HB3445 Enrolled LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		AN ACT concerning State government.
2		Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3		represented in the General Assembly:
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		Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for
8		by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be
9		exempt from inspection and copying:
10		(a) All information determined to be confidential
11		under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and
12		Development Act.
13		(b) Library circulation and order records identifying
14		library users with specific materials under the Library
15		Records Confidentiality Act.
16		(c) Applications, related documents, and medical
17		records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
18		Procedures Board and any and all documents or other
19		records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
20		Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it
21		has received.
22		(d) Information and records held by the Department of
23		Public Health and its authorized representatives relating

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1		to known or suspected cases of sexually transmissible
2		disease or any information the disclosure of which is
3		restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmissible
4		Disease Control Act.
5		(e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
6		under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
7		(f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of
8		the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying
9		Qualifications Based Selection Act.
10		(g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
11		and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid
12		Tuition Act.
13		(h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
14		under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and
15		records of any lawfully created State or local inspector
16		general's office that would be exempt if created or
17		obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under
18		that Act.
19		(i) Information contained in a local emergency energy
20		plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a
21		local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted
22		under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
23		(j) Information and data concerning the distribution
24		of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers
25		under the Emergency Telephone System Act.
26		(k) Law enforcement officer identification information

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1		or driver identification information compiled by a law
2		enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation
3		under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
4		(l) Records and information provided to a residential
5		health care facility resident sexual assault and death
6		review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse
7		Prevention Review Team Act.
8		(m) Information provided to the predatory lending
9		database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential
10		Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent
11		authorized under that Article.
12		(n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of
13		compensation and expenses for court appointed trial
14		counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the
15		Capital Crimes Litigation Act. This subsection (n) shall
16		apply until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even
17		if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty
18		prior to trial or sentencing.
19		(o) Information that is prohibited from being
20		disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and
21		Hazardous Substances Registry Act.
22		(p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
23		investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
24		information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
25		Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and
26		2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the

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1		Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Regional
2		Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the
3		Regional Transportation Authority Act, or the St. Clair
4		County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety
5		Act.
6		(q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
7		Personnel Record Review Act.
8		(r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
9		Illinois School Student Records Act.
10		(s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
11		under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
12		(t) All identified or deidentified health information
13		in the form of health data or medical records contained
14		in, stored in, submitted to, transferred by, or released
15		from the Illinois Health Information Exchange, and
16		identified or deidentified health information in the form
17		of health data and medical records of the Illinois Health
18		Information Exchange in the possession of the Illinois
19		Health Information Exchange Office due to its
20		administration of the Illinois Health Information
21		Exchange. The terms "identified" and "deidentified" shall
22		be given the same meaning as in the Health Insurance
23		Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law
24		104-191, or any subsequent amendments thereto, and any
25		regulations promulgated thereunder.
26		(u) Records and information provided to an independent

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1		team of experts under the Developmental Disability and
2		Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).
3		(v) Names and information of people who have applied
4		for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under
5		the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for
6		or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm
7		Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the
8		Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the
9		Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed
10		Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed
11		Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the
12		Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
13		(v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification
14		Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under
15		Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
16		(w) Personally identifiable information which is
17		exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section
18		19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.
19		(x) Information which is exempted from disclosure
20		under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section
21		8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
22		(y) Confidential information under the Adult
23		Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling
24		statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including
25		information about the identity and administrative finding
26		against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated

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1		decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of
2		an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established
3		under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
4		(z) Records and information provided to a fatality
5		review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory
6		Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services
7		Act.
8		(aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure
9		under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.
10		(bb) Information which is or was prohibited from
11		disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
12		(cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement
13		Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent
14		authorized under that Act.
15		(dd) Information that is prohibited from being
16		disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common
17		Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.
18		(ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure
19		under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.
20		(ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure
21		under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
22		(gg) Information that is prohibited from being
23		disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle
24		Code.
25		(hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
26		Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.

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1		(ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure
2		under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of
3		the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
4		(jj) Information and reports that are required to be
5		submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day
6		and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from
7		disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day
8		and Temporary Labor Services Act.
9		(kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the
10		Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
11		(ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
12		and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public
13		Aid Code.
14		(mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
15		Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
16		(nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
17		Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
18		(oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports
19		arising out of a peer support counseling session
20		prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders
21		Suicide Prevention Act.
22		(pp) Names and all identifying information relating to
23		an employee of an emergency services provider or law
24		enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide
25		Prevention Act.
26		(qq) Information and records held by the Department of

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1		Public Health and its authorized representatives collected
2		under the Reproductive Health Act.
3		(rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
4		the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
5		(ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of
6		Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois
7		Human Rights Act.
8		(tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy
9		Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that
10		Act.
11		(uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
12		Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.
13		(vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
14		subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois
15		Public Aid Code.
16		(ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
17		Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.
18		(xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or
19		information that shall not be made public under the
20		Illinois Insurance Code.
21		(yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
22		the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
23		(zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
24		the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
25		(aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed
26		under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.

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1		(bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure
2		by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State
3		Police Act.
4		(ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section
5		2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
6		Administrative Code of Illinois.
7		(ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed
8		under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for
9		Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human
10		Trafficking, or Stalking Act.
11		(eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed
12		under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic
13		Violence Fatality Review Act.
14		(fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera
15		Act. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after
16		July 1, 2023.
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 Department
21		of State Police in an affidavit or application for an
22		assault weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment
23		endorsement, .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber
24		cartridge endorsement under the Firearm Owners
25		Identification Card Act.
26		(iii) Information prohibited from being disclosed

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1		under subsection (e) of Section 1-129 of the Illinois
2		Power Agency Act.
3		(Source: P.A. 101-13, eff. 6-12-19; 101-27, eff. 6-25-19;
4		101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-236, eff.
5		1-1-20; 101-375, eff. 8-16-19; 101-377, eff. 8-16-19; 101-452,
6		eff. 1-1-20; 101-466, eff. 1-1-20; 101-600, eff. 12-6-19;
7		101-620, eff 12-20-19; 101-649, eff. 7-7-20; 101-652, eff.
8		1-1-22; 101-656, eff. 3-23-21; 102-36, eff. 6-25-21; 102-237,
9		eff. 1-1-22; 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-520, eff. 8-20-21;
10		102-559, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-946, eff.
11		7-1-22; 102-1042, eff. 6-3-22; 102-1116, eff. 1-10-23; revised
12		2-13-23.)"; and
13		Section 10. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by
14		changing Section 1-75 and adding Section 1-129 as follows:
15		(20 ILCS 3855/1-75)
16		Sec. 1-75. Planning and Procurement Bureau. The Planning
17		and Procurement Bureau has the following duties and
18		responsibilities:
19		(a) The Planning and Procurement Bureau shall each year,
20		beginning in 2008, develop procurement plans and conduct
21		competitive procurement processes in accordance with the
22		requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act
23		for the eligible retail customers of electric utilities that
24		on December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least

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1		100,000 customers in Illinois. Beginning with the delivery
2		year commencing on June 1, 2017, the Planning and Procurement
3		Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the procurement
4		of zero emission credits from zero emission facilities in
5		accordance with the requirements of subsection (d-5) of this
6		Section. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory
7		Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Planning and
8		Procurement Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the
9		procurement of carbon mitigation credits from carbon-free
10		energy resources in accordance with the requirements of
11		subsection (d-10) of this Section. The Planning and
12		Procurement Bureau shall also develop procurement plans and
13		conduct competitive procurement processes in accordance with
14		the requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
15		Act for the eligible retail customers of small
16		multi-jurisdictional electric utilities that (i) on December
17		31, 2005 served less than 100,000 customers in Illinois and
18		(ii) request a procurement plan for their Illinois
19		jurisdictional load. This Section shall not apply to a small
20		multi-jurisdictional utility until such time as a small
21		multi-jurisdictional utility requests the Agency to prepare a
22		procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. For
23		the purposes of this Section, the term "eligible retail
24		customers" has the same definition as found in Section
25		16-111.5(a) of the Public Utilities Act.
26		Beginning with the plan or plans to be implemented in the

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1		2017 delivery year, the Agency shall no longer include the
2		procurement of renewable energy resources in the annual
3		procurement plans required by this subsection (a), except as
4		provided in subsection (q) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public
5		Utilities Act, and shall instead develop a long-term renewable
6		resources procurement plan in accordance with subsection (c)
7		of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
8		Act.
9		In accordance with subsection (c-5) of this Section, the
10		Planning and Procurement Bureau shall oversee the procurement
11		by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail
12		customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable
13		energy credits from new utility-scale solar projects to be
14		installed, along with energy storage facilities, at or
15		adjacent to the sites of electric generating facilities that,
16		as of January 1, 2016, burned coal as their primary fuel
17		source.
18		(1) The Agency shall each year, beginning in 2008, as
19		needed, issue a request for qualifications for experts or
20		expert consulting firms to develop the procurement plans
21		in accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public
22		Utilities Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert
23		consulting firm must have:
24		(A) direct previous experience assembling
25		large-scale power supply plans or portfolios for
26		end-use customers;

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1		(B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics,
2		engineering, risk management, or a related area of
3		study;
4		(C) 10 years of experience in the electricity
5		sector, including managing supply risk;
6		(D) expertise in wholesale electricity market
7		rules, including those established by the Federal
8		Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission
9		organizations;
10		(E) expertise in credit protocols and familiarity
11		with contract protocols;
12		(F) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the
13		required functions and responsibilities; and
14		(G) the absence of a conflict of interest and
15		inappropriate bias for or against potential bidders or
16		the affected electric utilities.
17		(2) The Agency shall each year, as needed, issue a
18		request for qualifications for a procurement administrator
19		to conduct the competitive procurement processes in
20		accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
21		Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert consulting
22		firm must have:
23		(A) direct previous experience administering a
24		large-scale competitive procurement process;
25		(B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics,
26		engineering, or a related area of study;

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1		(C) 10 years of experience in the electricity
2		sector, including risk management experience;
3		(D) expertise in wholesale electricity market
4		rules, including those established by the Federal
5		Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission
6		organizations;
7		(E) expertise in credit and 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		(3) The Agency shall provide affected utilities and
14		other interested parties with the lists of qualified
15		experts or expert consulting firms identified through the
16		request for qualifications processes that are under
17		consideration to develop the procurement plans and to
18		serve as the procurement administrator. The Agency shall
19		also provide each qualified expert's or expert consulting
20		firm's response to the request for qualifications. All
21		information provided under this subparagraph shall also be
22		provided to the Commission. The Agency may provide by rule
23		for fees associated with supplying the information to
24		utilities and other interested parties. These parties
25		shall, within 5 business days, notify the Agency in
26		writing if they object to any experts or expert consulting

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1		firms on the lists. Objections shall be based on:
2		(A) failure to satisfy qualification criteria;
3		(B) identification of a conflict of interest; or
4		(C) evidence of inappropriate bias for or against
5		potential bidders or the affected utilities.
6		The Agency shall remove experts or expert consulting
7		firms from the lists within 10 days if there is a
8		reasonable basis for an objection and provide the updated
9		lists to the affected utilities and other interested
10		parties. If the Agency fails to remove an expert or expert
11		consulting firm from a list, an objecting party may seek
12		review by the Commission within 5 days thereafter by
13		filing a petition, and the Commission shall render a
14		ruling on the petition within 10 days. There is no right of
15		appeal of the Commission's ruling.
16		(4) The Agency shall issue requests for proposals to
17		the qualified experts or expert consulting firms to
18		develop a procurement plan for the affected utilities and
19		to serve as procurement administrator.
20		(5) The Agency shall select an expert or expert
21		consulting firm to develop procurement plans based on the
22		proposals submitted and shall award contracts of up to 5
23		years to those selected.
24		(6) The Agency shall select an expert or expert
25		consulting firm, with approval of the Commission, to serve
26		as procurement administrator based on the proposals

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1		submitted. If the Commission rejects, within 5 days, the
2		Agency's selection, the Agency shall submit another
3		recommendation within 3 days based on the proposals
4		submitted. The Agency shall award a 5-year contract to the
5		expert or expert consulting firm so selected with
6		Commission approval.
7		(b) The experts or expert consulting firms retained by the
8		Agency shall, as appropriate, prepare procurement plans, and
9		conduct a competitive procurement process as prescribed in
10		Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, to ensure
11		adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally
12		sustainable electric service at the lowest total cost over
13		time, taking into account any benefits of price stability, for
14		eligible retail customers of electric utilities that on
15		December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least
16		100,000 customers in the State of Illinois, and for eligible
17		Illinois retail customers of small multi-jurisdictional
18		electric utilities that (i) on December 31, 2005 served less
19		than 100,000 customers in Illinois and (ii) request a
20		procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load.
21		(c) Renewable portfolio standard.
22		(1)(A) The Agency shall develop a long-term renewable
23		resources procurement plan that shall include procurement
24		programs and competitive procurement events necessary to
25		meet the goals set forth in this subsection (c). The
26		initial long-term renewable resources procurement plan

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1		shall be released for comment no later than 160 days after
2		June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-906).
3		The Agency shall review, and may revise on an expedited
4		basis, the long-term renewable resources procurement plan
5		at least every 2 years, which shall be conducted in
6		conjunction with the procurement plan under Section
7		16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the extent
8		practicable to minimize administrative expense. No later
9		than 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory
10		Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Agency shall
11		release for comment a revision to the long-term renewable
12		resources procurement plan, updating elements of the most
13		recently approved plan as needed to comply with this
14		amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, and any
15		long-term renewable resources procurement plan update
16		published by the Agency but not yet approved by the
17		Illinois Commerce Commission shall be withdrawn. The
18		long-term renewable resources procurement plans shall be
19		subject to review and approval by the Commission under
20		Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act.
21		(B) Subject to subparagraph (F) of this paragraph (1),
22		the long-term renewable resources procurement plan shall
23		attempt to meet the goals for procurement of renewable
24		energy credits at levels of at least the following overall
25		percentages: 13% by the 2017 delivery year; increasing by
26		at least 1.5% each delivery year thereafter to at least

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1		25% by the 2025 delivery year; increasing by at least 3%
2		each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by the 2030
3		delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40% for each
4		delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall attempt to
5		procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency shall
6		determine the annual increase between delivery year 2030
7		and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account energy
8		demand, other energy resources, and other public policy
9		goals. In the event of a conflict between these goals and
10		the new wind and new photovoltaic procurement requirements
11		described in items (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (C)
12		of this paragraph (1), the long-term plan shall prioritize
13		compliance with the new wind and new photovoltaic
14		procurement requirements described in items (i) through
15		(iii) of subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1) over the
16		annual percentage targets described in this subparagraph
17		(B). The Agency shall not comply with the annual
18		percentage targets described in this subparagraph (B) by
19		procuring renewable energy credits that are unlikely to
20		lead to the development of new renewable resources.
21		For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2017, the
22		procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the
23		prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B),
24		cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at
25		least 13% of each utility's load for eligible retail
26		customers and 13% of the applicable portion of each

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1		utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible
2		retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 50%
3		of the utility's load for retail customers who are not
4		eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017.
5		For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the
6		procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the
7		prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B),
8		cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at
9		least 14.5% of each utility's load for eligible retail
10		customers and 14.5% of the applicable portion of each
11		utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible
12		retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 75%
13		of the utility's load for retail customers who are not
14		eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017.
15		For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2019, and for
16		each year thereafter, the procurement plans shall attempt
17		to include, subject to the prioritization outlined in this
18		subparagraph (B), cost-effective renewable energy
19		resources equal to a minimum percentage of each utility's
20		load for all retail customers as follows: 16% by June 1,
21		2019; increasing by 1.5% each year thereafter to 25% by
22		June 1, 2025; and 25% by June 1, 2026; increasing by at
23		least 3% each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by
24		the 2030 delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40%
25		for each delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall
26		attempt to procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency

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1		shall determine the annual increase between delivery year
2		2030 and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account
3		energy demand, other energy resources, and other public
4		policy goals.
5		For each delivery year, the Agency shall first
6		recognize each utility's obligations for that delivery
7		year under existing contracts. Any renewable energy
8		credits under existing contracts, including renewable
9		energy credits as part of renewable energy resources,
10		shall be used to meet the goals set forth in this
11		subsection (c) for the delivery year.
12		(C) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan
13		described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (1) shall
14		include the procurement of renewable energy credits from
15		new projects in amounts equal to at least the following:
16		(i) 10,000,000 renewable energy credits delivered
17		annually by the end of the 2021 delivery year, and
18		increasing ratably to reach 45,000,000 renewable
19		energy credits delivered annually from new wind and
20		solar projects by the end of delivery year 2030 such
21		that the goals in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph
22		(1) are met entirely by procurements of renewable
23		energy credits from new wind and photovoltaic
24		projects. Of that amount, to the extent possible, the
25		Agency shall procure 45% from wind projects and 55%
26		from photovoltaic projects. Of the amount to be

HB3445 Enrolled - 21 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		procured from photovoltaic projects, the Agency shall
2		procure: at least 50% from solar photovoltaic projects
3		using the program outlined in subparagraph (K) of this
4		paragraph (1) from distributed renewable energy
5		generation devices or community renewable generation
6		projects; at least 47% from utility-scale solar
7		projects; at least 3% from brownfield site
8		photovoltaic projects that are not community renewable
9		generation projects.
10		In developing the long-term renewable resources
11		procurement plan, the Agency shall consider other
12		approaches, in addition to competitive procurements,
13		that can be used to procure renewable energy credits
14		from brownfield site photovoltaic projects and thereby
15		help return blighted or contaminated land to
16		productive use while enhancing public health and the
17		well-being of Illinois residents, including those in
18		environmental justice communities, as defined using
19		existing methodologies and findings used by the Agency
20		and its Administrator in its Illinois Solar for All
21		Program.
22		(ii) In any given delivery year, if forecasted
23		expenses are less than the maximum budget available
24		under subparagraph (E) of this paragraph (1), the
25		Agency shall continue to procure new renewable energy
26		credits until that budget is exhausted in the manner

HB3445 Enrolled - 22 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		outlined in item (i) of this subparagraph (C).
2		(iii) For purposes of this Section:
3		"New wind projects" means wind renewable energy
4		facilities that are energized after June 1, 2017 for
5		the delivery year commencing June 1, 2017.
6		"New photovoltaic projects" means photovoltaic
7		renewable energy facilities that are energized after
8		June 1, 2017. Photovoltaic projects developed under
9		Section 1-56 of this Act shall not apply towards the
10		new photovoltaic project requirements in this
11		subparagraph (C).
12		For purposes of calculating whether the Agency has
13		procured enough new wind and solar renewable energy
14		credits required by this subparagraph (C), renewable
15		energy facilities that have a multi-year renewable
16		energy credit delivery contract with the utility
17		through at least delivery year 2030 shall be
18		considered new, however no renewable energy credits
19		from contracts entered into before June 1, 2021 shall
20		be used to calculate whether the Agency has procured
21		the correct proportion of new wind and new solar
22		contracts described in this subparagraph (C) for
23		delivery year 2021 and thereafter.
24		(D) Renewable energy credits shall be cost effective.
25		For purposes of this subsection (c), "cost effective"
26		means that the costs of procuring renewable energy

HB3445 Enrolled - 23 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		resources do not cause the limit stated in subparagraph
2		(E) of this paragraph (1) to be exceeded and, for
3		renewable energy credits procured through a competitive
4		procurement event, do not exceed benchmarks based on
5		market prices for like products in the region. For
6		purposes of this subsection (c), "like products" means
7		contracts for renewable energy credits from the same or
8		substantially similar technology, same or substantially
9		similar vintage (new or existing), the same or
10		substantially similar quantity, and the same or
11		substantially similar contract length and structure.
12		Benchmarks shall reflect development, financing, or
13		related costs resulting from requirements imposed through
14		other provisions of State law, including, but not limited
15		to, requirements in subparagraphs (P) and (Q) of this
16		paragraph (1) and the Renewable Energy Facilities
17		Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Confidential
18		benchmarks shall be developed by the procurement
19		administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff,
20		Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be
21		subject to Commission review and approval. If price
22		benchmarks for like products in the region are not
23		available, the procurement administrator shall establish
24		price benchmarks based on publicly available data on
25		regional technology costs and expected current and future
26		regional energy prices. The benchmarks in this Section

HB3445 Enrolled - 24 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		shall not be used to curtail or otherwise reduce
2		contractual obligations entered into by or through the
3		Agency prior to June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public
4		Act 99-906).
5		(E) For purposes of this subsection (c), the required
6		procurement of cost-effective renewable energy resources
7		for a particular year commencing prior to June 1, 2017
8		shall be measured as a percentage of the actual amount of
9		electricity (megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric
10		utility to eligible retail customers in the delivery year
11		ending immediately prior to the procurement, and, for
12		delivery years commencing on and after June 1, 2017, the
13		required procurement of cost-effective renewable energy
14		resources for a particular year shall be measured as a
15		percentage of the actual amount of electricity
16		(megawatt-hours) delivered by the electric utility in the
17		delivery year ending immediately prior to the procurement,
18		to all retail customers in its service territory. For
19		purposes of this subsection (c), 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 (c), the total amount paid for
23		electric service includes without limitation amounts paid
24		for supply, transmission, capacity, distribution,
25		surcharges, and add-on taxes.
26		Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection

