This bill allocates $50.99 million from the Illinois Power Agency Operations Fund and $56 million from the Renewable Energy Resources Fund to cover the agency's operational expenses and renewable energy purchases for fiscal year 2025. It specifically funds programs like the Illinois Solar for All initiative and refunds related to energy contracts. The $12 million from the Trust Fund supports depositing into the Operations Fund per existing law. As a procedural funding bill, it does not create new policies but ensures the Illinois Power Agency has necessary resources to manage current energy programs and obligations.
Creates the Transparent, Inclusive, and Competitively Neutral Energy Policy Act. Sets forth findings. Provides that the energy procurement process shall be transparent, inclusive, and competitively neutral and shall provide due consideration to the unique advantages of each developer from all segments of the energy sector and recognize that more inclusive procurements result in greater competition among developers and lower costs for consumers.
Amends the Township Code. Provides that a township may regulate commercial wind energy facilities, commercial solar energy facilities, or both. Provides that a township may use any of its zoning powers in the regulation of commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities and may prohibit commercial wind energy facilities, commercial solar energy facilities, or both. Provides that a township's regulations over commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities shall prevail over county regulations but not over municipal regulations. Defines terms. Amends the Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act making conforming changes. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a commercial wind energy facility owner or solar energy facility owner must file a land reclamation plan and a recycling plan with the Department of Agriculture prior to the required public hearing on the siting of a facility. Provides that the land reclamation plan must outline how the property on which a facility has been constructed will be returned to the state the property existed prior to the construction of the facility upon removal of the facility. Provides that the recycling plan must outline how the material used to construct the facility will be recycled. Provides that a commercial solar energy facility may not be sited on property where the property's soil's crop productivity index is greater than 110. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may not approve the siting of a commercial wind energy facility, a commercial solar energy facility, or both in an unincorporated area that is located within a 3-mile radius of a municipality, if: (1) the municipality has not approved the siting of the facility or facilities at that location; (2) the county board or the corporate authorities of the municipality have determined that any portion of the facility or facilities will be located on land with a Soil Productivity Index that is greater than or equal to 90; or (3) the county board or the corporate authorities of the municipality have determined that the owners or operators of the facility or facilities have failed to comply with one or more National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements for the site. Provides that the provisions apply regardless of whether the municipality has adopted zoning ordinances or is regulating wind farms and electric-generating wind devices under specified provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code. Requires each commercial solar energy facility to have the minimum number of fire hydrants required by ordinances governing the servicing fire department or fire protection district or, if there are no requirements by ordinances governing the servicing fire department or fire protection district, then the minimum number required by the county board. Allows a county to require a commercial solar energy facility to be sited at least 500 feet to the nearest point on the property line of the nonparticipating zoned residential. Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. Specifies that Grundy County or a municipality with planning jurisdiction may prohibit the siting or establish standards for the development and operation of a commercial wind energy facility, a commercial solar energy facility, or both, on any portion of the Brisbin Road commercial or industrial site under its planning jurisdiction. Defines "municipality with planning jurisdiction" and "Brisbin Road commercial or industrial site". Effective immediately.
Amends the Counties Code. In provisions regarding commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.
Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a county or a municipality may not adopt any ordinance or resolution or exercise any power that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of a solar energy system. Limits home rule powers.
Amends the Counties Code. In provisions about commercial wind energy facilities and commercial solar energy facilities, removes changes made by Public Act 102-1123. Provides that any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms, commercial wind energy facilities, or commercial solar energy facilities that was in effect before January 27, 2023 may continue in effect notwithstanding any changes made in Public Act 102-1123 and, if applicable, any provision of a county zoning ordinance pertaining to wind farms that was in effect before August 16, 2007 may continue in effect notwithstanding the changes made in Public Act 95-203.
Amends the Property Tax Code. In provisions concerning the valuation of wind energy devices, provides that, for taxable year 2026 and thereafter, the real property cost basis is $588,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity (currently, $360,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity). In provisions concerning the valuation of solar energy systems, provides that, for taxable year 2026 and thereafter, the real property cost basis is $446,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity (currently, $218,000 per megawatt of nameplate capacity). Effective immediately.
