Illinois Shines (statutorily often known as the Adjustable Block Program) opened right this moment for the 2025-26 Program 12 months, providing 800 MW of capability throughout its six undertaking classes. The state-administered photo voltaic incentive program, carried out by the Illinois Energy Company (IPA), helps growth of recent distributed technology and neighborhood photo voltaic tasks throughout Illinois, with a deal with fairness provisions and client protections.
Key highlights of the 2025-26 Program 12 months embody the continued rollout of Consumer Protection Initiatives detailed within the 2024 Lengthy-Time period Plan, enlargement of the Mentorship Program, sources supporting the expansion of the Public Faculties class, and streamlined kinds and a Protected Harbor Strategy for the Minimum Equity Standard (MES), which requires that the undertaking workforce of every collaborating entity meet a required minimal share of Fairness Eligible Individuals (EEPs).
“The IPA is extremely excited to announce the beginning of the seventh yr of Illinois Shines, one in all our flagship photo voltaic incentive applications. Photo voltaic power in Illinois has meaningfully grown year-over-year for the reason that Program’s inception in 2019, and this yr isn’t any exception,” mentioned Planning and Procurement Bureau Chief Jim Rouland. “With the Program’s fairness initiatives persevering with to blossom, the Company is proud to have a good time one other yr of supporting new renewable power that advantages all Illinoisians.”
In response to a Local weather and Equitable Jobs Act directive, the IPA established an Fairness Accountability System (EAS) which launched the Minimal Fairness Normal, the Fairness Eligible Contractor Class, the Mentorship Program and extra. Particulars and progress embody:
- In Program 12 months 2025-26, the MES requires at the very least 14% of the undertaking workforce for every entity collaborating in Illinois Shines be composed of Fairness Eligible Individuals (EEPs). The Company’s Equity Accountability System Assessment – Part II discovered a excessive compliance price of 78%, indicating sturdy engagement and dedication to fairness requirements amongst collaborating AVs, Designees, and Subcontractors in Illinois Shines.
- The Company celebrates the continued progress of the Fairness Eligible Contractor (EEC) class, which rose to 114 collaborating distributors in 2024-25. The class now represents 11% of the entire community since its 2022 launch, and continues assist for EEC AVs, Designees and Subcontractors.
- The Mentorship Program is obtainable to corporations which might be thought-about a small enterprise or are minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, or disability-owned. The Program piloted in 2023, totally launched in 2024, and in Program 12 months 2025-26 will develop to a number of classes to assist further mentee cohorts.
“Getting into our fourth yr of partnership with the IPA, it’s inspiring to see the Company’s imaginative and prescient for Illinois Shines frequently develop to fulfill stakeholder wants,” mentioned Patrice Flynn, Senior Director Distributed Vitality Assets for Vitality Options. “Because the Program Administrator, we’re proud to proceed strengthening client protections by means of new initiatives and to assist present and new photo voltaic distributors by means of the mentorship program, as we assist additional the IPA’s mission to make the advantages of renewable power accessible for all Illinois residents and companies.”
In Program 12 months 2025-26 the Program’s Public Faculties class will introduce new sources to extend consciousness, training and assist for college decision-makers contemplating going photo voltaic with Illinois Shines. The Program will promote a recorded webinar introduced to colleges that accomplished the Public Faculties Carbon-Free Evaluation, provide tailor-made 1:1 workshops for colleges and districts searching for individualized discussions and assist, and share its just lately revealed Public School Case Study and different college success tales.
Information merchandise from the Illinois Energy Company