HB3445 Enrolled - 25 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(c), the total of renewable energy resources procured
2		under the procurement plan for any single year shall be
3		subject to the limitations of this subparagraph (E). Such
4		procurement shall be reduced for all retail customers
5		based on the amount necessary to limit the annual
6		estimated average net increase due to the costs of these
7		resources included in the amounts paid by eligible retail
8		customers in connection with electric service to no more
9		than 4.25% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those
10		customers during the year ending May 31, 2009. To arrive
11		at a maximum dollar amount of renewable energy resources
12		to be procured for the particular delivery year, the
13		resulting per kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the
14		actual amount of kilowatthours of electricity delivered,
15		or applicable portion of such amount as specified in
16		paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), as applicable, by
17		the electric utility in the delivery year immediately
18		prior to the procurement to all retail customers in its
19		service territory. The calculations required by this
20		subparagraph (E) shall be made only once for each delivery
21		year at the time that the renewable energy resources are
22		procured. Once the determination as to the amount of
23		renewable energy resources to procure is made based on the
24		calculations set forth in this subparagraph (E) and the
25		contracts procuring those amounts are executed, no
26		subsequent rate impact determinations shall be made and no

HB3445 Enrolled - 26 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		adjustments to those contract amounts shall be allowed.
2		All costs incurred under such contracts shall be fully
3		recoverable by the electric utility as provided in this
4		Section.
5		(F) If the limitation on the amount of renewable
6		energy resources procured in subparagraph (E) of this
7		paragraph (1) prevents the Agency from meeting all of the
8		goals in this subsection (c), the Agency's long-term plan
9		shall prioritize compliance with the requirements of this
10		subsection (c) regarding renewable energy credits in the
11		following order:
12		(i) renewable energy credits under existing
13		contractual obligations as of June 1, 2021;
14		(i-5) funding for the Illinois Solar for All
15		Program, as described in subparagraph (O) of this
16		paragraph (1);
17		(ii) renewable energy credits necessary to comply
18		with the new wind and new photovoltaic procurement
19		requirements described in items (i) through (iii) of
20		subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1); and
21		(iii) renewable energy credits necessary to meet
22		the remaining requirements of this subsection (c).
23		(G) The following provisions shall apply to the
24		Agency's procurement of renewable energy credits under
25		this subsection (c):
26		(i) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable

HB3445 Enrolled - 27 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
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		wind projects within 160 days after June 1, 2017 (the
5		effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes
6		of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall
7		solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000
8		renewable energy credits delivered annually from new
9		utility-scale wind projects to begin delivery on June
10		1, 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021,
11		unless the project has delays in the establishment of
12		an operating interconnection with the applicable
13		transmission or distribution system as a result of the
14		actions or inactions of the transmission or
15		distribution provider, or other causes for force
16		majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in
17		which case, not later than June 1, 2022. Payments to
18		suppliers of renewable energy credits shall commence
19		upon delivery. Renewable energy credits procured under
20		this initial procurement shall be included in the
21		Agency's long-term plan and shall apply to all
22		renewable energy goals in this subsection (c).
23		(ii) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable
24		resources procurement plan has been approved, the
25		Agency shall conduct an initial forward procurement
26		for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale

HB3445 Enrolled - 28 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		solar projects and brownfield site photovoltaic
2		projects within one year after June 1, 2017 (the
3		effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes
4		of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall
5		solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000
6		renewable energy credits delivered annually from new
7		utility-scale solar projects and brownfield site
8		photovoltaic projects to begin delivery on June 1,
9		2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021,
10		unless the project has delays in the establishment of
11		an operating interconnection with the applicable
12		transmission or distribution system as a result of the
13		actions or inactions of the transmission or
14		distribution provider, or other causes for force
15		majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in
16		which case, not later than June 1, 2022. The Agency may
17		structure this initial procurement in one or more
18		discrete procurement events. Payments to suppliers of
19		renewable energy credits shall commence upon delivery.
20		Renewable energy credits procured under this initial
21		procurement shall be included in the Agency's
22		long-term plan and shall apply to all renewable energy
23		goals in this subsection (c).
24		(iii) Notwithstanding whether the Commission has
25		approved the periodic long-term renewable resources
26		procurement plan revision described in Section

HB3445 Enrolled - 29 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, the Agency shall
2		conduct at least one subsequent forward procurement
3		for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale
4		wind projects, new utility-scale solar projects, and
5		new brownfield site photovoltaic projects within 240
6		days after the effective date of this amendatory Act
7		of the 102nd General Assembly in quantities necessary
8		to meet the requirements of subparagraph (C) of this
9		paragraph (1) through the delivery year beginning June
10		1, 2021.
11		(iv) 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		open capacity for each category in the Adjustable
16		Block program within 90 days after the effective date
17		of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly
18		manner:
19		(1) The Agency shall open the first block of
20		annual capacity for the category described in item
21		(i) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). The
22		first block of annual capacity for item (i) shall
23		be for at least 75 megawatts of total nameplate
24		capacity. The price of the renewable energy credit
25		for this block of capacity shall be 4% less than
26		the price of the last open block in this category.

HB3445 Enrolled - 30 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		Projects on a waitlist shall be awarded contracts
2		first in the order in which they appear on the
3		waitlist. Notwithstanding anything to the
4		contrary, for those renewable energy credits that
5		qualify and are procured under this subitem (1) of
6		this item (iv), the renewable energy credit
7		delivery contract value shall be paid in full,
8		based on the estimated generation during the first
9		15 years of operation, by the contracting
10		utilities at the time that the facility producing
11		the renewable energy credits is interconnected at
12		the distribution system level of the utility and
13		verified as energized and in compliance by the
14		Program Administrator. The electric utility shall
15		receive and retire all renewable energy credits
16		generated by the project for the first 15 years of
17		operation. Renewable energy credits generated by
18		the project thereafter shall not be transferred
19		under the renewable energy credit delivery
20		contract with the counterparty electric utility.
21		(2) The Agency shall open the first block of
22		annual capacity for the category described in item
23		(ii) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1).
24		The first block of annual capacity for item (ii)
25		shall be for at least 75 megawatts of total
26		nameplate capacity.

HB3445 Enrolled - 31 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(A) The price of the renewable energy
2		credit for any project on a waitlist for this
3		category before the opening of this block
4		shall be 4% less than the price of the last
5		open block in this category. Projects on the
6		waitlist shall be awarded contracts first in
7		the order in which they appear on the
8		waitlist. Any projects that are less than or
9		equal to 25 kilowatts in size on the waitlist
10		for this capacity shall be moved to the
11		waitlist for paragraph (1) of this item (iv).
12		Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
13		projects that were on the waitlist prior to
14		opening of this block shall not be required to
15		be in compliance with the requirements of
16		subparagraph (Q) of this paragraph (1) of this
17		subsection (c). Notwithstanding anything to
18		the contrary, for those renewable energy
19		credits procured from projects that were on
20		the waitlist for this category before the
21		opening of this block 20% of the renewable
22		energy credit delivery contract value, based
23		on the estimated generation during the first
24		15 years of operation, shall be paid by the
25		contracting utilities at the time that the
26		facility producing the renewable energy

HB3445 Enrolled - 32 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		credits is interconnected at the distribution
2		system level of the utility and verified as
3		energized by the Program Administrator. The
4		remaining portion shall be paid ratably over
5		the subsequent 4-year period. The electric
6		utility shall receive and retire all renewable
7		energy credits generated by the project during
8		the first 15 years of operation. Renewable
9		energy credits generated by the project
10		thereafter shall not be transferred under the
11		renewable energy credit delivery contract with
12		the counterparty electric utility.
13		(B) The price of renewable energy credits
14		for any project not on the waitlist for this
15		category before the opening of the block shall
16		be determined and published by the Agency.
17		Projects not on a waitlist as of the opening
18		of this block shall be subject to the
19		requirements of subparagraph (Q) of this
20		paragraph (1), as applicable. Projects not on
21		a waitlist as of the opening of this block
22		shall be subject to the contract provisions
23		outlined in item (iii) of subparagraph (L) of
24		this paragraph (1). The Agency shall strive to
25		publish updated prices and an updated
26		renewable energy credit delivery contract as

HB3445 Enrolled - 33 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		quickly as possible.
2		(3) For opening the first 2 blocks of annual
3		capacity for projects participating in item (iii)
4		of subparagraph (K) of paragraph (1) of subsection
5		(c), projects shall be selected exclusively from
6		those projects on the ordinal waitlists of
7		community renewable generation projects
8		established by the Agency based on the status of
9		those ordinal waitlists as of December 31, 2020,
10		and only those projects previously determined to
11		be eligible for the Agency's April 2019 community
12		solar project selection process.
13		The first 2 blocks of annual capacity for item
14		(iii) shall be for 250 megawatts of total
15		nameplate capacity, with both blocks opening
16		simultaneously under the schedule outlined in the
17		paragraphs below. Projects shall be selected as
18		follows:
19		(A) The geographic balance of selected
20		projects shall follow the Group classification
21		found in the Agency's Revised Long-Term
22		Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, with 70%
23		of capacity allocated to projects on the Group
24		B waitlist and 30% of capacity allocated to
25		projects on the Group A waitlist.
26		(B) Contract awards for waitlisted

HB3445 Enrolled - 34 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		projects shall be allocated proportionate to
2		the total nameplate capacity amount across
3		both ordinal waitlists associated with that
4		applicant firm or its affiliates, subject to
5		the following conditions.
6		(i) Each applicant firm having a
7		waitlisted project eligible for selection
8		shall receive no less than 500 kilowatts
9		in awarded capacity across all groups, and
10		no approved vendor may receive more than
11		20% of each Group's waitlist allocation.
12		(ii) Each applicant firm, upon
13		receiving an award of program capacity
14		proportionate to its waitlisted capacity,
15		may then determine which waitlisted
16		projects it chooses to be selected for a
17		contract award up to that capacity amount.
18		(iii) Assuming all other program
19		requirements are met, applicant firms may
20		adjust the nameplate capacity of applicant
21		projects without losing waitlist
22		eligibility, so long as no project is
23		greater than 2,000 kilowatts in size.
24		(iv) Assuming all other program
25		requirements are met, applicant firms may
26		adjust the expected production associated

HB3445 Enrolled - 35 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		with applicant projects, subject to
2		verification by the Program Administrator.
3		(C) After a review of affiliate
4		information and the current ordinal waitlists,
5		the Agency shall announce the nameplate
6		capacity award amounts associated with
7		applicant firms no later than 90 days after
8		the effective date of this amendatory Act of
9		the 102nd General Assembly.
10		(D) Applicant firms shall submit their
11		portfolio of projects used to satisfy those
12		contract awards no less than 90 days after the
13		Agency's announcement. The total nameplate
14		capacity of all projects used to satisfy that
15		portfolio shall be no greater than the
16		Agency's nameplate capacity award amount
17		associated with that applicant firm. An
18		applicant firm may decline, in whole or in
19		part, its nameplate capacity award without
20		penalty, with such unmet capacity rolled over
21		to the next block opening for project
22		selection under item (iii) of subparagraph (K)
23		of this subsection (c). Any projects not
24		included in an applicant firm's portfolio may
25		reapply without prejudice upon the next block
26		reopening for project selection under item

HB3445 Enrolled - 36 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(iii) of subparagraph (K) of this subsection
2		(c).
3		(E) The renewable energy credit delivery
4		contract shall be subject to the contract and
5		payment terms outlined in item (iv) of
6		subparagraph (L) of this subsection (c).
7		Contract instruments used for this
8		subparagraph shall contain the following
9		terms:
10		(i) Renewable energy credit prices
11		shall be fixed, without further adjustment
12		under any other provision of this Act or
13		for any other reason, at 10% lower than
14		prices applicable to the last open block
15		for this category, inclusive of any adders
16		available for achieving a minimum of 50%
17		of subscribers to the project's nameplate
18		capacity being residential or small
19		commercial customers with subscriptions of
20		below 25 kilowatts in size;
21		(ii) A requirement that a minimum of
22		50% of subscribers to the project's
23		nameplate capacity be residential or small
24		commercial customers with subscriptions of
25		below 25 kilowatts in size;
26		(iii) Permission for the ability of a

HB3445 Enrolled - 37 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		contract holder to substitute projects
2		with other waitlisted projects without
3		penalty should a project receive a
4		non-binding estimate of costs to construct
5		the interconnection facilities and any
6		required distribution upgrades associated
7		with that project of greater than 30 cents
8		per watt AC of that project's nameplate
9		capacity. In developing the applicable
10		contract instrument, the Agency may
11		consider whether other circumstances
12		outside of the control of the applicant
13		firm should also warrant project
14		substitution rights.
15		The Agency shall publish a finalized
16		updated renewable energy credit delivery
17		contract developed consistent with these terms
18		and conditions no less than 30 days before
19		applicant firms must submit their portfolio of
20		projects pursuant to item (D).
21		(F) To be eligible for an award, the
22		applicant firm shall certify that not less
23		than prevailing wage, as determined pursuant
24		to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, was or
25		will be paid to employees who are engaged in
26		construction activities associated with a

HB3445 Enrolled - 38 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		selected project.
2		(4) The Agency shall open the first block of
3		annual capacity for the category described in item
4		(iv) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1).
5		The first block of annual capacity for item (iv)
6		shall be for at least 50 megawatts of total
7		nameplate capacity. Renewable energy credit prices
8		shall be fixed, without further adjustment under
9		any other provision of this Act or for any other
10		reason, at the price in the last open block in the
11		category described in item (ii) of subparagraph
12		(K) of this paragraph (1). Pricing for future
13		blocks of annual capacity for this category may be
14		adjusted in the Agency's second revision to its
15		Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan.
16		Projects in this category shall be subject to the
17		contract terms outlined in item (iv) of
18		subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1).
19		(5) The Agency shall open the equivalent of 2
20		years of annual capacity for the category
21		described in item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this
22		paragraph (1). The first block of annual capacity
23		for item (v) shall be for at least 10 megawatts of
24		total nameplate capacity. Notwithstanding the
25		provisions of item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this
26		paragraph (1), for the purpose of this initial

HB3445 Enrolled - 39 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		block, the agency shall accept new project
2		applications intended to increase the diversity of
3		areas hosting community solar projects, the
4		business models of projects, and the size of
5		projects, as described by the Agency in its
6		long-term renewable resources procurement plan
7		that is approved as of the effective date of this
8		amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
9		Projects in this category shall be subject to the
10		contract terms outlined in item (iii) of
11		subsection (L) of this paragraph (1).
12		(6) The Agency shall open the first blocks of
13		annual capacity for the category described in item
14		(vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1),
15		with allocations of capacity within the block
16		generally matching the historical share of block
17		capacity allocated between the category described
18		in items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this
19		paragraph (1). The first two blocks of annual
20		capacity for item (vi) shall be for at least 75
21		megawatts of total nameplate capacity. The price
22		of renewable energy credits for the blocks of
23		capacity shall be 4% less than the price of the
24		last open blocks in the categories described in
25		items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this
26		paragraph (1). Pricing for future blocks of annual

HB3445 Enrolled - 40 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		capacity for this category may be adjusted in the
2		Agency's second revision to its Long-Term
3		Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. Projects in
4		this category shall be subject to the applicable
5		contract terms outlined in items (ii) and (iii) of
6		subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1).
7		(v) Upon the effective date of this amendatory Act
8		of the 102nd General Assembly, for all competitive
9		procurements and any procurements of renewable energy
10		credit from new utility-scale wind and new
11		utility-scale photovoltaic projects, the Agency shall
12		procure indexed renewable energy credits and direct
13		respondents to offer a strike price.
14		(1) The purchase price of the indexed
15		renewable energy credit payment shall be
16		calculated for each settlement period. That
17		payment, for any settlement period, shall be equal
18		to the difference resulting from subtracting the
19		strike price from the index price for that
20		settlement period. If this difference results in a
21		negative number, the indexed REC counterparty
22		shall owe the seller the absolute value multiplied
23		by the quantity of energy produced in the relevant
24		settlement period. If this difference results in a
25		positive number, the seller shall owe the indexed
26		REC counterparty this amount multiplied by the

HB3445 Enrolled - 41 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		quantity of energy produced in the relevant
2		settlement period.
3		(2) Parties shall cash settle every month,
4		summing up all settlements (both positive and
5		negative, if applicable) for the prior month.
6		(3) To ensure funding in the annual budget
7		established under subparagraph (E) for indexed
8		renewable energy credit procurements for each year
9		of the term of such contracts, which must have a
10		minimum tenure of 20 calendar years, the
11		procurement administrator, Agency, Commission
12		staff, and procurement monitor shall quantify the
13		annual cost of the contract by utilizing an
14		industry-standard, third-party forward price curve
15		for energy at the appropriate hub or load zone,
16		including the estimated magnitude and timing of
17		the price effects related to federal carbon
18		controls. Each forward price curve shall contain a
19		specific value of the forecasted market price of
20		electricity for each annual delivery year of the
21		contract. For procurement planning purposes, the
22		impact on the annual budget for the cost of
23		indexed renewable energy credits for each delivery
24		year shall be determined as the expected annual
25		contract expenditure for that year, equaling the
26		difference between (i) the sum across all relevant

HB3445 Enrolled - 42 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		contracts of the applicable strike price
2		multiplied by contract quantity and (ii) the sum
3		across all relevant contracts of the forward price
4		curve for the applicable load zone for that year
5		multiplied by contract quantity. The contracting
6		utility shall not assume an obligation in excess
7		of the estimated annual cost of the contracts for
8		indexed renewable energy credits. Forward curves
9		shall be revised on an annual basis as updated
10		forward price curves are released and filed with
11		the Commission in the proceeding approving the
12		Agency's most recent long-term renewable resources
13		procurement plan. If the expected contract spend
14		is higher or lower than the total quantity of
15		contracts multiplied by the forward price curve
16		value for that year, the forward price curve shall
17		be updated by the procurement administrator, in
18		consultation with the Agency, Commission staff,
19		and procurement monitors, using then-currently
20		available price forecast data and additional
21		budget dollars shall be obligated or reobligated
22		as appropriate.
23		(4) To ensure that indexed renewable energy
24		credit prices remain predictable and affordable,
25		the Agency may consider the institution of a price
26		collar on REC prices paid under indexed renewable

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1		energy credit procurements establishing floor and
2		ceiling REC prices applicable to indexed REC
3		contract prices. Any price collars applicable to
4		indexed REC procurements shall be proposed by the
5		Agency through its long-term renewable resources
6		procurement plan.
7		(vi) All procurements under this subparagraph (G)
8		shall comply with the geographic requirements in
9		subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (1) and shall
10		follow the procurement processes and procedures
11		described in this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the
12		Public Utilities Act to the extent practicable, and
13		these processes and procedures may be expedited to
14		accommodate the schedule established by this
15		subparagraph (G).
16		(H) The procurement of renewable energy resources for
17		a given delivery year shall be reduced as described in
18		this subparagraph (H) if an alternative retail electric
19		supplier meets the requirements described in this
20		subparagraph (H).
21		(i) Within 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the
22		effective date of Public Act 99-906), an alternative
23		retail electric supplier or its successor shall submit
24		an informational filing to the Illinois Commerce
25		Commission certifying that, as of December 31, 2015,
26		the alternative retail electric supplier owned one or

HB3445 Enrolled - 44 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		more electric generating facilities that generates
2		renewable energy resources as defined in Section 1-10
3		of this Act, provided that such facilities are not
4		powered by wind or photovoltaics, and the facilities
5		generate one renewable energy credit for each
6		megawatthour of energy produced from the facility.
7		The informational filing shall identify each
8		facility that was eligible to satisfy the alternative
9		retail electric supplier's obligations under Section
10		16-115D of the Public Utilities Act as described in
11		this item (i).
12		(ii) For a given delivery year, the alternative
13		retail electric supplier may elect to supply its
14		retail customers with renewable energy credits from
15		the facility or facilities described in item (i) of
16		this subparagraph (H) that continue to be owned by the
17		alternative retail electric supplier.
18		(iii) The alternative retail electric supplier
19		shall notify the Agency and the applicable utility, no
20		later than February 28 of the year preceding the
21		applicable delivery year or 15 days after June 1, 2017
22		(the effective date of Public Act 99-906), whichever
23		is later, of its election under item (ii) of this
24		subparagraph (H) to supply renewable energy credits to
25		retail customers of the utility. Such election shall
26		identify the amount of renewable energy credits to be

HB3445 Enrolled - 45 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		supplied by the alternative retail electric supplier
2		to the utility's retail customers and the source of
3		the renewable energy credits identified in the
4		informational filing as described in item (i) of this
5		subparagraph (H), subject to the following
6		limitations:
7		For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018,
8		the maximum amount of renewable energy credits to
9		be supplied by an alternative retail electric
10		supplier under this subparagraph (H) shall be 68%
11		multiplied by 25% multiplied by 14.5% multiplied
12		by the amount of metered electricity
13		(megawatt-hours) delivered by the alternative
14		retail electric supplier to Illinois retail
15		customers during the delivery year ending May 31,
16		2016.
17		For delivery years beginning June 1, 2019 and
18		each year thereafter, the maximum amount of
19		renewable energy credits to be supplied by an
20		alternative retail electric supplier under this
21		subparagraph (H) shall be 68% multiplied by 50%
22		multiplied by 16% multiplied by the amount of
23		metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by
24		the alternative retail electric supplier to
25		Illinois retail customers during the delivery year
26		ending May 31, 2016, provided that the 16% value

