case.
Equity Eligible Contractors (EEC)
- EECs are majority-owned by eligible persons or governed by qualified nonprofits/cooperatives.
- Only Approved Vendors who qualify as EEC can utilize the Equity Eligible Contractor capacity.
- Projects must maintain EEC certification from Part I to Part II verification.
- Non-EEC approved vendors cannot assign EEC projects to non-EEC entities for six years post-Part II verification.
Capacity and Allocation for EEC
- Starting 2023-24, EEC category will include Community Solar and Distributed Generation subcategories.
- Initial split: 75% Community Solar, 25% Distributed Generation for the first nine months.
- Projects may be added to a waitlist if block capacity is filled.
Community Solar Subscriptions
- Subscriptions occur at the utility account level; one account can have multiple subscriptions.
- Monitoring performed by Program Administrator as per REC contract guidelines.
Confidential Treatment of Subscriber Information
- Approved Vendors must protect and maintain confidentiality of subscriber information.
- Disclosure is prohibited without consent, except for necessary program administration purposes.
Block Structure and Allocation
- Program operates on an annual block structure, with openings on June 1 each year.
- Two groups based on service territories: Group A (Ameren, MidAmerican, rural coop in MISO) and Group B (ComEd, rural coop in PJM).
- Initial capacity allocations specified for 2023-2024 by project type across both groups.
Closing and Waitlist Procedures
- A 'soft close' occurs when a block's capacity is fully allocated, prompted by significant application submissions.
- Projects will receive available REC pricing based on block capacity at the time of application submission.
- Closed blocks will establish pricing associated with the group/category upon waitlisting.
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Description
A comprehensive guide to the Illinois Shines Adjustable Block Program, including its updated version released on August 3, 2023.
