UTIL-BATTERY STORAGE

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that in competitive procurements conducted by the Agency for utility-scale energy storage resources from owners of existing or retired fossil-fueled power plants, the Agency, in ranking the bids, shall apply a downward bid price adjustment to any project bid that is located or proposed to be located within a one mile radius of an existing substation that serves or has served as a point of interconnection for a fossil-fueled power plant and that meets one of 3 specific criteria. Provides that if the project meets 2 or more of the criteria, the Agency shall apply the bid price adjustment 2 times. Provides that the Agency shall develop a storage procurement plan that results in the electric utilities contracting for energy storage resources. Provides that, within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Agency shall develop an energy storage procurement plan. Provides that an owner of the energy storage resources must have entered into a project labor agreement for the construction of the energy storage resource and certify that not less than the prevailing wage was or will be paid to employees who are engaged in construction activities. Provides that, if the owner or owners of the energy storage resources own existing or retired fossil-fueled power plants, the owner shall commit to a job training and education program to provide the requisite skills, knowledge, and training required to operate and maintain energy storage resources and create employment opportunities for graduates of the program. Provides that the Agency shall conduct an analysis every 2 years to determine whether the contracted quantity of energy storage in energy storage capacity and energy storage duration is sufficient. Provides that the Agency shall retain an independent consultant to conduct the analysis. Sets forth requirements of the independent consultant and the analysis. Provides that the Agency is authorized to collect costs for conducting the analysis from electric utilities. The electric utilities are authorized to recover the cost of the analysis. Provides that if the Agency determines that the need for energy storage capacity or energy storage duration is greater than the energy storage resources already procured, the Agency shall establish and the Commission shall approve new energy storage resources targets to meet the identified need. Effective immediately.