HB3445 Enrolled - 46 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		shall increase by 1.5% each delivery year
2		thereafter to 25% by the delivery year beginning
3		June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value shall
4		apply to each delivery year.
5		For each delivery year, the total amount of
6		renewable energy credits supplied by all alternative
7		retail electric suppliers under this subparagraph (H)
8		shall not exceed 9% of the Illinois target renewable
9		energy credit quantity. The Illinois target renewable
10		energy credit quantity for the delivery year beginning
11		June 1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of
12		metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered in the
13		delivery year immediately preceding that delivery
14		year, provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5%
15		each delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery
16		year beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25%
17		value shall apply to each delivery year.
18		If the requirements set forth in items (i) through
19		(iii) of this subparagraph (H) are met, the charges
20		that would otherwise be applicable to the retail
21		customers of the alternative retail electric supplier
22		under paragraph (6) of this subsection (c) for the
23		applicable delivery year shall be reduced by the ratio
24		of the quantity of renewable energy credits supplied
25		by the alternative retail electric supplier compared
26		to that supplier's target renewable energy credit

HB3445 Enrolled - 47 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		quantity. The supplier's target renewable energy
2		credit quantity for the delivery year beginning June
3		1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of
4		metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by the
5		alternative retail supplier in that delivery year,
6		provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5% each
7		delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery year
8		beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value
9		shall apply to each delivery year.
10		On or before April 1 of each year, the Agency shall
11		annually publish a report on its website that
12		identifies the aggregate amount of renewable energy
13		credits supplied by alternative retail electric
14		suppliers under this subparagraph (H).
15		(I) The Agency shall design its long-term renewable
16		energy procurement plan to maximize the State's interest
17		in the health, safety, and welfare of its residents,
18		including but not limited to minimizing sulfur dioxide,
19		nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and other pollution
20		that adversely affects public health in this State,
21		increasing fuel and resource diversity in this State,
22		enhancing the reliability and resiliency of the
23		electricity distribution system in this State, meeting
24		goals to limit carbon dioxide emissions under federal or
25		State law, and contributing to a cleaner and healthier
26		environment for the citizens of this State. In order to

HB3445 Enrolled - 48 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		further these legislative purposes, renewable energy
2		credits shall be eligible to be counted toward the
3		renewable energy requirements of this subsection (c) if
4		they are generated from facilities located in this State.
5		The Agency may qualify renewable energy credits from
6		facilities located in states adjacent to Illinois or
7		renewable energy credits associated with the electricity
8		generated by a utility-scale wind energy facility or
9		utility-scale photovoltaic facility and transmitted by a
10		qualifying direct current project described in subsection
11		(b-5) of Section 8-406 of the Public Utilities Act to a
12		delivery point on the electric transmission grid located
13		in this State or a state adjacent to Illinois, if the
14		generator demonstrates and the Agency determines that the
15		operation of such facility or facilities will help promote
16		the State's interest in the health, safety, and welfare of
17		its residents based on the public interest criteria
18		described above. For the purposes of this Section,
19		renewable resources that are delivered via a high voltage
20		direct current converter station located in Illinois shall
21		be deemed generated in Illinois at the time and location
22		the energy is converted to alternating current by the high
23		voltage direct current converter station if the high
24		voltage direct current transmission line: (i) after the
25		effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
26		Assembly, was constructed with a project labor agreement;

HB3445 Enrolled - 49 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(ii) is capable of transmitting electricity at 525kv;
2		(iii) has an Illinois converter station located and
3		interconnected in the region of the PJM Interconnection,
4		LLC; (iv) does not operate as a public utility; and (v) if
5		the high voltage direct current transmission line was
6		energized after June 1, 2023. To ensure that the public
7		interest criteria are applied to the procurement and given
8		full effect, the Agency's long-term procurement plan shall
9		describe in detail how each public interest factor shall
10		be considered and weighted for facilities located in
11		states adjacent to Illinois.
12		(J) In order to promote the competitive development of
13		renewable energy resources in furtherance of the State's
14		interest in the health, safety, and welfare of its
15		residents, renewable energy credits shall not be eligible
16		to be counted toward the renewable energy requirements of
17		this subsection (c) if they are sourced from a generating
18		unit whose costs were being recovered through rates
19		regulated by this State or any other state or states on or
20		after January 1, 2017. Each contract executed to purchase
21		renewable energy credits under this subsection (c) shall
22		provide for the contract's termination if the costs of the
23		generating unit supplying the renewable energy credits
24		subsequently begin to be recovered through rates regulated
25		by this State or any other state or states; and each
26		contract shall further provide that, in that event, the

HB3445 Enrolled - 50 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		supplier of the credits must return 110% of all payments
2		received under the contract. Amounts returned under the
3		requirements of this subparagraph (J) shall be retained by
4		the utility and all of these amounts shall be used for the
5		procurement of additional renewable energy credits from
6		new wind or new photovoltaic resources as defined in this
7		subsection (c). The long-term plan shall provide that
8		these renewable energy credits shall be procured in the
9		next procurement event.
10		Notwithstanding the limitations of this subparagraph
11		(J), renewable energy credits sourced from generating
12		units that are constructed, purchased, owned, or leased by
13		an electric utility as part of an approved project,
14		program, or pilot under Section 1-56 of this Act shall be
15		eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy
16		requirements of this subsection (c), regardless of how the
17		costs of these units are recovered. As long as a
18		generating unit or an identifiable portion of a generating
19		unit has not had and does not have its costs recovered
20		through rates regulated by this State or any other state,
21		HVDC renewable energy credits associated with that
22		generating unit or identifiable portion thereof shall be
23		eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy
24		requirements of this subsection (c).
25		(K) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan
26		developed by the Agency in accordance with subparagraph

HB3445 Enrolled - 51 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(A) of this paragraph (1) shall include an Adjustable
2		Block program for the procurement of renewable energy
3		credits from new photovoltaic projects that are
4		distributed renewable energy generation devices or new
5		photovoltaic community renewable generation projects. The
6		Adjustable Block program shall be generally designed to
7		provide for the steady, predictable, and sustainable
8		growth of new solar photovoltaic development in Illinois.
9		To this end, the Adjustable Block program shall provide a
10		transparent annual schedule of prices and quantities to
11		enable the photovoltaic market to scale up and for
12		renewable energy credit prices to adjust at a predictable
13		rate over time. The prices set by the Adjustable Block
14		program can be reflected as a set value or as the product
15		of a formula.
16		The Adjustable Block program shall include for each
17		category of eligible projects for each delivery year: a
18		single block of nameplate capacity, a price for renewable
19		energy credits within that block, and the terms and
20		conditions for securing a spot on a waitlist once the
21		block is fully committed or reserved. Except as outlined
22		below, the waitlist of projects in a given year will carry
23		over to apply to the subsequent year when another block is
24		opened. Only projects energized on or after June 1, 2017
25		shall be eligible for the Adjustable Block program. For
26		each category for each delivery year the Agency shall

HB3445 Enrolled - 52 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		determine the amount of generation capacity in each block,
2		and the purchase price for each block, provided that the
3		purchase price provided and the total amount of generation
4		in all blocks for all categories shall be sufficient to
5		meet the goals in this subsection (c). The Agency shall
6		strive to issue a single block sized to provide for
7		stability and market growth. The Agency shall establish
8		program eligibility requirements that ensure that projects
9		that enter the program are sufficiently mature to indicate
10		a demonstrable path to completion. The Agency may
11		periodically review its prior decisions establishing the
12		amount of generation capacity in each block, and the
13		purchase price for each block, and may propose, on an
14		expedited basis, changes to these previously set values,
15		including but not limited to redistributing these amounts
16		and the available funds as necessary and appropriate,
17		subject to Commission approval as part of the periodic
18		plan revision process described in Section 16-111.5 of the
19		Public Utilities Act. The Agency may define different
20		block sizes, purchase prices, or other distinct terms and
21		conditions for projects located in different utility
22		service territories if the Agency deems it necessary to
23		meet the goals in this subsection (c).
24		The Adjustable Block program shall include the
25		following categories in at least the following amounts:
26		(i) At least 20% from distributed renewable energy

HB3445 Enrolled - 53 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		generation devices with a nameplate capacity of no
2		more than 25 kilowatts.
3		(ii) At least 20% from distributed renewable
4		energy generation devices with a nameplate capacity of
5		more than 25 kilowatts and no more than 5,000
6		kilowatts. The Agency may create sub-categories within
7		this category to account for the differences between
8		projects for small commercial customers, large
9		commercial customers, and public or non-profit
10		customers.
11		(iii) At least 30% from photovoltaic community
12		renewable generation projects. Capacity for this
13		category for the first 2 delivery years after the
14		effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd
15		General Assembly shall be allocated to waitlist
16		projects as provided in paragraph (3) of item (iv) of
17		subparagraph (G). Starting in the third delivery year
18		after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
19		102nd General Assembly or earlier if the Agency
20		determines there is additional capacity needed for to
21		meet previous delivery year requirements, the
22		following shall apply:
23		(1) the Agency shall select projects on a
24		first-come, first-serve basis, however the Agency
25		may suggest additional methods to prioritize
26		projects that are submitted at the same time;

HB3445 Enrolled - 54 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(2) projects shall have subscriptions of 25 kW
2		or less for at least 50% of the facility's
3		nameplate capacity and the Agency shall price the
4		renewable energy credits with that as a factor;
5		(3) projects shall not be colocated with one
6		or more other community renewable generation
7		projects, as defined in the Agency's first revised
8		long-term renewable resources procurement plan
9		approved by the Commission on February 18, 2020,
10		such that the aggregate nameplate capacity exceeds
11		5,000 kilowatts; and
12		(4) projects greater than 2 MW may not apply
13		until after the approval of the Agency's revised
14		Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan
15		after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
16		the 102nd General Assembly.
17		(iv) At least 15% from distributed renewable
18		generation devices or photovoltaic community renewable
19		generation projects installed on at public school land
20		schools. The Agency may create subcategories within
21		this category to account for the differences between
22		project size or location. Projects located within
23		environmental justice communities or within
24		Organizational Units that fall within Tier 1 or Tier 2
25		shall be given priority. Each of the Agency's periodic
26		updates to its long-term renewable resources

HB3445 Enrolled - 55 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		procurement plan to incorporate the procurement
2		described in this subparagraph (iv) shall also include
3		the proposed quantities or blocks, pricing, and
4		contract terms applicable to the procurement as
5		indicated herein. In each such update and procurement,
6		the Agency shall set the renewable energy credit price
7		and establish payment terms for the renewable energy
8		credits procured pursuant to this subparagraph (iv)
9		that make it feasible and affordable for public
10		schools to install photovoltaic distributed renewable
11		energy devices on their premises, including, but not
12		limited to, those public schools subject to the
13		prioritization provisions of this subparagraph. For
14		the purposes of this item (iv):
15		"Environmental Justice Community" shall have the
16		same meaning set forth in the Agency's long-term
17		renewable resources procurement plan;
18		"Organization Unit", "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" shall
19		have the meanings set for in Section 18-8.15 of the
20		School Code;
21		"Public schools" shall have the meaning set forth
22		in Section 1-3 of the School Code and includes public
23		institutions of higher education, as defined in the
24		Board of Higher Education Act.
25		(v) At least 5% from community-driven community
26		solar projects intended to provide more direct and

HB3445 Enrolled - 56 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		tangible connection and benefits to the communities
2		which they serve or in which they operate and,
3		additionally, to increase the variety of community
4		solar locations, models, and options in Illinois. As
5		part of its long-term renewable resources procurement
6		plan, the Agency shall develop selection criteria for
7		projects participating in this category. Nothing in
8		this Section shall preclude the Agency from creating a
9		selection process that maximizes community ownership
10		and community benefits in selecting projects to
11		receive renewable energy credits. Selection criteria
12		shall include:
13		(1) community ownership or community
14		wealth-building;
15		(2) additional direct and indirect community
16		benefit, beyond project participation as a
17		subscriber, including, but not limited to,
18		economic, environmental, social, cultural, and
19		physical benefits;
20		(3) meaningful involvement in project
21		organization and development by community members
22		or nonprofit organizations or public entities
23		located in or serving the community;
24		(4) engagement in project operations and
25		management by nonprofit organizations, public
26		entities, or community members; and

HB3445 Enrolled - 57 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(5) whether a project is developed in response
2		to a site-specific RFP developed by community
3		members or a nonprofit organization or public
4		entity located in or serving the community.
5		Selection criteria may also prioritize projects
6		that:
7		(1) are developed in collaboration with or to
8		provide complementary opportunities for the Clean
9		Jobs Workforce Network Program, the Illinois
10		Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, the
11		Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program,
12		the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, or
13		the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator
14		Program;
15		(2) increase the diversity of locations of
16		community solar projects in Illinois, including by
17		locating in urban areas and population centers;
18		(3) are located in Equity Investment Eligible
19		Communities;
20		(4) are not greenfield projects;
21		(5) serve only local subscribers;
22		(6) have a nameplate capacity that does not
23		exceed 500 kW;
24		(7) are developed by an equity eligible
25		contractor; or
26		(8) otherwise meaningfully advance the goals

HB3445 Enrolled - 58 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		of providing more direct and tangible connection
2		and benefits to the communities which they serve
3		or in which they operate and increasing the
4		variety of community solar locations, models, and
5		options in Illinois.
6		For the purposes of this item (v):
7		"Community" means a social unit in which people
8		come together regularly to effect change; a social
9		unit in which participants are marked by a cooperative
10		spirit, a common purpose, or shared interests or
11		characteristics; or a space understood by its
12		residents to be delineated through geographic
13		boundaries or landmarks.
14		"Community benefit" means a range of services and
15		activities that provide affirmative, economic,
16		environmental, social, cultural, or physical value to
17		a community; or a mechanism that enables economic
18		development, high-quality employment, and education
19		opportunities for local workers and residents, or
20		formal monitoring and oversight structures such that
21		community members may ensure that those services and
22		activities respond to local knowledge and needs.
23		"Community ownership" means an arrangement in
24		which an electric generating facility is, or over time
25		will be, in significant part, owned collectively by
26		members of the community to which an electric

HB3445 Enrolled - 59 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		generating facility provides benefits; members of that
2		community participate in decisions regarding the
3		governance, operation, maintenance, and upgrades of
4		and to that facility; and members of that community
5		benefit from regular use of that facility.
6		Terms and guidance within these criteria that are
7		not defined in this item (v) shall be defined by the
8		Agency, with stakeholder input, during the development
9		of the Agency's long-term renewable resources
10		procurement plan. The Agency shall develop regular
11		opportunities for projects to submit applications for
12		projects under this category, and develop selection
13		criteria that gives preference to projects that better
14		meet individual criteria as well as projects that
15		address a higher number of criteria.
16		(vi) At least 10% from distributed renewable
17		energy generation devices, which includes distributed
18		renewable energy devices with a nameplate capacity
19		under 5,000 kilowatts or photovoltaic community
20		renewable generation projects, from applicants that
21		are equity eligible contractors. The Agency may create
22		subcategories within this category to account for the
23		differences between project size and type. The Agency
24		shall propose to increase the percentage in this item
25		(vi) over time to 40% based on factors, including, but
26		not limited to, the number of equity eligible

HB3445 Enrolled - 60 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		contractors and capacity used in this item (vi) in
2		previous delivery years.
3		The Agency shall propose a payment structure for
4		contracts executed pursuant to this paragraph under
5		which, upon a demonstration of qualification or need,
6		applicant firms are advanced capital disbursed after
7		contract execution but before the contracted project's
8		energization. The amount or percentage of capital
9		advanced prior to project energization shall be
10		sufficient to both cover any increase in development
11		costs resulting from prevailing wage requirements or
12		project-labor agreements, and designed to overcome
13		barriers in access to capital faced by equity eligible
14		contractors. The amount or percentage of advanced
15		capital may vary by subcategory within this category
16		and by an applicant's demonstration of need, with such
17		levels to be established through the Long-Term
18		Renewable Resources Procurement Plan authorized under
19		subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of
20		this Section.
21		Contracts developed featuring capital advanced
22		prior to a project's energization shall feature
23		provisions to ensure both the successful development
24		of applicant projects and the delivery of the
25		renewable energy credits for the full term of the
26		contract, including ongoing collateral requirements

HB3445 Enrolled - 61 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		and other provisions deemed necessary by the Agency,
2		and may include energization timelines longer than for
3		comparable project types. The percentage or amount of
4		capital advanced prior to project energization shall
5		not operate to increase the overall contract value,
6		however contracts executed under this subparagraph may
7		feature renewable energy credit prices higher than
8		those offered to similar projects participating in
9		other categories. Capital advanced prior to
10		energization shall serve to reduce the ratable
11		payments made after energization under items (ii) and
12		(iii) of subparagraph (L) or payments made for each
13		renewable energy credit delivery under item (iv) of
14		subparagraph (L).
15		(vii) The remaining capacity shall be allocated by
16		the Agency in order to respond to market demand. The
17		Agency shall allocate any discretionary capacity prior
18		to the beginning of each delivery year.
19		To the extent there is uncontracted capacity from any
20		block in any of categories (i) through (vi) at the end of a
21		delivery year, the Agency shall redistribute that capacity
22		to one or more other categories giving priority to
23		categories with projects on a waitlist. The redistributed
24		capacity shall be added to the annual capacity in the
25		subsequent delivery year, and the price for renewable
26		energy credits shall be the price for the new delivery

HB3445 Enrolled - 62 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		year. Redistributed capacity shall not be considered
2		redistributed when determining whether the goals in this
3		subsection (K) have been met.
4		Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, as the
5		Agency increases the capacity in item (vi) to 40% over
6		time, the Agency may reduce the capacity of items (i)
7		through (v) proportionate to the capacity of the
8		categories of projects in item (vi), to achieve a balance
9		of project types.
10		The Adjustable Block program shall be designed to
11		ensure that renewable energy credits are procured from
12		projects in diverse locations and are not concentrated in
13		a few regional areas.
14		(L) Notwithstanding provisions for advancing capital
15		prior to project energization found in item (vi) of
16		subparagraph (K), the procurement of photovoltaic
17		renewable energy credits under items (i) through (vi) of
18		subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) shall otherwise be
19		subject to the following contract and payment terms:
20		(i) (Blank).
21		(ii) For those renewable energy credits that
22		qualify and are procured under item (i) of
23		subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any
24		similar category projects that are procured under item
25		(vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) that
26		qualify and are procured under item (vi), the contract

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1		length shall be 15 years. The renewable energy credit
2		delivery contract value shall be paid in full, based
3		on the estimated generation during the first 15 years
4		of operation, by the contracting utilities at the time
5		that the facility producing the renewable energy
6		credits is interconnected at the distribution system
7		level of the utility and verified as energized and
8		compliant by the Program Administrator. The electric
9		utility shall receive and retire all renewable energy
10		credits generated by the project for the first 15
11		years of operation. Renewable energy credits generated
12		by the project thereafter shall not be transferred
13		under the renewable energy credit delivery contract
14		with the counterparty electric utility.
15		(iii) For those renewable energy credits that
16		qualify and are procured under item (ii) and (v) of
17		subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) and any like
18		projects similar category that qualify and are
19		procured under item (vi), the contract length shall be
20		15 years. 15% of the renewable energy credit delivery
21		contract value, based on the estimated generation
22		during the first 15 years of operation, shall be paid
23		by the contracting utilities at the time that the
24		facility producing the renewable energy credits is
25		interconnected at the distribution system level of the
26		utility and verified as energized and compliant by the

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1		Program Administrator. The remaining portion shall be
2		paid ratably over the subsequent 6-year period. The
3		electric utility shall receive and retire all
4		renewable energy credits generated by the project for
5		the first 15 years of operation. Renewable energy
6		credits generated by the project thereafter shall not
7		be transferred under the renewable energy credit
8		delivery contract with the counterparty electric
9		utility.
10		(iv) For those renewable energy credits that
11		qualify and are procured under items (iii) and (iv) of
12		subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any like
13		projects that qualify and are procured under item
14		(vi), the renewable energy credit delivery contract
15		length shall be 20 years and shall be paid over the
16		delivery term, not to exceed during each delivery year
17		the contract price multiplied by the estimated annual
18		renewable energy credit generation amount. If
19		generation of renewable energy credits during a
20		delivery year exceeds the estimated annual generation
21		amount, the excess renewable energy credits shall be
22		carried forward to future delivery years and shall not
23		expire during the delivery term. If generation of
24		renewable energy credits during a delivery year,
25		including carried forward excess renewable energy
26		credits, if any, is less than the estimated annual

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1		generation amount, payments during such delivery year
2		will not exceed the quantity generated plus the
3		quantity carried forward multiplied by the contract
4		price. The electric utility shall receive all
5		renewable energy credits generated by the project
6		during the first 20 years of operation and retire all
7		renewable energy credits paid for under this item (iv)
8		and return at the end of the delivery term all
9		renewable energy credits that were not paid for.
10		Renewable energy credits generated by the project
11		thereafter shall not be transferred under the
12		renewable energy credit delivery contract with the
13		counterparty electric utility. Notwithstanding the
14		preceding, for those projects participating under item
15		(iii) of subparagraph (K), the contract price for a
16		delivery year shall be based on subscription levels as
17		measured on the higher of the first business day of the
18		delivery year or the first business day 6 months after
19		the first business day of the delivery year.
20		Subscription of 90% of nameplate capacity or greater
21		shall be deemed to be fully subscribed for the
22		purposes of this item (iv). For projects receiving a
23		20-year delivery contract, REC prices shall be
24		adjusted downward for consistency with the incentive
25		levels previously determined to be necessary to
26		support projects under 15-year delivery contracts,

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1		taking into consideration any additional new
2		requirements placed on the projects, including, but
3		not limited to, labor standards.
4		(v) Each contract shall include provisions to
5		ensure the delivery of the estimated quantity of
6		renewable energy credits and ongoing collateral
7		requirements and other provisions deemed appropriate
8		by the Agency.
9		(vi) The utility shall be the counterparty to the
10		contracts executed under this subparagraph (L) that
11		are approved by the Commission under the process
12		described in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
13		Act. No contract shall be executed for an amount that
14		is less than one renewable energy credit per year.
15		(vii) If, at any time, approved applications for
16		the Adjustable Block program exceed funds collected by
17		the electric utility or would cause the Agency to
18		exceed the limitation described in subparagraph (E) of
19		this paragraph (1) on the amount of renewable energy
20		resources that may be procured, then the Agency may
21		consider future uncommitted funds to be reserved for
22		these contracts on a first-come, first-served basis.
23		(viii) Nothing in this Section shall require the
24		utility to advance any payment or pay any amounts that
25		exceed the actual amount of revenues anticipated to be
26		collected by the utility under paragraph (6) of this

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1		subsection (c) and subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of
2		the Public Utilities Act inclusive of eligible funds
3		collected in prior years and alternative compliance
4		payments for use by the utility, and contracts
5		executed under this Section shall expressly
6		incorporate this limitation.
7		(ix) Notwithstanding other requirements of this
8		subparagraph (L), no modification shall be required to
9		Adjustable Block program contracts if they were
10		already executed prior to the establishment, approval,
11		and implementation of new contract forms as a result
12		of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
13		(x) Contracts may be assignable, but only to
14		entities first deemed by the Agency to have met
15		program terms and requirements applicable to direct
16		program participation. In developing contracts for the
17		delivery of renewable energy credits, the Agency shall
18		be permitted to establish fees applicable to each
19		contract assignment.
20		(M) The Agency shall be authorized to retain one or
21		more experts or expert consulting firms to develop,
22		administer, implement, operate, and evaluate the
23		Adjustable Block program described in subparagraph (K) of
24		this paragraph (1), and the Agency shall retain the
25		consultant or consultants in the same manner, to the
26		extent practicable, as the Agency retains others to

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1		administer provisions of this Act, including, but not
2		limited to, the procurement administrator. The selection
3		of experts and expert consulting firms and the procurement
4		process described in this subparagraph (M) are exempt from
5		the requirements of Section 20-10 of the Illinois
6		Procurement Code, under Section 20-10 of that Code. The
7		Agency shall strive to minimize administrative expenses in
8		the implementation of the Adjustable Block program.
9		The Program Administrator may charge application fees
10		to participating firms to cover the cost of program
11		administration. Any application fee amounts shall
12		initially be determined through the long-term renewable
13		resources procurement plan, and modifications to any
14		application fee that deviate more than 25% from the
15		Commission's approved value must be approved by the
16		Commission as a long-term plan revision under Section
17		16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. The Agency shall
18		consider stakeholder feedback when making adjustments to
19		application fees and shall notify stakeholders in advance
20		of any planned changes.
21		In addition to covering the costs of program
22		administration, the Agency, in conjunction with its
23		Program Administrator, may also use the proceeds of such
24		fees charged to participating firms to support public
25		education and ongoing regional and national coordination
26		with nonprofit organizations, public bodies, and others

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1		engaged in the implementation of renewable energy
2		incentive programs or similar initiatives. This work may
3		include developing papers and reports, hosting regional
4		and national conferences, and other work deemed necessary
5		by the Agency to position the State of Illinois as a
6		national leader in renewable energy incentive program
7		development and administration.
8		The Agency and its consultant or consultants shall
9		monitor block activity, share program activity with
10		stakeholders and conduct quarterly meetings to discuss
11		program activity and market conditions. If necessary, the
12		Agency may make prospective administrative adjustments to
13		the Adjustable Block program design, such as making
14		adjustments to purchase prices as necessary to achieve the
15		goals of this subsection (c). Program modifications to any
16		block price that do not deviate from the Commission's
17		approved value by more than 10% shall take effect
18		immediately and are not subject to Commission review and
19		approval. Program modifications to any block price that
20		deviate more than 10% from the Commission's approved value
21		must be approved by the Commission as a long-term plan
22		amendment under Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
23		Act. The Agency shall consider stakeholder feedback when
24		making adjustments to the Adjustable Block design and
25		shall notify stakeholders in advance of any planned
26		changes.

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1		The Agency and its program administrators for both the
2		Adjustable Block program and the Illinois Solar for All
3		Program, consistent with the requirements of this
4		subsection (c) and subsection (b) of Section 1-56 of this
5		Act, shall propose the Adjustable Block program terms,
6		conditions, and requirements, including the prices to be
7		paid for 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 must maintain a list of approved entities on
20		each program's website, and may revoke a vendor's
21		ability to receive program-administered incentive
22		funding status upon a determination that the vendor
23		failed to comply with contract terms, the law, or
24		other program requirements.
25		(ii) The Agency shall establish program
26		requirements and minimum contract terms to ensure

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1		projects are properly installed and produce their
2		expected amounts of energy. Program requirements may
3		include on-site inspections and photo documentation of
4		projects under construction. The Agency may require
5		repairs, alterations, or additions to remedy any
6		material deficiencies discovered. Vendors who have a
7		disproportionately high number of deficient systems
8		may lose their eligibility to continue to receive
9		State-administered incentive funding through Agency
10		programs and procurements.
11		(iii) To discourage deceptive marketing or other
12		bad faith business practices, the Agency may require
13		direct program participants, including agents
14		operating on their behalf, to provide standardized
15		disclosures to a customer prior to that customer's
16		execution of a contract for the development of a
17		distributed generation system or a subscription to a
18		community solar project.
19		(iv) The Agency shall establish one or multiple
20		Consumer Complaints Centers to accept complaints
21		regarding businesses that participate in, or otherwise
22		benefit from, State-administered incentive funding
23		through Agency-administered programs. The Agency shall
24		maintain a public database of complaints with any
25		confidential or particularly sensitive information
26		redacted from public entries.

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1		(v) Through a filing in the proceeding for the
2		approval of its long-term renewable energy resources
3		procurement plan, the Agency shall provide an annual
4		written report to the Illinois Commerce Commission
5		documenting the frequency and nature of complaints and
6		any enforcement actions taken in response to those
7		complaints.
8		(vi) The Agency shall schedule regular meetings
9		with representatives of the Office of the Attorney
10		General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, consumer
11		protection groups, and other interested stakeholders
12		to share relevant information about consumer
13		protection, project compliance, and complaints
14		received.
15		(vii) To the extent that complaints received
16		implicate the jurisdiction of the Office of the
17		Attorney General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, or
18		local, State, or federal law enforcement, the Agency
19		shall also refer complaints to those entities as
20		appropriate.
21		(N) The Agency shall establish the terms, conditions,
22		and program requirements for photovoltaic community
23		renewable generation projects with a goal to expand access
24		to a broader group of energy consumers, to ensure robust
25		participation opportunities for residential and small
26		commercial customers and those who cannot install

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1		renewable energy on their own properties. Subject to
2		reasonable limitations, any plan approved by the
3		Commission shall allow subscriptions to community
4		renewable generation projects to be portable and
5		transferable. For purposes of this subparagraph (N),
6		"portable" means that subscriptions may be retained by the
7		subscriber even if the subscriber relocates or changes its
8		address within the same utility service territory; and
9		"transferable" means that a subscriber may assign or sell
10		subscriptions to another person within the same utility
11		service territory.
12		Through the development of its long-term renewable
13		resources procurement plan, the Agency may consider
14		whether community renewable generation projects utilizing
15		technologies other than photovoltaics should be supported
16		through State-administered incentive funding, and may
17		issue requests for information to gauge market demand.
18		Electric utilities shall provide a monetary credit to
19		a subscriber's subsequent bill for service for the
20		proportional output of a community renewable generation
21		project attributable to that subscriber as specified in
22		Section 16-107.5 of the Public Utilities Act.
23		The Agency shall purchase renewable energy credits
24		from subscribed shares of photovoltaic community renewable
25		generation projects through the Adjustable Block program
26		described in subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) or

HB3445 Enrolled - 74 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		through the Illinois Solar for All Program described in
2		Section 1-56 of this Act. The electric utility shall
3		purchase any unsubscribed energy from community renewable
4		generation projects that are Qualifying Facilities ("QF")
5		under the electric utility's tariff for purchasing the
6		output from QFs under Public Utilities Regulatory Policies
7		Act of 1978.
8		The owners of and any subscribers to a community
9		renewable generation project shall not be considered
10		public utilities or alternative retail electricity
11		suppliers under the Public Utilities Act solely as a
12		result of their interest in or subscription to a community
13		renewable generation project and shall not be required to
14		become an alternative retail electric supplier by
15		participating in a community renewable generation project
16		with a public utility.
17		(O) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the
18		long-term renewable resources procurement plan required by
19		this subsection (c) shall provide for the Agency to
20		procure contracts to continue offering the Illinois Solar
21		for All Program described in subsection (b) of Section
22		1-56 of this Act, and the contracts approved by the
23		Commission shall be executed by the utilities that are
24		subject to this subsection (c). The long-term renewable
25		resources procurement plan shall allocate up to
26		$50,000,000 per delivery year to fund the programs, and

HB3445 Enrolled - 75 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		the plan shall determine the amount of funding to be
2		apportioned to the programs identified in subsection (b)
3		of Section 1-56 of this Act; provided that for the
4		delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2022, and
5		June 1, 2023, the long-term renewable resources
6		procurement plan may average the annual budgets over a
7		3-year period to account for program ramp-up. For the
8		delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2024, June
9		1, 2027, and June 1, 2030 and additional $10,000,000 shall
10		be provided to the Department of Commerce and Economic
11		Opportunity to implement the workforce development
12		programs and reporting as outlined in Section 16-108.12 of
13		the Public Utilities Act. In making the determinations
14		required under this subparagraph (O), the Commission shall
15		consider the experience and performance under the programs
16		and any evaluation reports. The Commission shall also
17		provide for an independent evaluation of those programs on
18		a periodic basis that are funded under this subparagraph
19		(O).
20		(P) All programs and procurements under this
21		subsection (c) shall be designed to encourage
22		participating projects to use a diverse and equitable
23		workforce and a diverse set of contractors, including
24		minority-owned businesses, disadvantaged businesses,
25		trade unions, graduates of any workforce training programs
26		administered under this Act, and small businesses.

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1		The Agency shall develop a method to optimize
2		procurement of renewable energy credits from proposed
3		utility-scale projects that are located in communities
4		eligible to receive Energy Transition Community Grants
5		pursuant to Section 10-20 of the Energy Community
6		Reinvestment Act. If this requirement conflicts with other
7		provisions of law or the Agency determines that full
8		compliance with the requirements of this subparagraph (P)
9		would be unreasonably costly or administratively
10		impractical, the Agency is to propose alternative
11		approaches to achieve development of renewable energy
12		resources in communities eligible to receive Energy
13		Transition Community Grants pursuant to Section 10-20 of
14		the Energy Community Reinvestment Act or seek an exemption
15		from this requirement from the Commission.
16		(Q) Each facility listed in subitems (i) through
17		(viii) of item (1) of this subparagraph (Q) for which a
18		renewable energy credit delivery contract is signed after
19		the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd
20		General Assembly is subject to the following requirements
21		through the Agency's long-term renewable resources
22		procurement plan:
23		(1) Each facility shall be subject to the
24		prevailing wage requirements included in the
25		Prevailing Wage Act. The Agency shall require
26		verification that all construction performed on the

HB3445 Enrolled - 77 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		facility by the renewable energy credit delivery
2		contract holder, its contractors, or its
3		subcontractors relating to construction of the
4		facility is performed by construction employees
5		receiving an amount for that work equal to or greater
6		than the general prevailing rate, as that term is
7		defined in Section 3 of the Prevailing Wage Act. For
8		purposes of this item (1), "house of worship" means
9		property that is both (1) used exclusively by a
10		religious society or body of persons as a place for
11		religious exercise or religious worship and (2)
12		recognized as exempt from taxation pursuant to Section
13		15-40 of the Property Tax Code. This item (1) shall
14		apply to any the following:
15		(i) all new utility-scale wind projects;
16		(ii) all new utility-scale photovoltaic
17		projects;
18		(iii) all new brownfield photovoltaic
19		projects;
20		(iv) all new photovoltaic community renewable
21		energy facilities that qualify for item (iii) of
22		subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1);
23		(v) all new community driven community
24		photovoltaic projects that qualify for item (v) of
25		subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1);
26		(vi) all new photovoltaic projects on public

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1		school land distributed renewable energy
2		generation devices on schools that qualify for
3		item (iv) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph
4		(1);
5		(vii) all new photovoltaic distributed
6		renewable energy generation devices that (1)
7		qualify for item (i) of subparagraph (K) of this
8		paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve
9		single-family or multi-family residential
10		buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where
11		the aggregate capacity including collocated
12		projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts;
13		(viii) all new photovoltaic distributed
14		renewable energy generation devices that (1)
15		qualify for item (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this
16		paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve
17		single-family or multi-family residential
18		buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where
19		the aggregate capacity including collocated
20		projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts.
21		(2) Renewable energy credits procured from new
22		utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar
23		projects, and new brownfield solar projects pursuant
24		to Agency procurement events occurring after the
25		effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd
26		General Assembly must be from facilities built by

HB3445 Enrolled - 79 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		general contractors that must enter into a project
2		labor agreement, as defined by this Act, prior to
3		construction. The project labor agreement shall be
4		filed with the Director in accordance with procedures
5		established by the Agency through its long-term
6		renewable resources procurement plan. Any information
7		submitted to the Agency in this item (2) shall be
8		considered commercially sensitive information. At a
9		minimum, the project labor agreement must provide the
10		names, addresses, and occupations of the owner of the
11		plant and the individuals representing the labor
12		organization employees participating in the project
13		labor agreement consistent with the Project Labor
14		Agreements Act. The agreement must also specify the
15		terms and conditions 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 shall take such costs into consideration

HB3445 Enrolled - 80 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		in a nondiscriminatory manner when comparing bids for
2		competitive procurements. The Agency shall consider
3		costs associated with compliance whether in the
4		development, financing, or construction of projects.
5		The Agency shall periodically review the assumptions
6		in these costs and may adjust prices, in compliance
7		with subparagraph (M) of this paragraph (1).
8		(R) In its long-term renewable resources procurement
9		plan, the Agency shall establish a self-direct renewable
10		portfolio standard compliance program for eligible
11		self-direct customers that purchase renewable energy
12		credits from utility-scale wind and solar projects through
13		long-term agreements for purchase of renewable energy
14		credits as described in this Section. Such long-term
15		agreements may include the purchase of energy or other
16		products on a physical or financial basis and may involve
17		an alternative retail electric supplier as defined in
18		Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. This program
19		shall take effect in the delivery year commencing June 1,
20		2023.
21		(1) For the purposes of this subparagraph:
22		"Eligible self-direct customer" means any retail
23		customers of an electric utility that serves 3,000,000
24		or more retail customers in the State and whose total
25		highest 30-minute demand was more than 10,000
26		kilowatts, or any retail customers of an electric

HB3445 Enrolled - 81 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		utility that serves less than 3,000,000 retail
2		customers but more than 500,000 retail customers in
3		the State and whose total highest 15-minute demand was
4		more than 10,000 kilowatts.
5		"Retail customer" has the meaning set forth in
6		Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act and
7		multiple retail customer accounts under the same
8		corporate parent may aggregate their account demands
9		to meet the 10,000 kilowatt threshold. The criteria
10		for determining whether this subparagraph is
11		applicable to a retail customer shall be based on the
12		12 consecutive billing periods prior to the start of
13		the year in which the application is filed.
14		(2) For renewable energy credits to count toward
15		the self-direct renewable portfolio standard
16		compliance program, they must:
17		(i) qualify as renewable energy credits as
18		defined in Section 1-10 of this Act;
19		(ii) be sourced from one or more renewable
20		energy generating facilities that comply with the
21		geographic requirements as set forth in
22		subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subsection
23		(c) as interpreted through the Agency's long-term
24		renewable resources procurement plan, or, where
25		applicable, the geographic requirements that
26		governed utility-scale renewable energy credits at

HB3445 Enrolled - 82 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		the time the eligible self-direct customer entered
2		into the applicable renewable energy credit
3		purchase agreement;
4		(iii) be procured through long-term contracts
5		with term lengths of at least 10 years either
6		directly with the renewable energy generating
7		facility or through a bundled power purchase
8		agreement, a virtual power purchase agreement, an
9		agreement between the renewable generating
10		facility, an alternative retail electric supplier,
11		and the customer, or such other structure as is
12		permissible under this subparagraph (R);
13		(iv) be equivalent in volume to at least 40%
14		of the eligible self-direct customer's usage,
15		determined annually by the eligible self-direct
16		customer's usage during the previous delivery
17		year, measured to the nearest megawatt-hour;
18		(v) be retired by or on behalf of the large
19		energy customer;
20		(vi) be sourced from new utility-scale wind
21		projects or new utility-scale solar projects; and
22		(vii) if the contracts for renewable energy
23		credits are entered into after the effective date
24		of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
25		Assembly, the new utility-scale wind projects or
26		new utility-scale solar projects must comply with

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1		the requirements established in subparagraphs (P)
2		and (Q) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c)
3		and subsection (c-10).
4		(3) The self-direct renewable portfolio standard
5		compliance program shall be designed to allow eligible
6		self-direct customers to procure new renewable energy
7		credits from new utility-scale wind projects or new
8		utility-scale photovoltaic projects. The Agency shall
9		annually determine the amount of utility-scale
10		renewable energy credits it will include each year
11		from the self-direct renewable portfolio standard
12		compliance program, subject to receiving qualifying
13		applications. In making this determination, the Agency
14		shall evaluate publicly available analyses and studies
15		of the potential market size for utility-scale
16		renewable energy long-term purchase agreements by
17		commercial and industrial energy customers and make
18		that report publicly available. If demand for
19		participation in the self-direct renewable portfolio
20		standard compliance program exceeds availability, the
21		Agency shall ensure participation is evenly split
22		between commercial and industrial users to the extent
23		there is sufficient demand from both customer classes.
24		Each renewable energy credit procured pursuant to this
25		subparagraph (R) by a self-direct customer shall
26		reduce the total volume of renewable energy credits

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1		the Agency is otherwise required to procure from new
2		utility-scale projects pursuant to subparagraph (C) of
3		paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) on behalf of
4		contracting utilities where the eligible self-direct
5		customer is located. The self-direct customer shall
6		file an annual compliance report with the Agency
7		pursuant to terms established by the Agency through
8		its long-term renewable resources procurement plan to
9		be eligible for participation in this program.
10		Customers must provide the Agency with their most
11		recent electricity billing statements or other
12		information deemed necessary by the Agency to
13		demonstrate they are an eligible self-direct customer.
14		(4) The Commission shall approve a reduction in
15		the volumetric charges collected pursuant to Section
16		16-108 of the Public Utilities Act for approved
17		eligible self-direct customers equivalent to the
18		anticipated cost of renewable energy credit deliveries
19		under contracts for new utility-scale wind and new
20		utility-scale solar entered for each delivery year
21		after the large energy customer begins retiring
22		eligible new utility scale renewable energy credits
23		for self-compliance. The self-direct credit amount
24		shall be determined annually and is equal to the
25		estimated portion of the cost authorized by
26		subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection

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1		(c) that supported the annual procurement of
2		utility-scale renewable energy credits in the prior
3		delivery year using a methodology described in the
4		long-term renewable resources procurement plan,
5		expressed on a per kilowatthour basis, and does not
6		include (i) costs associated with any contracts
7		entered into before the delivery year in which the
8		customer files the initial compliance report to be
9		eligible for participation in the self-direct program,
10		and (ii) costs associated with procuring renewable
11		energy credits through existing and future contracts
12		through the Adjustable Block Program, subsection (c-5)
13		of this Section 1-75, and the Solar for All Program.
14		The Agency shall assist the Commission in determining
15		the current and future costs. The Agency must
16		determine the self-direct credit amount for new and
17		existing eligible self-direct customers and submit
18		this to the Commission in an annual compliance filing.
19		The Commission must approve the self-direct credit
20		amount by June 1, 2023 and June 1 of each delivery year
21		thereafter.
22		(5) Customers described in this subparagraph (R)
23		shall apply, on a form developed by the Agency, to the
24		Agency to be designated as a self-direct eligible
25		customer. Once the Agency determines that a
26		self-direct customer is eligible for participation in

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1		the program, the self-direct customer will remain
2		eligible until the end of the term of the contract.
3		Thereafter, application may be made not less than 12
4		months before the filing date of the long-term
5		renewable resources procurement plan described in this
6		Act. At a minimum, such application shall contain the
7		following:
8		(i) the customer's certification that, at the
9		time of the customer's application, the customer
10		qualifies to be a self-direct eligible customer,
11		including documents demonstrating that
12		qualification;
13		(ii) the customer's certification that the
14		customer has entered into or will enter into by
15		the beginning of the applicable procurement year,
16		one or more bilateral contracts for new wind
17		projects or new photovoltaic projects, including
18		supporting documentation;
19		(iii) certification that the contract or
20		contracts for new renewable energy resources are
21		long-term contracts with term lengths of at least
22		10 years, including supporting documentation;
23		(iv) certification of the quantities of
24		renewable energy credits that the customer will
25		purchase each year under such contract or
26		contracts, including supporting documentation;

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1		(v) proof that the contract is sufficient to
2		produce renewable energy credits to be equivalent
3		in volume to at least 40% of the large energy
4		customer's usage from the previous delivery year,
5		measured to the nearest megawatt-hour; and
6		(vi) certification that the customer intends
7		to maintain the contract for the duration of the
8		length of the contract.
9		(6) If a customer receives the self-direct credit
10		but fails to properly procure and retire renewable
11		energy credits as required under this subparagraph
12		(R), the Commission, on petition from the Agency and
13		after notice and hearing, may direct such customer's
14		utility to recover the cost of the wrongfully received
15		self-direct credits plus interest through an adder to
16		charges assessed pursuant to Section 16-108 of the
17		Public Utilities Act. Self-direct customers who
18		knowingly fail to properly procure and retire
19		renewable energy credits and do not notify the Agency
20		are ineligible for continued participation in the
21		self-direct renewable portfolio standard compliance
22		program.
23		(2) (Blank).
24		(3) (Blank).
25		(4) The electric utility shall retire all renewable
26		energy credits used to comply with the standard.

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1		(5) Beginning with the 2010 delivery year and ending
2		June 1, 2017, an electric utility subject to this
3		subsection (c) shall apply the lesser of the maximum
4		alternative compliance payment rate or the most recent
5		estimated alternative compliance payment rate for its
6		service territory for the corresponding compliance period,
7		established pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 16-115D
8		of the Public Utilities Act to its retail customers that
9		take service pursuant to the electric utility's hourly
10		pricing tariff or tariffs. The electric utility shall
11		retain all amounts collected as a result of the
12		application of the alternative compliance payment rate or
13		rates to such customers, and, beginning in 2011, the
14		utility shall include in the information provided under
15		item (1) of subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the
16		Public Utilities Act the amounts collected under the
17		alternative compliance payment rate or rates for the prior
18		year ending May 31. Notwithstanding any limitation on the
19		procurement of renewable energy resources imposed by item
20		(2) of this subsection (c), the Agency shall increase its
21		spending on the purchase of renewable energy resources to
22		be procured by the electric utility for the next plan year
23		by an amount equal to the amounts collected by the utility
24		under the alternative compliance payment rate or rates in
25		the prior year ending May 31.
26		(6) The electric utility shall be entitled to recover

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1		all of its costs associated with the procurement of
2		renewable energy credits under plans approved under this
3		Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act.
4		These costs shall include associated reasonable expenses
5		for implementing the procurement programs, including, but
6		not limited to, the costs of administering and evaluating
7		the Adjustable Block program, through an automatic
8		adjustment clause tariff in accordance with subsection (k)
9		of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
10		(7) Renewable energy credits procured from new
11		photovoltaic projects or new distributed renewable energy
12		generation devices under this Section after June 1, 2017
13		(the effective date of Public Act 99-906) must be procured
14		from devices installed by a qualified person in compliance
15		with the requirements of Section 16-128A of the Public
16		Utilities Act and any rules or regulations adopted
17		thereunder.
18		In meeting the renewable energy requirements of this
19		subsection (c), to the extent feasible and consistent with
20		State and federal law, the renewable energy credit
21		procurements, Adjustable Block solar program, and
22		community renewable generation program shall provide
23		employment opportunities for all segments of the
24		population and workforce, including minority-owned and
25		female-owned business enterprises, and shall not,
26		consistent with State and federal law, discriminate based

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1		on race or socioeconomic status.
2		(c-5) Procurement of renewable energy credits from new
3		renewable energy facilities installed at or adjacent to the
4		sites of electric generating facilities that burn or burned
5		coal as their primary fuel source.
6		(1) In addition to the procurement of renewable energy
7		credits pursuant to long-term renewable resources
8		procurement plans in accordance with subsection (c) of
9		this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
10		Act, the Agency shall conduct procurement events in
11		accordance with this subsection (c-5) for the procurement
12		by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail
13		customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable
14		energy credits from new renewable energy facilities to be
15		installed at or adjacent to the sites of electric
16		generating facilities that, as of January 1, 2016, burned
17		coal as their primary fuel source and meet the other
18		criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). For purposes
19		of this subsection (c-5), "new renewable energy facility"
20		means a new utility-scale solar project as defined in this
21		Section 1-75. The renewable energy credits procured
22		pursuant to this subsection (c-5) may be included or
23		counted for purposes of compliance with the amounts of
24		renewable energy credits required to be procured pursuant
25		to subsection (c) of this Section to the extent that there
26		are otherwise shortfalls in compliance with such

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1		requirements. The procurement of renewable energy credits
2		by electric utilities pursuant to this subsection (c-5)
3		shall be funded solely by revenues collected from the Coal
4		to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge provided for
5		in this subsection (c-5) and subsection (i-5) of Section
6		16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, shall not be funded by
7		revenues collected through any of the other funding
8		mechanisms provided for in subsection (c) of this Section,
9		and shall not be subject to the limitation imposed by
10		subsection (c) on charges to retail customers for costs to
11		procure renewable energy resources pursuant to subsection
12		(c), and shall not be subject to any other requirements or
13		limitations of subsection (c).
14		(2) The Agency shall conduct 2 procurement events to
15		select owners of electric generating facilities meeting
16		the eligibility criteria specified in this subsection
17		(c-5) to enter into long-term contracts to sell renewable
18		energy credits to electric utilities serving more than
19		300,000 retail customers in this State as of January 1,
20		2019. The first procurement event shall be conducted no
21		later than March 31, 2022, unless the Agency elects to
22		delay it, until no later than May 1, 2022, due to its
23		overall volume of work, and shall be to select owners of
24		electric generating facilities located in this State and
25		south of federal Interstate Highway 80 that meet the
26		eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5).

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1		The second procurement event shall be conducted no sooner
2		than September 30, 2022 and no later than October 31, 2022
3		and shall be to select owners of electric generating
4		facilities located anywhere in this State that meet the
5		eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5).
6		The Agency shall establish and announce a time period,
7		which shall begin no later than 30 days prior to the
8		scheduled date for the procurement event, during which
9		applicants may submit applications to be selected as
10		suppliers of renewable energy credits pursuant to this
11		subsection (c-5). The eligibility criteria for selection
12		as a supplier of renewable energy credits pursuant to this
13		subsection (c-5) shall be as follows:
14		(A) The applicant owns an electric generating
15		facility located in this State that: (i) as of January
16		1, 2016, burned coal as its primary fuel to generate
17		electricity; and (ii) has, or had prior to retirement,
18		an electric generating capacity of at least 150
19		megawatts. The electric generating facility can be
20		either: (i) retired as of the date of the procurement
21		event; or (ii) still operating as of the date of the
22		procurement event.
23		(B) The applicant is not (i) an electric
24		cooperative as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public
25		Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in
26		subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public

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1		Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of or
2		an entity owned by entities described in (i) or (ii);
3		and the coal-fueled electric generating facility was
4		at one time owned, in whole or in part, by a public
5		utility as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public
6		Utilities Act.
7		(C) If participating in the first procurement
8		event, the applicant proposes and commits to construct
9		and operate, at the site, and if necessary for
10		sufficient space on property adjacent to the existing
11		property, at which the electric generating facility
12		identified in paragraph (A) is located: (i) a new
13		renewable energy facility of at least 20 megawatts but
14		no more than 100 megawatts of electric generating
15		capacity, and (ii) an energy storage facility having a
16		storage capacity equal to at least 2 megawatts and at
17		most 10 megawatts. If participating in the second
18		procurement event, the applicant proposes and commits
19		to construct and operate, at the site, and if
20		necessary for sufficient space on property adjacent to
21		the existing property, at which the electric
22		generating facility identified in paragraph (A) is
23		located: (i) a new renewable energy facility of at
24		least 5 megawatts but no more than 20 megawatts of
25		electric generating capacity, and (ii) an energy
26		storage facility having a storage capacity equal to at

HB3445 Enrolled - 94 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		least 0.5 megawatts and at most one megawatt.
2		(D) The applicant agrees that the new renewable
3		energy facility and the energy storage facility will
4		be constructed or installed by a qualified entity or
5		entities in compliance with the requirements of
6		subsection (g) of Section 16-128A of the Public
7		Utilities Act and any rules adopted thereunder.
8		(E) The applicant agrees that personnel operating
9		the new renewable energy facility and the energy
10		storage facility will have the requisite skills,
11		knowledge, training, experience, and competence, which
12		may be demonstrated by completion or current
13		participation and ultimate completion by employees of
14		an accredited or otherwise recognized apprenticeship
15		program for the employee's particular craft, trade, or
16		skill, including through training and education
17		courses and opportunities offered by the owner to
18		employees of the coal-fueled electric generating
19		facility or by previous employment experience
20		performing the employee's particular work skill or
21		function.
22		(F) The applicant commits that not less than the
23		prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the
24		Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the applicant's
25		employees engaged in construction activities
26		associated with the new renewable energy facility and

HB3445 Enrolled - 95 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		the new energy storage facility and to the employees
2		of applicant's contractors engaged in construction
3		activities associated with the new renewable energy
4		facility and the new energy storage facility, and
5		that, on or before the commercial operation date of
6		the new renewable energy facility, the applicant shall
7		file a report with the Agency certifying that the
8		requirements of this subparagraph (F) have been met.
9		(G) The applicant commits that if selected, it
10		will negotiate a project labor agreement for the
11		construction of the new renewable energy facility and
12		associated energy storage facility that includes
13		provisions requiring the parties to the agreement to
14		work together to establish diversity threshold
15		requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet
16		diversity targets, improve diversity at the applicable
17		job site, create diverse apprenticeship opportunities,
18		and create opportunities to employ former coal-fired
19		power plant workers.
20		(H) The applicant commits to enter into a contract
21		or contracts for the applicable duration to provide
22		specified numbers of renewable energy credits each
23		year from the new renewable energy facility to
24		electric utilities that served more than 300,000
25		retail customers in this State as of January 1, 2019,
26		at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit. The

HB3445 Enrolled - 96 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		price per renewable energy credit shall be fixed at
2		$30 for the applicable duration and the renewable
3		energy credits shall not be indexed renewable energy
4		credits as provided for in item (v) of subparagraph
5		(G) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75
6		of this Act. The applicable duration of each contract
7		shall be 20 years, unless the applicant is physically
8		interconnected to the PJM Interconnection, LLC
9		transmission grid and had a generating capacity of at
10		least 1,200 megawatts as of January 1, 2021, in which
11		case the applicable duration of the contract shall be
12		15 years.
13		(I) The applicant's application is certified by an
14		officer of the applicant and by an officer of the
15		applicant's ultimate parent company, if any.
16		(3) An applicant may submit applications to contract
17		to supply renewable energy credits from more than one new
18		renewable energy facility to be constructed at or adjacent
19		to one or more qualifying electric generating facilities
20		owned by the applicant. The Agency may select new
21		renewable energy facilities to be located at or adjacent
22		to the sites of more than one qualifying electric
23		generation facility owned by an applicant to contract with
24		electric utilities to supply renewable energy credits from
25		such facilities.
26		(4) The Agency shall assess fees to each applicant to

HB3445 Enrolled - 97 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		recover the Agency's costs incurred in receiving and
2		evaluating applications, conducting the procurement event,
3		developing contracts for sale, delivery and purchase of
4		renewable energy credits, and monitoring the
5		administration of such contracts, as provided for in this
6		subsection (c-5), including fees paid to a procurement
7		administrator retained by the Agency for one or more of
8		these purposes.
9		(5) The Agency shall select the applicants and the new
10		renewable energy facilities to contract with electric
11		utilities to supply renewable energy credits in accordance
12		with this subsection (c-5). In the first procurement
13		event, the Agency shall select applicants and new
14		renewable energy facilities to supply renewable energy
15		credits, at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit,
16		aggregating to no less than 400,000 renewable energy
17		credits per year for the applicable duration, assuming
18		sufficient qualifying applications to supply, in the
19		aggregate, at least that amount of renewable energy
20		credits per year; and not more than 580,000 renewable
21		energy credits per year for the applicable duration. In
22		the second procurement event, the Agency shall select
23		applicants and new renewable energy facilities to supply
24		renewable energy credits, at a price of $30 per renewable
25		energy credit, aggregating to no more than 625,000
26		renewable energy credits per year less the amount of

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1		renewable energy credits each year contracted for as a
2		result of the first procurement event, for the applicable
3		durations. The number of renewable energy credits to be
4		procured as specified in this paragraph (5) shall not be
5		reduced based on renewable energy credits procured in the
6		self-direct renewable energy credit compliance program
7		established pursuant to subparagraph (R) of paragraph (1)
8		of subsection (c) of Section 1-75.
9		(6) The obligation to purchase renewable energy
10		credits from the applicants and their new renewable energy
11		facilities selected by the Agency shall be allocated to
12		the electric utilities based on their respective
13		percentages of kilowatthours delivered to delivery
14		services customers to the aggregate kilowatthour
15		deliveries by the electric utilities to delivery services
16		customers for the year ended December 31, 2021. In order
17		to achieve these allocation percentages between or among
18		the electric utilities, the Agency shall require each
19		applicant that is selected in the procurement event to
20		enter into a contract with each electric utility for the
21		sale and purchase of renewable energy credits from each
22		new renewable energy facility to be constructed and
23		operated by the applicant, with the sale and purchase
24		obligations under the contracts to aggregate to the total
25		number of renewable energy credits per year to be supplied
26		by the applicant from the new renewable energy facility.

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1		(7) The Agency shall submit its proposed selection of
2		applicants, new renewable energy facilities to be
3		constructed, and renewable energy credit amounts for each
4		procurement event to the Commission for approval. The
5		Commission shall, within 2 business days after receipt of
6		the Agency's proposed selections, approve the proposed
7		selections if it determines that the applicants and the
8		new renewable energy facilities to be constructed meet the
9		selection criteria set forth in this subsection (c-5) and
10		that the Agency seeks approval for contracts of applicable
11		durations aggregating to no more than the maximum amount
12		of renewable energy credits per year authorized by this
13		subsection (c-5) for the procurement event, at a price of
14		$30 per renewable energy credit.
15		(8) The Agency, in conjunction with its procurement
16		administrator if one is retained, the electric utilities,
17		and potential applicants for contracts to produce and
18		supply renewable energy credits pursuant to this
19		subsection (c-5), shall develop a standard form contract
20		for the sale, delivery and purchase of renewable energy
21		credits pursuant to this subsection (c-5). Each contract
22		resulting from the first procurement event shall allow for
23		a commercial operation date for the new renewable energy
24		facility of either June 1, 2023 or June 1, 2024, with such
25		dates subject to adjustment as provided in this paragraph.
26		Each contract resulting from the second procurement event

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1		shall provide for a commercial operation date on June 1
2		next occurring up to 48 months after execution of the
3		contract. Each contract shall provide that the owner shall
4		receive payments for renewable energy credits for the
5		applicable durations beginning with the commercial
6		operation date of the new renewable energy facility. The
7		form contract shall provide for adjustments to the
8		commercial operation and payment start dates as needed due
9		to any delays in completing the procurement and
10		contracting processes, in finalizing interconnection
11		agreements and installing interconnection facilities, and
12		in obtaining other necessary governmental permits and
13		approvals. The form contract shall be, to the maximum
14		extent possible, consistent with standard electric
15		industry contracts for sale, delivery, and purchase of
16		renewable energy credits while taking into account the
17		specific requirements of this subsection (c-5). The form
18		contract shall provide for over-delivery and
19		under-delivery of renewable energy credits within
20		reasonable ranges during each 12-month period and penalty,
21		default, and enforcement provisions for failure of the
22		selling party to deliver renewable energy credits as
23		specified in the contract and to comply with the
24		requirements of this subsection (c-5). The standard form
25		contract shall specify that all renewable energy credits
26		delivered to the electric utility pursuant to the contract

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1		shall be retired. The Agency shall make the proposed
2		contracts available for a reasonable period for comment by
3		potential applicants, and shall publish the final form
4		contract at least 30 days before the date of the first
5		procurement event.
6		(9) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative
7		Charge.
8		(A) By no later than July 1, 2022, each electric
9		utility that served more than 300,000 retail customers
10		in this State as of January 1, 2019 shall file a tariff
11		with the Commission for the billing and collection of
12		a Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge
13		in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section 16-108
14		of the Public Utilities Act, with such tariff to be
15		effective, following review and approval or
16		modification by the Commission, beginning January 1,
17		2023. The tariff shall provide for the calculation and
18		setting of the electric utility's Coal to Solar and
19		Energy Storage Initiative Charge to collect revenues
20		estimated to be sufficient, in the aggregate, (i) to
21		enable the electric utility to pay for the renewable
22		energy credits it has contracted to purchase in the
23		delivery year beginning June 1, 2023 and each delivery
24		year thereafter from new renewable energy facilities
25		located at the sites of qualifying electric generating
26		facilities, and (ii) to fund the grant payments to be

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1		made in each delivery year by the Department of
2		Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or any successor
3		department or agency, which shall be referred to in
4		this subsection (c-5) as the Department, pursuant to
5		paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5). The electric
6		utility's tariff shall provide for the billing and
7		collection of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage
8		Initiative Charge on each kilowatthour of electricity
9		delivered to its delivery services customers within
10		its service territory and shall provide for an annual
11		reconciliation of revenues collected with actual
12		costs, in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section
13		16-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
14		(B) Each electric utility shall remit on a monthly
15		basis to the State Treasurer, for deposit in the Coal
16		to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund provided
17		for in this subsection (c-5), the electric utility's
18		collections of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage
19		Initiative Charge in the amount estimated to be needed
20		by the Department for grant payments pursuant to grant
21		contracts entered into by the Department pursuant to
22		paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5).
23		(10) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund.
24		(A) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage
25		Initiative Fund is established as a special fund in
26		the State treasury. The Coal to Solar and Energy

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1		Storage Initiative Fund is authorized to receive, by
2		statutory deposit, that portion specified in item (B)
3		of paragraph (9) of this subsection (c-5) of moneys
4		collected by electric utilities through imposition of
5		the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge
6		required by this subsection (c-5). The Coal to Solar
7		and Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be
8		administered by the Department to provide grants to
9		support the installation and operation of energy
10		storage facilities at the sites of qualifying electric
11		generating facilities meeting the criteria specified
12		in this paragraph (10).
13		(B) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage
14		Initiative Fund shall not be subject to sweeps,
15		administrative charges, or chargebacks, including, but
16		not limited to, those authorized under Section 8h of
17		the State Finance Act, that would in any way result in
18		the transfer of those funds from the Coal to Solar and
19		Energy Storage Initiative Fund to any other fund of
20		this State or in having any such funds utilized for any
21		purpose other than the express purposes set forth in
22		this paragraph (10).
23		(C) The Department shall utilize up to
24		$280,500,000 in the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage
25		Initiative Fund for grants, assuming sufficient
26		qualifying applicants, to support installation of

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1		energy storage facilities at the sites of up to 3
2		qualifying electric generating facilities located in
3		the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.,
4		region in Illinois and the sites of up to 2 qualifying
5		electric generating facilities located in the PJM
6		Interconnection, LLC region in Illinois that meet the
7		criteria set forth in this subparagraph (C). The
8		criteria for receipt of a grant pursuant to this
9		subparagraph (C) are as follows:
10		(1) the electric generating facility at the
11		site has, or had prior to retirement, an electric
12		generating capacity of at least 150 megawatts;
13		(2) the electric generating facility burns (or
14		burned prior to retirement) coal as its primary
15		source of fuel;
16		(3) if the electric generating facility is
17		retired, it was retired subsequent to January 1,
18		2016;
19		(4) the owner of the electric generating
20		facility has not been selected by the Agency
21		pursuant to this subsection (c-5) of this Section
22		to enter into a contract to sell renewable energy
23		credits to one or more electric utilities from a
24		new renewable energy facility located or to be
25		located at or adjacent to the site at which the
26		electric generating facility is located;

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1		(5) the electric generating facility located
2		at the site was at one time owned, in whole or in
3		part, by a public utility as defined in Section
4		3-105 of the Public Utilities Act;
5		(6) the electric generating facility at the
6		site is not owned by (i) an electric cooperative
7		as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public
8		Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in
9		subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public
10		Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of
11		or an entity owned by entities described in items
12		(i) or (ii);
13		(7) the proposed energy storage facility at
14		the site will have energy storage capacity of at
15		least 37 megawatts;
16		(8) the owner commits to place the energy
17		storage facility into commercial operation on
18		either June 1, 2023, June 1, 2024, or June 1, 2025,
19		with such date subject to adjustment as needed due
20		to any delays in completing the grant contracting
21		process, in finalizing interconnection agreements
22		and in installing interconnection facilities, and
23		in obtaining necessary governmental permits and
24		approvals;
25		(9) the owner agrees that the new energy
26		storage facility will be constructed or installed

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1		by a qualified entity or entities consistent with
2		the requirements of subsection (g) of Section
3		16-128A of the Public Utilities Act and any rules
4		adopted under that Section;
5		(10) the owner agrees that personnel operating
6		the energy storage facility will have the
7		requisite skills, knowledge, training, experience,
8		and competence, which may be demonstrated by
9		completion or current participation and ultimate
10		completion by employees of an accredited or
11		otherwise recognized apprenticeship program for
12		the employee's particular craft, trade, or skill,
13		including through training and education courses
14		and opportunities offered by the owner to
15		employees of the coal-fueled electric generating
16		facility or by previous employment experience
17		performing the employee's particular work skill or
18		function;
19		(11) the owner commits that not less than the
20		prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the
21		Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the owner's
22		employees engaged in construction activities
23		associated with the new energy storage facility
24		and to the employees of the owner's contractors
25		engaged in construction activities associated with
26		the new energy storage facility, and that, on or

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1		before the commercial operation date of the new
2		energy storage facility, the owner shall file a
3		report with the Department certifying that the
4		requirements of this subparagraph (11) have been
5		met; and
6		(12) the owner commits that if selected to
7		receive a grant, it will negotiate a project labor
8		agreement for the construction of the new energy
9		storage facility that includes provisions
10		requiring the parties to the agreement to work
11		together to establish diversity threshold
12		requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet
13		diversity targets, improve diversity at the
14		applicable job site, create diverse apprenticeship
15		opportunities, and create opportunities to employ
16		former coal-fired power plant workers.
17		The Department shall accept applications for this
18		grant program until March 31, 2022 and shall announce
19		the award of grants no later than June 1, 2022. The
20		Department shall make the grant payments to a
21		recipient in equal annual amounts for 10 years
22		following the date the energy storage facility is
23		placed into commercial operation. The annual grant
24		payments to a qualifying energy storage facility shall
25		be $110,000 per megawatt of energy storage capacity,
26		with total annual grant payments pursuant to this

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1		subparagraph (C) for qualifying energy storage
2		facilities not to exceed $28,050,000 in any year.
3		(D) Grants of funding for energy storage
4		facilities pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this
5		paragraph (10), from the Coal to Solar and Energy
6		Storage Initiative Fund, shall be memorialized in
7		grant contracts between the Department and the
8		recipient. The grant contracts shall specify the date
9		or dates in each year on which the annual grant
10		payments shall be paid.
11		(E) All disbursements from the Coal to Solar and
12		Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be made only upon
13		warrants of the Comptroller drawn upon the Treasurer
14		as custodian of the Fund upon vouchers signed by the
15		Director of the Department or by the person or persons
16		designated by the Director of the Department for that
17		purpose. The Comptroller is authorized to draw the
18		warrants upon vouchers so signed. The Treasurer shall
19		accept all written warrants so signed and shall be
20		released from liability for all payments made on those
21		warrants.
22		(11) Diversity, equity, and inclusion plans.
23		(A) Each applicant selected in a procurement event
24		to contract to supply renewable energy credits in
25		accordance with this subsection (c-5) and each owner
26		selected by the Department to receive a grant or

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1		grants to support the construction and operation of a
2		new energy storage facility or facilities in
3		accordance with this subsection (c-5) shall, within 60
4		days following the Commission's approval of the
5		applicant to contract to supply renewable energy
6		credits or within 60 days following execution of a
7		grant contract with the Department, as applicable,
8		submit to the Commission a diversity, equity, and
9		inclusion plan setting forth the applicant's or
10		owner's numeric goals for the diversity composition of
11		its supplier entities for the new renewable energy
12		facility or new energy storage facility, as
13		applicable, which shall be referred to for purposes of
14		this paragraph (11) as the project, and the
15		applicant's or owner's action plan and schedule for
16		achieving those goals.
17		(B) For purposes of this paragraph (11), diversity
18		composition shall be based on the percentage, which
19		shall be a minimum of 25%, of eligible expenditures
20		for contract awards for materials and services (which
21		shall be defined in the plan) to business enterprises
22		owned by minority persons, women, or persons with
23		disabilities as defined in Section 2 of the Business
24		Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with
25		Disabilities Act, to LGBTQ business enterprises, to
26		veteran-owned business enterprises, and to business

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1		enterprises located in environmental justice
2		communities. The diversity composition goals of the
3		plan may include eligible expenditures in areas for
4		vendor or supplier opportunities in addition to
5		development and construction of the project, and may
6		exclude from eligible expenditures materials and
7		services with limited market availability, limited
8		production and availability from suppliers in the
9		United States, such as solar panels and storage
10		batteries, and material and services that are subject
11		to critical energy infrastructure or cybersecurity
12		requirements or restrictions. The plan may provide
13		that the diversity composition goals may be met
14		through Tier 1 Direct or Tier 2 subcontracting
15		expenditures or a combination thereof for the project.
16		(C) The plan shall provide for, but not be limited
17		to: (i) internal initiatives, including multi-tier
18		initiatives, by the applicant or owner, or by its
19		engineering, procurement and construction contractor
20		if one is used for the project, which for purposes of
21		this paragraph (11) shall be referred to as the EPC
22		contractor, to enable diverse businesses to be
23		considered fairly for selection to provide materials
24		and services; (ii) requirements for the applicant or
25		owner or its EPC contractor to proactively solicit and
26		utilize diverse businesses to provide materials and

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1		services; and (iii) requirements for the applicant or
2		owner or its EPC contractor to hire a diverse
3		workforce for the project. The plan shall include a
4		description of the applicant's or owner's diversity
5		recruiting efforts both for the project and for other
6		areas of the applicant's or owner's business
7		operations. The plan shall provide for the imposition
8		of financial penalties on the applicant's or owner's
9		EPC contractor for failure to exercise best efforts to
10		comply with and execute the EPC contractor's diversity
11		obligations under the plan. The plan may provide for
12		the applicant or owner to set aside a portion of the
13		work on the project to serve as an incubation program
14		for qualified businesses, as specified in the plan,
15		owned by minority persons, women, persons with
16		disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and veterans, and
17		businesses located in environmental justice
18		communities, seeking to enter the renewable energy
19		industry.
20		(D) The applicant or owner may submit a revised or
21		updated plan to the Commission from time to time as
22		circumstances warrant. The applicant or owner shall
23		file annual reports with the Commission detailing the
24		applicant's or owner's progress in implementing its
25		plan and achieving its goals and any modifications the
26		applicant or owner has made to its plan to better

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1		achieve its diversity, equity and inclusion goals. The
2		applicant or owner shall file a final report on the
3		fifth June 1 following the commercial operation date
4		of the new renewable energy resource or new energy
5		storage facility, but the applicant or owner shall
6		thereafter continue to be subject to applicable
7		reporting requirements of Section 5-117 of the Public
8		Utilities Act.
9		(c-10) Equity accountability system. It is the purpose of
10		this subsection (c-10) to create an equity accountability
11		system, which includes the minimum equity standards for all
12		renewable energy procurements, the equity category of the
13		Adjustable Block Program, and the equity prioritization for
14		noncompetitive procurements, that is successful in advancing
15		priority access to the clean energy economy for businesses and
16		workers from communities that have been excluded from economic
17		opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to
18		disproportionate levels of pollution, and have
19		disproportionately experienced negative public health
20		outcomes. Further, it is the purpose of this subsection to
21		ensure that this equity accountability system is successful in
22		advancing equity across Illinois by providing access to the
23		clean energy economy for businesses and workers from
24		communities that have been historically excluded from economic
25		opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to
26		disproportionate levels of pollution, and have

HB3445 Enrolled - 113 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		disproportionately experienced negative public health
2		outcomes.
3		(1) Minimum equity standards. The Agency shall create
4		programs with the purpose of increasing access to and
5		development of equity eligible contractors, who are prime
6		contractors and subcontractors, across all of the programs
7		it manages. All applications for renewable energy credit
8		procurements shall comply with specific minimum equity
9		commitments. Starting in the delivery year immediately
10		following the next long-term renewable resources
11		procurement plan, at least 10% of the project workforce
12		for each entity participating in a procurement program
13		outlined in this subsection (c-10) must be done by equity
14		eligible persons or equity eligible contractors. The
15		Agency shall increase the minimum percentage each delivery
16		year thereafter by increments that ensure a statewide
17		average of 30% of the project workforce for each entity
18		participating in a procurement program is done by equity
19		eligible persons or equity eligible contractors by 2030.
20		The Agency shall propose a schedule of percentage
21		increases to the minimum equity standards in its draft
22		revised renewable energy resources procurement plan
23		submitted to the Commission for approval pursuant to
24		paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the
25		Public Utilities Act. In determining these annual
26		increases, the Agency shall have the discretion to

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1		establish different minimum equity standards for different
2		types of procurements and different regions of the State
3		if the Agency finds that doing so will further the
4		purposes of this subsection (c-10). The proposed schedule
5		of annual increases shall be revisited and updated on an
6		annual basis. Revisions shall be developed with
7		stakeholder input, including from equity eligible persons,
8		equity eligible contractors, clean energy industry
9		representatives, and community-based organizations that
10		work with such persons and contractors.
11		(A) At the start of each delivery year, the Agency
12		shall require a compliance plan from each entity
13		participating in a procurement program of subsection
14		(c) of this Section that demonstrates how they will
15		achieve compliance with the minimum equity standard
16		percentage for work completed in that delivery year.
17		If an entity applies for its approved vendor or
18		designee status between delivery years, the Agency
19		shall require a compliance plan at the time of
20		application.
21		(B) Halfway through each delivery year, the Agency
22		shall require each entity participating in a
23		procurement program to confirm that it will achieve
24		compliance in that delivery year, when applicable. The
25		Agency may offer corrective action plans to entities
26		that are not on track to achieve compliance.

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1		(C) At the end of each delivery year, each entity
2		participating and completing work in that delivery
3		year in a procurement program of subsection (c) shall
4		submit a report to the Agency that demonstrates how it
5		achieved compliance with the minimum equity standards
6		percentage for that delivery year.
7		(D) The Agency shall prohibit participation in
8		procurement programs by an approved vendor or
9		designee, as applicable, or entities with which an
10		approved vendor or designee, as applicable, shares a
11		common parent company if an approved vendor or
12		designee, as applicable, failed to meet the minimum
13		equity standards for the prior delivery year. Waivers
14		approved for lack of equity eligible persons or equity
15		eligible contractors in a geographic area of a project
16		shall not count against the approved vendor or
17		designee. The Agency shall offer a corrective action
18		plan for any such entities to assist them in obtaining
19		compliance and shall allow continued access to
20		procurement programs upon an approved vendor or
21		designee demonstrating compliance.
22		(E) The Agency shall pursue efficiencies achieved
23		by combining with other approved vendor or designee
24		reporting.
25		(2) Equity accountability system within the Adjustable
26		Block program. The equity category described in item (vi)

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1		of subparagraph (K) of subsection (c) is only available to
2		applicants that are equity eligible contractors.
3		(3) Equity accountability system within competitive
4		procurements. Through its long-term renewable resources
5		procurement plan, the Agency shall develop requirements
6		for ensuring that competitive procurement processes,
7		including utility-scale solar, utility-scale wind, and
8		brownfield site photovoltaic projects, advance the equity
9		goals of this subsection (c-10). Subject to Commission
10		approval, the Agency shall develop bid application
11		requirements and a bid evaluation methodology for ensuring
12		that utilization of equity eligible contractors, whether
13		as bidders or as participants on project development, is
14		optimized, including requiring that winning or successful
15		applicants for utility-scale projects are or will partner
16		with equity eligible contractors and giving preference to
17		bids through which a higher portion of contract value
18		flows to equity eligible contractors. To the extent
19		practicable, entities participating in competitive
20		procurements shall also be required to meet all the equity
21		accountability requirements for approved vendors and their
22		designees under this subsection (c-10). In developing
23		these requirements, the Agency shall also consider whether
24		equity goals can be further advanced through additional
25		measures.
26		(4) In the first revision to the long-term renewable

HB3445 Enrolled - 117 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		energy resources procurement plan and each revision
2		thereafter, the Agency shall include the following:
3		(A) The current status and number of equity
4		eligible contractors listed in the Energy Workforce
5		Equity Database designed in subsection (c-25),
6		including the number of equity eligible contractors
7		with current certifications as issued by the Agency.
8		(B) A mechanism for measuring, tracking, and
9		reporting project workforce at the approved vendor or
10		designee level, as applicable, which shall include a
11		measurement methodology and records to be made
12		available for audit by the Agency or the Program
13		Administrator.
14		(C) A program for approved vendors, designees,
15		eligible persons, and equity eligible contractors to
16		receive trainings, guidance, and other support from
17		the Agency or its designee regarding the equity
18		category outlined in item (vi) of subparagraph (K) of
19		paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and in meeting the
20		minimum equity standards of this subsection (c-10).
21		(D) A process for certifying equity eligible
22		contractors and equity eligible persons. The
23		certification process shall coordinate with the Energy
24		Workforce Equity Database set forth in subsection
25		(c-25).
26		(E) An application for waiver of the minimum

HB3445 Enrolled - 118 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		equity standards of this subsection, which the Agency
2		shall have the discretion to grant in rare
3		circumstances. The Agency may grant such a waiver
4		where the applicant provides evidence of significant
5		efforts toward meeting the minimum equity commitment,
6		including: use of the Energy Workforce Equity
7		Database; efforts to hire or contract with entities
8		that hire eligible persons; and efforts to establish
9		contracting relationships with eligible contractors.
10		The Agency shall support applicants in understanding
11		the Energy Workforce Equity Database and other
12		resources for pursuing compliance of the minimum
13		equity standards. Waivers shall be project-specific,
14		unless the Agency deems it necessary to grant a waiver
15		across a portfolio of projects, and in effect for no
16		longer than one year. Any waiver extension or
17		subsequent waiver request from an applicant shall be
18		subject to the requirements of this Section and shall
19		specify efforts made to reach compliance. When
20		considering whether to grant a waiver, and to what
21		extent, the Agency shall consider the degree to which
22		similarly situated applicants have been able to meet
23		these minimum equity commitments. For repeated waiver
24		requests for specific lack of eligible persons or
25		eligible contractors available, the Agency shall make
26		recommendations to target recruitment to add such

HB3445 Enrolled - 119 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		eligible persons or eligible contractors to the
2		database.
3		(5) The Agency shall collect information about work on
4		projects or portfolios of projects subject to these
5		minimum equity standards to ensure compliance with this
6		subsection (c-10). Reporting in furtherance of this
7		requirement may be combined with other annual reporting
8		requirements. Such reporting shall include proof of
9		certification of each equity eligible contractor or equity
10		eligible person during the applicable time period.
11		(6) The Agency shall keep confidential all information
12		and communication that provides private or personal
13		information.
14		(7) Modifications to the equity accountability system.
15		As part of the update of the long-term renewable resources
16		procurement plan to be initiated in 2023, or sooner if the
17		Agency deems necessary, the Agency shall determine the
18		extent to which the equity accountability system described
19		in this subsection (c-10) has advanced the goals of this
20		amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, including
21		through the inclusion of equity eligible persons and
22		equity eligible contractors in renewable energy credit
23		projects. If the Agency finds that the equity
24		accountability system has failed to meet those goals to
25		its fullest potential, the Agency may revise the following
26		criteria for future Agency procurements: (A) the

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1		percentage of project workforce, or other appropriate
2		workforce measure, certified as equity eligible persons or
3		equity eligible contractors; (B) definitions for equity
4		investment eligible persons and equity investment eligible
5		community; and (C) such other modifications necessary to
6		advance the goals of this amendatory Act of the 102nd
7		General Assembly effectively. Such revised criteria may
8		also establish distinct equity accountability systems for
9		different types of procurements or different regions of
10		the State if the Agency finds that doing so will further
11		the purposes of such programs. Revisions shall be
12		developed with stakeholder input, including from equity
13		eligible persons, equity eligible contractors, and
14		community-based organizations that work with such persons
15		and contractors.
16		(c-15) Racial discrimination elimination powers and
17		process.
18		(1) Purpose. It is the purpose of this subsection to
19		empower the Agency and other State actors to remedy racial
20		discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy as
21		effectively and expediently as possible, including through
22		the use of race-conscious remedies, such as race-conscious
23		contracting and hiring goals, as consistent with State and
24		federal law.
25		(2) Racial disparity and discrimination review
26		process.

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1		(A) Within one year after awarding contracts using
2		the equity actions processes established in this
3		Section, the Agency shall publish a report evaluating
4		the effectiveness of the equity actions point criteria
5		of this Section in increasing participation of equity
6		eligible persons and equity eligible contractors. The
7		report shall disaggregate participating workers and
8		contractors by race and ethnicity. The report shall be
9		forwarded to the Governor, the General Assembly, and
10		the Illinois Commerce Commission and be made available
11		to the public.
12		(B) As soon as is practicable thereafter, the
13		Agency, in consultation with the Department of
14		Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Department of
15		Labor, and other agencies that may be relevant, shall
16		commission and publish a disparity and availability
17		study that measures the presence and impact of
18		discrimination on minority businesses and workers in
19		Illinois' clean energy economy. The Agency may hire
20		consultants and experts to conduct the disparity and
21		availability study, with the retention of those
22		consultants and experts exempt from the requirements
23		of Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The
24		Illinois Power Agency shall forward a copy of its
25		findings and recommendations to the Governor, the
26		General Assembly, and the Illinois Commerce

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1		Commission. If the disparity and availability study
2		establishes a strong basis in evidence that there is
3		discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy, the
4		Agency, Department of Commerce and Economic
5		Opportunity, Department of Labor, Department of
6		Corrections, and other appropriate agencies shall take
7		appropriate remedial actions, including race-conscious
8		remedial actions as consistent with State and federal
9		law, to effectively remedy this discrimination. Such
10		remedies may include modification of the equity
11		accountability system as described in subsection
12		(c-10).
13		(c-20) Program data collection.
14		(1) Purpose. Data collection, data analysis, and
15		reporting are critical to ensure that the benefits of the
16		clean energy economy provided to Illinois residents and
17		businesses are equitably distributed across the State. The
18		Agency shall collect data from program applicants in order
19		to track and improve equitable distribution of benefits
20		across Illinois communities for all procurements the
21		Agency conducts. The Agency shall use this data to, among
22		other things, measure any potential impact of racial
23		discrimination on the distribution of benefits and provide
24		information necessary to correct any discrimination
25		through methods consistent with State and federal law.
26		(2) Agency collection of program data. The Agency

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1		shall collect demographic and geographic data for each
2		entity awarded contracts under any Agency-administered
3		program.
4		(3) Required information to be collected. The Agency
5		shall collect the following information from applicants
6		and program participants where applicable:
7		(A) demographic information, including racial or
8		ethnic identity for real persons employed, contracted,
9		or subcontracted through the program and owners of
10		businesses or entities that apply to receive renewable
11		energy credits from the Agency;
12		(B) geographic location of the residency of real
13		persons employed, contracted, or subcontracted through
14		the program and geographic location of the
15		headquarters of the business or entity that applies to
16		receive renewable energy credits from the Agency; and
17		(C) any other information the Agency determines is
18		necessary for the purpose of achieving the purpose of
19		this subsection.
20		(4) Publication of collected information. The Agency
21		shall publish, at least annually, information on the
22		demographics of program participants on an aggregate
23		basis.
24		(5) Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to
25		limit the authority of the Agency, or other agency or
26		department of the State, to require or collect demographic

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1		information from applicants of other State programs.
2		(c-25) Energy Workforce Equity Database.
3		(1) The Agency, in consultation with the Department of
4		Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall create an Energy
5		Workforce Equity Database, and may contract with a third
6		party to do so ("database program administrator"). If the
7		Department decides to contract with a third party, that
8		third party shall be exempt from the requirements of
9		Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The Energy
10		Workforce Equity Database shall be a searchable database
11		of suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors for clean energy
12		industries that is:
13		(A) publicly accessible;
14		(B) easy for people to find and use;
15		(C) organized by company specialty or field;
16		(D) region-specific; and
17		(E) populated with information including, but not
18		limited to, contacts for suppliers, vendors, or
19		subcontractors who are minority and women-owned
20		business enterprise certified or who participate or
21		have participated in any of the programs described in
22		this Act.
23		(2) The Agency shall create an easily accessible,
24		public facing online tool using the database information
25		that includes, at a minimum, the following:
26		(A) a map of environmental justice and equity

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1		investment eligible communities;
2		(B) job postings and recruiting opportunities;
3		(C) a means by which recruiting clean energy
4		companies can find and interact with current or former
5		participants of clean energy workforce training
6		programs;
7		(D) information on workforce training service
8		providers and training opportunities available to
9		prospective workers;
10		(E) renewable energy company diversity reporting;
11		(F) a list of equity eligible contractors with
12		their contact information, types of work performed,
13		and locations worked in;
14		(G) reporting on outcomes of the programs
15		described in the workforce programs of the Energy
16		Transition Act, including information such as, but not
17		limited to, retention rate, graduation rate, and
18		placement rates of trainees; and
19		(H) information about the Jobs and Environmental
20		Justice Grant Program, the Clean Energy Jobs and
21		Justice Fund, and other sources of capital.
22		(3) The Agency shall ensure the database is regularly
23		updated to ensure information is current and shall
24		coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic
25		Opportunity to ensure that it includes information on
26		individuals and entities that are or have participated in

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1		the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy
2		Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean
3		Jobs Training Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor
4		Accelerator Program.
5		(c-30) Enforcement of minimum equity standards. All
6		entities seeking renewable energy credits must submit an
7		annual report to demonstrate compliance with each of the
8		equity commitments required under subsection (c-10). If the
9		Agency concludes the entity has not met or maintained its
10		minimum equity standards required under the applicable
11		subparagraphs under subsection (c-10), the Agency shall deny
12		the entity's ability to participate in procurement programs in
13		subsection (c), including by withholding approved vendor or
14		designee status. The Agency may require the entity to enter
15		into a corrective action plan. An entity that is not
16		recertified for failing to meet required equity actions in
17		subparagraph (c-10) may reapply once they have a corrective
18		action plan and achieve compliance with the minimum equity
19		standards.
20		(d) Clean coal portfolio standard.
21		(1) The procurement plans shall include electricity
22		generated using clean coal. Each utility shall enter into
23		one or more sourcing agreements with the initial clean
24		coal facility, as provided in paragraph (3) of this
25		subsection (d), covering electricity generated by the
26		initial clean coal facility representing at least 5% of

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1		each utility's total supply to serve the load of eligible
2		retail customers in 2015 and each year thereafter, as
3		described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), subject
4		to the limits specified in paragraph (2) of this
5		subsection (d). It is the goal of the State that by January
6		1, 2025, 25% of the electricity used in the State shall be
7		generated by cost-effective clean coal facilities. For
8		purposes of this subsection (d), "cost-effective" means
9		that the expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements
10		do not cause the limit stated in paragraph (2) of this
11		subsection (d) to be exceeded and do not exceed cost-based
12		benchmarks, which shall be developed to assess all
13		expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements covering
14		electricity generated by clean coal facilities, other than
15		the initial clean coal facility, by the procurement
16		administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff,
17		Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be
18		subject to Commission review and approval.
19		A utility party to a sourcing agreement shall
20		immediately retire any emission credits that it receives
21		in connection with the electricity covered by such
22		agreement.
23		Utilities shall maintain adequate records documenting
24		the purchases under the sourcing agreement to comply with
25		this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting with the
26		load forecast that must be filed with the Agency by July 15

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1		of each year, in accordance with subsection (d) of Section
2		16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act.
3		A utility shall be deemed to have complied with the
4		clean coal portfolio standard specified in this subsection
5		(d) if the utility enters into a sourcing agreement as
6		required by this subsection (d).
7		(2) For purposes of this subsection (d), the required
8		execution of sourcing agreements with the initial clean
9		coal facility for a particular year shall be measured as a
10		percentage of the actual amount of electricity
11		(megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric utility to
12		eligible retail customers in the planning year ending
13		immediately prior to the agreement's execution. For
14		purposes of this subsection (d), the amount paid per
15		kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric
16		service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For
17		purposes of this subsection (d), the total amount paid for
18		electric service includes without limitation amounts paid
19		for supply, transmission, distribution, surcharges and
20		add-on taxes.
21		Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection
22		(d), the total amount paid under sourcing agreements with
23		clean coal facilities pursuant to the procurement plan for
24		any given year shall be reduced by an amount necessary to
25		limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the
26		costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by

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1		eligible retail customers in connection with electric
2		service to:
3		(A) in 2010, no more than 0.5% of the amount paid
4		per kilowatthour by those customers during the year
5		ending May 31, 2009;
6		(B) in 2011, the greater of an additional 0.5% of
7		the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers
8		during the year ending May 31, 2010 or 1% of the amount
9		paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the
10		year ending May 31, 2009;
11		(C) in 2012, the greater of an additional 0.5% of
12		the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers
13		during the year ending May 31, 2011 or 1.5% of the
14		amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during
15		the year ending May 31, 2009;
16		(D) in 2013, the greater of an additional 0.5% of
17		the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers
18		during the year ending May 31, 2012 or 2% of the amount
19		paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the
20		year ending May 31, 2009; and
21		(E) thereafter, the total amount paid under
22		sourcing agreements with clean coal facilities
23		pursuant to the procurement plan for any single year
24		shall be reduced by an amount necessary to limit the
25		estimated average net increase due to the cost of
26		these resources included in the amounts paid by

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1		eligible retail customers in connection with electric
2		service to no more than the greater of (i) 2.015% of
3		the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers
4		during the year ending May 31, 2009 or (ii) the
5		incremental amount per kilowatthour paid for these
6		resources in 2013. These requirements may be altered
7		only as provided by statute.
8		No later than June 30, 2015, the Commission shall
9		review the limitation on the total amount paid under
10		sourcing agreements, if any, with clean coal facilities
11		pursuant to this subsection (d) and report to the General
12		Assembly its findings as to whether that limitation unduly
13		constrains the amount of electricity generated by
14		cost-effective clean coal facilities that is covered by
15		sourcing agreements.
16		(3) Initial clean coal facility. In order to promote
17		development of clean coal facilities in Illinois, each
18		electric utility subject to this Section shall execute a
19		sourcing agreement to source electricity from a proposed
20		clean coal facility in Illinois (the "initial clean coal
21		facility") that will have a nameplate capacity of at least
22		500 MW when commercial operation commences, that has a
23		final Clean Air Act permit on June 1, 2009 (the effective
24		date of Public Act 95-1027), and that will meet the
25		definition of clean coal facility in Section 1-10 of this
26		Act when commercial operation commences. The sourcing

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1		agreements with this initial clean coal facility shall be
2		subject to both approval of the initial clean coal
3		facility by the General Assembly and satisfaction of the
4		requirements of paragraph (4) of this subsection (d) and
5		shall be executed within 90 days after any such approval
6		by the General Assembly. The Agency and the Commission
7		shall have authority to inspect all books and records
8		associated with the initial clean coal facility during the
9		term of such a sourcing agreement. A utility's sourcing
10		agreement for electricity produced by the initial clean
11		coal facility shall include:
12		(A) a formula contractual price (the "contract
13		price") approved pursuant to paragraph (4) of this
14		subsection (d), which shall:
15		(i) be determined using a cost of service
16		methodology employing either a level or deferred
17		capital recovery component, based on a capital
18		structure consisting of 45% equity and 55% debt,
19		and a return on equity as may be approved by the
20		Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which in any
21		case may not exceed the lower of 11.5% or the rate
22		of return approved by the General Assembly
23		pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection (d);
24		and
25		(ii) provide that all miscellaneous net
26		revenue, including but not limited to net revenue

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1		from the sale of emission allowances, if any,
2		substitute natural gas, if any, grants or other
3		support provided by the State of Illinois or the
4		United States Government, firm transmission
5		rights, if any, by-products produced by the
6		facility, energy or capacity derived from the
7		facility and not covered by a sourcing agreement
8		pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection (d)
9		or item (5) of subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of
10		the Public Utilities Act, whether generated from
11		the synthesis gas derived from coal, from SNG, or
12		from natural gas, shall be credited against the
13		revenue requirement for this initial clean coal
14		facility;
15		(B) power purchase provisions, which shall:
16		(i) provide that the utility party to such
17		sourcing agreement shall pay the contract price
18		for electricity delivered under such sourcing
19		agreement;
20		(ii) require delivery of electricity to the
21		regional transmission organization market of the
22		utility that is party to such sourcing agreement;
23		(iii) require the utility party to such
24		sourcing agreement to buy from the initial clean
25		coal facility in each hour an amount of energy
26		equal to all clean coal energy made available from

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1		the initial clean coal facility during such hour
2		times a fraction, the numerator of which is such
3		utility's retail market sales of electricity
4		(expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State
5		during the prior calendar month and the
6		denominator of which is the total retail market
7		sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours
8		sold) in the State by utilities during such prior
9		month and the sales of electricity (expressed in
10		kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative
11		retail electric suppliers during such prior month
12		that are subject to the requirements of this
13		subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d)
14		of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act,
15		provided that the amount purchased by the utility
16		in any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of
17		this subsection (d); and
18		(iv) be considered pre-existing contracts in
19		such utility's procurement plans for eligible
20		retail customers;
21		(C) contract for differences provisions, which
22		shall:
23		(i) require the utility party to such sourcing
24		agreement to contract with the initial clean coal
25		facility in each hour with respect to an amount of
26		energy equal to all clean coal energy made

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1		available from the initial clean coal facility
2		during such hour times a fraction, the numerator
3		of which is such utility's retail market sales of
4		electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in
5		the utility's service territory in the State
6		during the prior calendar month and the
7		denominator of which is the total retail market
8		sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours
9		sold) in the State by utilities during such prior
10		month and the sales of electricity (expressed in
11		kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative
12		retail electric suppliers during such prior month
13		that are subject to the requirements of this
14		subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d)
15		of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act,
16		provided that the amount paid by the utility in
17		any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of this
18		subsection (d);
19		(ii) provide that the utility's payment
20		obligation in respect of the quantity of
21		electricity determined pursuant to the preceding
22		clause (i) shall be limited to an amount equal to
23		(1) the difference between the contract price
24		determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) of
25		paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) and the
26		day-ahead price for electricity delivered to the

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1		regional transmission organization market of the
2		utility that is party to such sourcing agreement
3		(or any successor delivery point at which such
4		utility's supply obligations are financially
5		settled on an hourly basis) (the "reference
6		price") on the day preceding the day on which the
7		electricity is delivered to the initial clean coal
8		facility busbar, multiplied by (2) the quantity of
9		electricity determined pursuant to the preceding
10		clause (i); and
11		(iii) not require the utility to take physical
12		delivery of the electricity produced by the
13		facility;
14		(D) general provisions, which shall:
15		(i) specify a term of no more than 30 years,
16		commencing on the commercial operation date of the
17		facility;
18		(ii) provide that utilities shall maintain
19		adequate records documenting purchases under the
20		sourcing agreements entered into to comply with
21		this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting
22		with the load forecast that must be filed with the
23		Agency by July 15 of each year, in accordance with
24		subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public
25		Utilities Act;
26		(iii) provide that all costs associated with

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1		the initial clean coal facility will be
2		periodically reported to the Federal Energy
3		Regulatory Commission and to purchasers in
4		accordance with applicable laws governing
5		cost-based wholesale power contracts;
6		(iv) permit the Illinois Power Agency to
7		assume ownership of the initial clean coal
8		facility, without monetary consideration and
9		otherwise on reasonable terms acceptable to the
10		Agency, if the Agency so requests no less than 3
11		years prior to the end of the stated contract
12		term;
13		(v) require the owner of the initial clean
14		coal facility to provide documentation to the
15		Commission each year, starting in the facility's
16		first year of commercial operation, accurately
17		reporting the quantity of carbon emissions from
18		the facility that have been captured and
19		sequestered and report any quantities of carbon
20		released from the site or sites at which carbon
21		emissions were sequestered in prior years, based
22		on continuous monitoring of such sites. If, in any
23		year after the first year of commercial operation,
24		the owner of the facility fails to demonstrate
25		that the initial clean coal facility captured and
26		sequestered at least 50% of the total carbon

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1		emissions that the facility would otherwise emit
2		or that sequestration of emissions from prior
3		years has failed, resulting in the release of
4		carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the owner of
5		the facility must offset excess emissions. Any
6		such carbon offsets must be permanent, additional,
7		verifiable, real, located within the State of
8		Illinois, and legally and practicably enforceable.
9		The cost of such offsets for the facility that are
10		not recoverable shall not exceed $15 million in
11		any given year. No costs of any such purchases of
12		carbon offsets may be recovered from a utility or
13		its customers. All carbon offsets purchased for
14		this purpose and any carbon emission credits
15		associated with sequestration of carbon from the
16		facility must be permanently retired. The initial
17		clean coal facility shall not forfeit its
18		designation as a clean coal facility if the
19		facility fails to fully comply with the applicable
20		carbon sequestration requirements in any given
21		year, provided the requisite offsets are
22		purchased. However, the Attorney General, on
23		behalf of the People of the State of Illinois, may
24		specifically enforce the facility's sequestration
25		requirement and the other terms of this contract
26		provision. Compliance with the sequestration

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1		requirements and offset purchase requirements
2		specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d)
3		shall be reviewed annually by an independent
4		expert retained by the owner of the initial clean
5		coal facility, with the advance written approval
6		of the Attorney General. The Commission may, in
7		the course of the review specified in item (vii),
8		reduce the allowable return on equity for the
9		facility if the facility willfully fails to comply
10		with the carbon capture and sequestration
11		requirements set forth in this item (v);
12		(vi) include limits on, and accordingly
13		provide for modification of, the amount the
14		utility is required to source under the sourcing
15		agreement consistent with paragraph (2) of this
16		subsection (d);
17		(vii) require Commission review: (1) to
18		determine the justness, reasonableness, and
19		prudence of the inputs to the formula referenced
20		in subparagraphs (A)(i) through (A)(iii) of
21		paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), prior to an
22		adjustment in those inputs including, without
23		limitation, the capital structure and return on
24		equity, fuel costs, and other operations and
25		maintenance costs and (2) to approve the costs to
26		be passed through to customers under the sourcing

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1		agreement by which the utility satisfies its
2		statutory obligations. Commission review shall
3		occur no less than every 3 years, regardless of
4		whether any adjustments have been proposed, and
5		shall be completed within 9 months;
6		(viii) limit the utility's obligation to such
7		amount as the utility is allowed to recover
8		through tariffs filed with the Commission,
9		provided that neither the clean coal facility nor
10		the utility waives any right to assert federal
11		pre-emption or any other argument in response to a
12		purported disallowance of recovery costs;
13		(ix) limit the utility's or alternative retail
14		electric supplier's obligation to incur any
15		liability until such time as the facility is in
16		commercial operation and generating power and
17		energy and such power and energy is being
18		delivered to the facility busbar;
19		(x) provide that the owner or owners of the
20		initial clean coal facility, which is the
21		counterparty to such sourcing agreement, shall
22		have the right from time to time to elect whether
23		the obligations of the utility party thereto shall
24		be governed by the power purchase provisions or
25		the contract for differences provisions;
26		(xi) append documentation showing that the

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1		formula rate and contract, insofar as they relate
2		to the power purchase provisions, have been
3		approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory
4		Commission pursuant to Section 205 of the Federal
5		Power Act;
6		(xii) provide that any changes to the terms of
7		the contract, insofar as such changes relate to
8		the power purchase provisions, are subject to
9		review under the public interest standard applied
10		by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
11		pursuant to Sections 205 and 206 of the Federal
12		Power Act; and
13		(xiii) conform with customary lender
14		requirements in power purchase agreements used as
15		the basis for financing non-utility generators.
16		(4) Effective date of sourcing agreements with the
17		initial clean coal facility. Any proposed sourcing
18		agreement with the initial clean coal facility shall not
19		become effective unless the following reports are prepared
20		and submitted and authorizations and approvals obtained:
21		(i) Facility cost report. The owner of the initial
22		clean coal facility shall submit to the Commission,
23		the Agency, and the General Assembly a front-end
24		engineering and design study, a facility cost report,
25		method of financing (including but not limited to
26		structure and associated costs), and an operating and

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1		maintenance cost quote for the facility (collectively
2		"facility cost report"), which shall be prepared in
3		accordance with the requirements of this paragraph (4)
4		of subsection (d) of this Section, and shall provide
5		the Commission and the Agency access to the work
6		papers, relied upon documents, and any other backup
7		documentation related to the facility cost report.
8		(ii) Commission report. Within 6 months following
9		receipt of the facility cost report, the Commission,
10		in consultation with the Agency, shall submit a report
11		to the General Assembly setting forth its analysis of
12		the facility cost report. Such report shall include,
13		but not be limited to, a comparison of the costs
14		associated with electricity generated by the initial
15		clean coal facility to the costs associated with
16		electricity generated by other types of generation
17		facilities, an analysis of the rate impacts on
18		residential and small business customers over the life
19		of the sourcing agreements, and an analysis of the
20		likelihood that the initial clean coal facility will
21		commence commercial operation by and be delivering
22		power to the facility's busbar by 2016. To assist in
23		the preparation of its report, the Commission, in
24		consultation with the Agency, may hire one or more
25		experts or consultants, the costs of which shall be
26		paid for by the owner of the initial clean coal

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1		facility. The Commission and Agency may begin the
2		process of selecting such experts or consultants prior
3		to receipt of the facility cost report.
4		(iii) General Assembly approval. The proposed
5		sourcing agreements shall not take effect unless,
6		based on the facility cost report and the Commission's
7		report, the General Assembly enacts authorizing
8		legislation approving (A) the projected price, stated
9		in cents per kilowatthour, to be charged for
10		electricity generated by the initial clean coal
11		facility, (B) the projected impact on residential and
12		small business customers' bills over the life of the
13		sourcing agreements, and (C) the maximum allowable
14		return on equity for the project; and
15		(iv) Commission review. If the General Assembly
16		enacts authorizing legislation pursuant to
17		subparagraph (iii) approving a sourcing agreement, the
18		Commission shall, within 90 days of such enactment,
19		complete a review of such sourcing agreement. During
20		such time period, the Commission shall implement any
21		directive of the General Assembly, resolve any
22		disputes between the parties to the sourcing agreement
23		concerning the terms of such agreement, approve the
24		form of such agreement, and issue an order finding
25		that the sourcing agreement is prudent and reasonable.
26		The facility cost report shall be prepared as follows:

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1		(A) The facility cost report shall be prepared by
2		duly licensed engineering and construction firms
3		detailing the estimated capital costs payable to one
4		or more contractors or suppliers for the engineering,
5		procurement and construction of the components
6		comprising the initial clean coal facility and the
7		estimated costs of operation and maintenance of the
8		facility. The facility cost report shall include:
9		(i) an estimate of the capital cost of the
10		core plant based on one or more front end
11		engineering and design studies for the
12		gasification island and related facilities. The
13		core plant shall include all civil, structural,
14		mechanical, electrical, control, and safety
15		systems.
16		(ii) an estimate of the capital cost of the
17		balance of the plant, including any capital costs
18		associated with sequestration of carbon dioxide
19		emissions and all interconnects and interfaces
20		required to operate the facility, such as
21		transmission of electricity, construction or
22		backfeed power supply, pipelines to transport
23		substitute natural gas or carbon dioxide, potable
24		water supply, natural gas supply, water supply,
25		water discharge, landfill, access roads, and coal
26		delivery.

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1		The quoted construction costs shall be expressed
2		in nominal dollars as of the date that the quote is
3		prepared and shall include capitalized financing costs
4		during construction, taxes, insurance, and other
5		owner's costs, and an assumed escalation in materials
6		and labor beyond the date as of which the construction
7		cost quote is expressed.
8		(B) The front end engineering and design study for
9		the gasification island and the cost study for the
10		balance of plant shall include sufficient design work
11		to permit quantification of major categories of
12		materials, commodities and labor hours, and receipt of
13		quotes from vendors of major equipment required to
14		construct and operate the clean coal facility.
15		(C) The facility cost report shall also include an
16		operating and maintenance cost quote that will provide
17		the estimated cost of delivered fuel, personnel,
18		maintenance contracts, chemicals, catalysts,
19		consumables, spares, and other fixed and variable
20		operations and maintenance costs. The delivered fuel
21		cost estimate will be provided by a recognized third
22		party expert or experts in the fuel and transportation
23		industries. The balance of the operating and
24		maintenance cost quote, excluding delivered fuel
25		costs, will be developed based on the inputs provided
26		by duly licensed engineering and construction firms

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1		performing the construction cost quote, potential
2		vendors under long-term service agreements and plant
3		operating agreements, or recognized third party plant
4		operator or operators.
5		The operating and maintenance cost quote
6		(including the cost of the front end engineering and
7		design study) shall be expressed in nominal dollars as
8		of the date that the quote is prepared and shall
9		include taxes, insurance, and other owner's costs, and
10		an assumed escalation in materials and labor beyond
11		the date as of which the operating and maintenance
12		cost quote is expressed.
13		(D) The facility cost report shall also include an
14		analysis of the initial clean coal facility's ability
15		to deliver power and energy into the applicable
16		regional transmission organization markets and an
17		analysis of the expected capacity factor for the
18		initial clean coal facility.
19		(E) Amounts paid to third parties unrelated to the
20		owner or owners of the initial clean coal facility to
21		prepare the core plant construction cost quote,
22		including the front end engineering and design study,
23		and the operating and maintenance cost quote will be
24		reimbursed through Coal Development Bonds.
25		(5) Re-powering and retrofitting coal-fired power
26		plants previously owned by Illinois utilities to qualify

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1		as clean coal facilities. During the 2009 procurement
2		planning process and thereafter, the Agency and the
3		Commission shall consider sourcing agreements covering
4		electricity generated by power plants that were previously
5		owned by Illinois utilities and that have been or will be
6		converted into clean coal facilities, as defined by
7		Section 1-10 of this Act. Pursuant to such procurement
8		planning process, the owners of such facilities may
9		propose to the Agency sourcing agreements with utilities
10		and alternative retail electric suppliers required to
11		comply with subsection (d) of this Section and item (5) of
12		subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities
13		Act, covering electricity generated by such facilities. In
14		the case of sourcing agreements that are power purchase
15		agreements, the contract price for electricity sales shall
16		be established on a cost of service basis. In the case of
17		sourcing agreements that are contracts for differences,
18		the contract price from which the reference price is
19		subtracted shall be established on a cost of service
20		basis. The Agency and the Commission may approve any such
21		utility sourcing agreements that do not exceed cost-based
22		benchmarks developed by the procurement administrator, in
23		consultation with the Commission staff, Agency staff and
24		the procurement monitor, subject to Commission review and
25		approval. The Commission shall have authority to inspect
26		all books and records associated with these clean coal

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1		facilities during the term of any such contract.
2		(6) Costs incurred under this subsection (d) or
3		pursuant to a contract entered into under this subsection
4		(d) shall be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in
5		amount and the electric utility shall be entitled to full
6		cost recovery pursuant to the tariffs filed with the
7		Commission.
8		(d-5) Zero emission standard.
9		(1) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on
10		June 1, 2017, the Agency shall, for electric utilities
11		that serve at least 100,000 retail customers in this
12		State, procure contracts with zero emission facilities
13		that are reasonably capable of generating cost-effective
14		zero emission credits in an amount approximately equal to
15		16% of the actual amount of electricity delivered by each
16		electric utility to retail customers in the State during
17		calendar year 2014. For an electric utility serving fewer
18		than 100,000 retail customers in this State that
19		requested, under Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities
20		Act, that the Agency procure power and energy for all or a
21		portion of the utility's Illinois load for the delivery
22		year commencing June 1, 2016, the Agency shall procure
23		contracts with zero emission facilities that are
24		reasonably capable of generating cost-effective zero
25		emission credits in an amount approximately equal to 16%
26		of the portion of power and energy to be procured by the

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1		Agency for the utility. The duration of the contracts
2		procured under this subsection (d-5) shall be for a term
3		of 10 years ending May 31, 2027. The quantity of zero
4		emission credits to be procured under the contracts shall
5		be all of the zero emission credits generated by the zero
6		emission facility in each delivery year; however, if the
7		zero emission facility is owned by more than one entity,
8		then the quantity of zero emission credits to be procured
9		under the contracts shall be the amount of zero emission
10		credits that are generated from the portion of the zero
11		emission facility that is owned by the winning supplier.
12		The 16% value identified in this paragraph (1) is the
13		average of the percentage targets in subparagraph (B) of
14		paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section for the 5
15		delivery years beginning June 1, 2017.
16		The procurement process shall be subject to the
17		following provisions:
18		(A) Those zero emission facilities that intend to
19		participate in the procurement shall submit to the
20		Agency the following eligibility information for each
21		zero emission facility on or before the date
22		established by the Agency:
23		(i) the in-service date and remaining useful
24		life of the zero emission facility;
25		(ii) the amount of power generated annually
26		for each of the years 2005 through 2015, and the

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1		projected zero emission credits to be generated
2		over the remaining useful life of the zero
3		emission facility, which shall be used to
4		determine the capability of each facility;
5		(iii) the annual zero emission facility cost
6		projections, expressed on a per megawatthour
7		basis, over the next 6 delivery years, which shall
8		include the following: operation and maintenance
9		expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which
10		shall be allocated using the methodology developed
11		by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations;
12		fuel expenditures; non-fuel capital expenditures;
13		spent fuel expenditures; a return on working
14		capital; the cost of operational and market risks
15		that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and
16		any other costs necessary for continued
17		operations, provided that "necessary" means, for
18		purposes of this item (iii), that the costs could
19		reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations
20		of the zero emission facility; and
21		(iv) a commitment to continue operating, for
22		the duration of the contract or contracts executed
23		under the procurement held under this subsection
24		(d-5), the zero emission facility that produces
25		the zero emission credits to be procured in the
26		procurement.

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1		The information described in item (iii) of this
2		subparagraph (A) may be submitted on a confidential
3		basis and shall be treated and maintained by the
4		Agency, the procurement administrator, and the
5		Commission as confidential and proprietary and exempt
6		from disclosure under subparagraphs (a) and (g) of
7		paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of
8		Information Act. The Office of Attorney General shall
9		have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of,
10		such information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the
11		Attorney General Act.
12		(B) The price for each zero emission credit
13		procured under this subsection (d-5) for each delivery
14		year shall be in an amount that equals the Social Cost
15		of Carbon, expressed on a price per megawatthour
16		basis. However, to ensure that the procurement remains
17		affordable to retail customers in this State if
18		electricity prices increase, the price in an
19		applicable delivery year shall be reduced below the
20		Social Cost of Carbon by the amount ("Price
21		Adjustment") by which the market price index for the
22		applicable delivery year exceeds the baseline market
23		price index for the consecutive 12-month period ending
24		May 31, 2016. If the Price Adjustment is greater than
25		or equal to the Social Cost of Carbon in an applicable
26		delivery year, then no payments shall be due in that

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1		delivery year. The components of this calculation are
2		defined as follows:
3		(i) Social Cost of Carbon: The Social Cost of
4		Carbon is $16.50 per megawatthour, which is based
5		on the U.S. Interagency Working Group on Social
6		Cost of Carbon's price in the August 2016
7		Technical Update using a 3% discount rate,
8		adjusted for inflation for each year of the
9		program. Beginning with the delivery year
10		commencing June 1, 2023, the price per
11		megawatthour shall increase by $1 per
12		megawatthour, and continue to increase by an
13		additional $1 per megawatthour each delivery year
14		thereafter.
15		(ii) Baseline market price index: The baseline
16		market price index for the consecutive 12-month
17		period ending May 31, 2016 is $31.40 per
18		megawatthour, which is based on the sum of (aa)
19		the average day-ahead energy price across all
20		hours of such 12-month period at the PJM
21		Interconnection LLC Northern Illinois Hub, (bb)
22		50% multiplied by the Base Residual Auction, or
23		its successor, capacity price for the rest of the
24		RTO zone group determined by PJM Interconnection
25		LLC, divided by 24 hours per day, and (cc) 50%
26		multiplied by the Planning Resource Auction, or

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1		its successor, capacity price for Zone 4
2		determined by the Midcontinent Independent System
3		Operator, Inc., divided by 24 hours per day.
4		(iii) Market price index: The market price
5		index for a delivery year shall be the sum of
6		projected energy prices and projected capacity
7		prices determined as follows:
8		(aa) Projected energy prices: the
9		projected energy prices for the applicable
10		delivery year shall be calculated once for the
11		year using the forward market price for the
12		PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois
13		Hub. The forward market price shall be
14		calculated as follows: the energy forward
15		prices for each month of the applicable
16		delivery year averaged for each trade date
17		during the calendar year immediately preceding
18		that delivery year to produce a single energy
19		forward price for the delivery year. The
20		forward market price calculation shall use
21		data published by the Intercontinental
22		Exchange, or its successor.
23		(bb) Projected capacity prices:
24		(I) For the delivery years commencing
25		June 1, 2017, June 1, 2018, and June 1,
26		2019, the projected capacity price shall

HB3445 Enrolled - 153 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		be equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied
2		by the Base Residual Auction, or its
3		successor, price for the rest of the RTO
4		zone group as determined by PJM
5		Interconnection LLC, divided by 24 hours
6		per day and, (2) 50% multiplied by the
7		resource auction price determined in the
8		resource auction administered by the
9		Midcontinent Independent System Operator,
10		Inc., in which the largest percentage of
11		load cleared for Local Resource Zone 4,
12		divided by 24 hours per day, and where
13		such price is determined by the
14		Midcontinent Independent System Operator,
15		Inc.
16		(II) For the delivery year commencing
17		June 1, 2020, and each year thereafter,
18		the projected capacity price shall be
19		equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied by
20		the Base Residual Auction, or its
21		successor, price for the ComEd zone as
22		determined by PJM Interconnection LLC,
23		divided by 24 hours per day, and (2) 50%
24		multiplied by the resource auction price
25		determined in the resource auction
26		administered by the Midcontinent

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1		Independent System Operator, Inc., in
2		which the largest percentage of load
3		cleared for Local Resource Zone 4, divided
4		by 24 hours per day, and where such price
5		is determined by the Midcontinent
6		Independent System Operator, Inc.
7		For purposes of this subsection (d-5):
8		"Rest of the RTO" and "ComEd Zone" shall have
9		the meaning ascribed to them by PJM
10		Interconnection, LLC.
11		"RTO" means regional transmission
12		organization.
13		(C) No later than 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the
14		effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall
15		publish its proposed zero emission standard
16		procurement plan. The plan shall be consistent with
17		the provisions of this paragraph (1) and shall provide
18		that winning bids shall be selected based on public
19		interest criteria that include, but are not limited
20		to, minimizing carbon dioxide emissions that result
21		from electricity consumed in Illinois and minimizing
22		sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter
23		emissions that adversely affect the citizens of this
24		State. In particular, the selection of winning bids
25		shall take into account the incremental environmental
26		benefits resulting from the procurement, such as any

HB3445 Enrolled - 155 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		existing environmental benefits that are preserved by
2		the procurements held under Public Act 99-906 and
3		would cease to exist if the procurements were not
4		held, including the preservation of zero emission
5		facilities. The plan shall also describe in detail how
6		each public interest factor shall be considered and
7		weighted in the bid selection process to ensure that
8		the public interest criteria are applied to the
9		procurement and given full effect.
10		For purposes of developing the plan, the Agency
11		shall consider any reports issued by a State agency,
12		board, or commission under House Resolution 1146 of
13		the 98th General Assembly and paragraph (4) of
14		subsection (d) of this Section, as well as publicly
15		available analyses and studies performed by or for
16		regional transmission organizations that serve the
17		State and their independent market monitors.
18		Upon publishing of the zero emission standard
19		procurement plan, copies of the plan shall be posted
20		and made publicly available on the Agency's website.
21		All interested parties shall have 10 days following
22		the date of posting to provide comment to the Agency on
23		the plan. All comments shall be posted to the Agency's
24		website. Following the end of the comment period, but
25		no more than 60 days later than June 1, 2017 (the
26		effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall

HB3445 Enrolled - 156 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		revise the plan as necessary based on the comments
2		received and file its zero emission standard
3		procurement plan with the Commission.
4		If the Commission determines that the plan will
5		result in the procurement of cost-effective zero
6		emission credits, then the Commission shall, after
7		notice and hearing, but no later than 45 days after the
8		Agency filed the plan, approve the plan or approve
9		with modification. For purposes of this subsection
10		(d-5), "cost effective" means the projected costs of
11		procuring zero emission credits from zero emission
12		facilities do not cause the limit stated in paragraph
13		(2) of this subsection to be exceeded.
14		(C-5) As part of the Commission's review and
15		acceptance or rejection of the procurement results,
16		the Commission shall, in its public notice of
17		successful bidders:
18		(i) identify how the winning bids satisfy the
19		public interest criteria described in subparagraph
20		(C) of this paragraph (1) of minimizing carbon
21		dioxide emissions that result from electricity
22		consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur
23		dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter
24		emissions that adversely affect the citizens of
25		this State;
26		(ii) specifically address how the selection of

HB3445 Enrolled - 157 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		winning bids takes into account the incremental
2		environmental benefits resulting from the
3		procurement, including any existing environmental
4		benefits that are preserved by the procurements
5		held under Public Act 99-906 and would have ceased
6		to exist if the procurements had not been held,
7		such as the preservation of zero emission
8		facilities;
9		(iii) quantify the environmental benefit of
10		preserving the resources identified in item (ii)
11		of this subparagraph (C-5), including the
12		following:
13		(aa) the value of avoided greenhouse gas
14		emissions measured as the product of the zero
15		emission facilities' output over the contract
16		term multiplied by the U.S. Environmental
17		Protection Agency eGrid subregion carbon
18		dioxide emission rate and the U.S. Interagency
19		Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon's price
20		in the August 2016 Technical Update using a 3%
21		discount rate, adjusted for inflation for each
22		delivery year; and
23		(bb) the costs of replacement with other
24		zero carbon dioxide resources, including wind
25		and photovoltaic, based upon the simple
26		average of the following:

HB3445 Enrolled - 158 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		(I) the price, or if there is more
2		than one price, the average of the prices,
3		paid for renewable energy credits from new
4		utility-scale wind projects in the
5		procurement events specified in item (i)
6		of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) of
7		subsection (c) of this Section; and
8		(II) the price, or if there is more
9		than one price, the average of the prices,
10		paid for renewable energy credits from new
11		utility-scale solar projects and
12		brownfield site photovoltaic projects in
13		the procurement events specified in item
14		(ii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1)
15		of subsection (c) of this Section and,
16		after January 1, 2015, renewable energy
17		credits from photovoltaic distributed
18		generation projects in procurement events
19		held under subsection (c) of this Section.
20		Each utility shall enter into binding contractual
21		arrangements with the winning suppliers.
22		The procurement described in this subsection
23		(d-5), including, but not limited to, the execution of
24		all contracts procured, shall be completed no later
25		than May 10, 2017. Based on the effective date of
26		Public Act 99-906, the Agency and Commission may, as

HB3445 Enrolled - 159 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		appropriate, modify the various dates and timelines
2		under this subparagraph and subparagraphs (C) and (D)
3		of this paragraph (1). The procurement and plan
4		approval processes required by this subsection (d-5)
5		shall be conducted in conjunction with the procurement
6		and plan approval processes required by subsection (c)
7		of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public
8		Utilities Act, to the extent practicable.
9		Notwithstanding whether a procurement event is
10		conducted under Section 16-111.5 of the Public
11		Utilities Act, the Agency shall immediately initiate a
12		procurement process on June 1, 2017 (the effective
13		date of Public Act 99-906).
14		(D) Following the procurement event described in
15		this paragraph (1) and consistent with subparagraph
16		(B) of this paragraph (1), the Agency shall calculate
17		the payments to be made under each contract for the
18		next delivery year based on the market price index for
19		that delivery year. The Agency shall publish the
20		payment calculations no later than May 25, 2017 and
21		every May 25 thereafter.
22		(E) Notwithstanding the requirements of this
23		subsection (d-5), the contracts executed under this
24		subsection (d-5) shall provide that the zero emission
25		facility may, as applicable, suspend or terminate
26		performance under the contracts in the following

HB3445 Enrolled - 160 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		instances:
2		(i) A zero emission facility shall be excused
3		from its performance under the contract for any
4		cause beyond the control of the resource,
5		including, but not restricted to, acts of God,
6		flood, drought, earthquake, storm, fire,
7		lightning, epidemic, war, riot, civil disturbance
8		or disobedience, labor dispute, labor or material
9		shortage, sabotage, acts of public enemy,
10		explosions, orders, regulations or restrictions
11		imposed by governmental, military, or lawfully
12		established civilian authorities, which, in any of
13		the foregoing cases, by exercise of commercially
14		reasonable efforts the zero emission facility
15		could not reasonably have been expected to avoid,
16		and which, by the exercise of commercially
17		reasonable efforts, it has been unable to
18		overcome. In such event, the zero emission
19		facility shall be excused from performance for the
20		duration of the event, including, but not limited
21		to, delivery of zero emission credits, and no
22		payment shall be due to the zero emission facility
23		during the duration of the event.
24		(ii) A zero emission facility shall be
25		permitted to terminate the contract if legislation
26		is enacted into law by the General Assembly that

HB3445 Enrolled - 161 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		imposes or authorizes a new tax, special
2		assessment, or fee on the generation of
3		electricity, the ownership or leasehold of a
4		generating unit, or the privilege or occupation of
5		such generation, ownership, or leasehold of
6		generation units by a zero emission facility.
7		However, the provisions of this item (ii) do not
8		apply to any generally applicable tax, special
9		assessment or fee, or requirements imposed by
10		federal law.
11		(iii) A zero emission facility shall be
12		permitted to terminate the contract in the event
13		that the resource requires capital expenditures in
14		excess of $40,000,000 that were neither known nor
15		reasonably foreseeable at the time it executed the
16		contract and that a prudent owner or operator of
17		such resource would not undertake.
18		(iv) A zero emission facility shall be
19		permitted to terminate the contract in the event
20		the Nuclear Regulatory Commission terminates the
21		resource's license.
22		(F) If the zero emission facility elects to
23		terminate a contract under subparagraph (E) of this
24		paragraph (1), then the Commission shall reopen the
25		docket in which the Commission approved the zero
26		emission standard procurement plan under subparagraph

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1		(C) of this paragraph (1) and, after notice and
2		hearing, enter an order acknowledging the contract
3		termination election if such termination is consistent
4		with the provisions of this subsection (d-5).
5		(2) For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the amount
6		paid per kilowatthour means the total amount paid for
7		electric service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis.
8		For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the total amount
9		paid for electric service includes, without limitation,
10		amounts paid for supply, transmission, distribution,
11		surcharges, and add-on taxes.
12		Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection
13		(d-5), the contracts executed under this subsection (d-5)
14		shall provide that the total of zero emission credits
15		procured under a procurement plan shall be subject to the
16		limitations of this paragraph (2). For each delivery year,
17		the contractual volume receiving payments in such year
18		shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the
19		amount necessary to limit the net increase that delivery
20		year to the costs of those credits included in the amounts
21		paid by eligible retail customers in connection with
22		electric service to no more than 1.65% of the amount paid
23		per kilowatthour by eligible retail customers during the
24		year ending May 31, 2009. The result of this computation
25		shall apply to and reduce the procurement for all retail
26		customers, and all those customers shall pay the same

HB3445 Enrolled - 163 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		single, uniform cents per kilowatthour charge under
2		subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities
3		Act. To arrive at a maximum dollar amount of zero emission
4		credits to be paid for the particular delivery year, the
5		resulting per kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the
6		actual amount of kilowatthours of electricity delivered by
7		the electric utility in the delivery year immediately
8		prior to the procurement, to all retail customers in its
9		service territory. Unpaid contractual volume for any
10		delivery year shall be paid in any subsequent delivery
11		year in which such payments can be made without exceeding
12		the amount specified in this paragraph (2). The
13		calculations required by this paragraph (2) shall be made
14		only once for each procurement plan year. Once the
15		determination as to the amount of zero emission credits to
16		be paid is made based on the calculations set forth in this
17		paragraph (2), no subsequent rate impact determinations
18		shall be made and no adjustments to those contract amounts
19		shall be allowed. All costs incurred under those contracts
20		and in implementing this subsection (d-5) shall be
21		recovered by the electric utility as provided in this
22		Section.
23		No later than June 30, 2019, the Commission shall
24		review the limitation on the amount of zero emission
25		credits procured under this subsection (d-5) and report to
26		the General Assembly its findings as to whether that

HB3445 Enrolled - 164 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		limitation unduly constrains the procurement of
2		cost-effective zero emission credits.
3		(3) Six years after the execution of a contract under
4		this subsection (d-5), the Agency shall determine whether
5		the actual zero emission credit payments received by the
6		supplier over the 6-year period exceed the Average ZEC
7		Payment. In addition, at the end of the term of a contract
8		executed under this subsection (d-5), or at the time, if
9		any, a zero emission facility's contract is terminated
10		under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection
11		(d-5), then the Agency shall determine whether the actual
12		zero emission credit payments received by the supplier
13		over the term of the contract exceed the Average ZEC
14		Payment, after taking into account any amounts previously
15		credited back to the utility under this paragraph (3). If
16		the Agency determines that the actual zero emission credit
17		payments received by the supplier over the relevant period
18		exceed the Average ZEC Payment, then the supplier shall
19		credit the difference back to the utility. The amount of
20		the credit shall be remitted to the applicable electric
21		utility no later than 120 days after the Agency's
22		determination, which the utility shall reflect as a credit
23		on its retail customer bills as soon as practicable;
24		however, the credit remitted to the utility shall not
25		exceed the total amount of payments received by the
26		facility under its contract.

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1		For purposes of this Section, the Average ZEC Payment
2		shall be calculated by multiplying the quantity of zero
3		emission credits delivered under the contract times the
4		average contract price. The average contract price shall
5		be determined by subtracting the amount calculated under
6		subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3) from the amount
7		calculated under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (3),
8		as follows:
9		(A) The average of the Social Cost of Carbon, as
10		defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this
11		subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract.
12		(B) The average of the market price indices, as
13		defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this
14		subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract,
15		minus the baseline market price index, as defined in
16		subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection
17		(d-5).
18		If the subtraction yields a negative number, then the
19		Average ZEC Payment shall be zero.
20		(4) Cost-effective zero emission credits procured from
21		zero emission facilities shall satisfy the applicable
22		definitions set forth in Section 1-10 of this Act.
23		(5) The electric utility shall retire all zero
24		emission credits used to comply with the requirements of
25		this subsection (d-5).
26		(6) Electric utilities shall be entitled to recover

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1		all of the costs associated with the procurement of zero
2		emission credits through an automatic adjustment clause
3		tariff in accordance with subsection (k) and (m) of
4		Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, and the
5		contracts executed under this subsection (d-5) shall
6		provide that the utilities' payment obligations under such
7		contracts shall be reduced if an adjustment is required
8		under subsection (m) of Section 16-108 of the Public
9		Utilities Act.
10		(7) This subsection (d-5) shall become inoperative on
11		January 1, 2028.
12		(d-10) Nuclear Plant Assistance; carbon mitigation
13		credits.
14		(1) The General Assembly finds:
15		(A) The health, welfare, and prosperity of all
16		Illinois citizens require that the State of Illinois act
17		to avoid and not increase carbon emissions from electric
18		generation sources while continuing to ensure affordable,
19		stable, and reliable electricity to all citizens.
20		(B) Absent immediate action by the State to preserve
21		existing carbon-free energy resources, those resources may
22		retire, and the electric generation needs of Illinois'
23		retail customers may be met instead by facilities that
24		emit significant amounts of carbon pollution and other
25		harmful air pollutants at a high social and economic cost
26		until Illinois is able to develop other forms of clean

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1		energy.
2		(C) The General Assembly finds that nuclear power
3		generation is necessary for the State's transition to 100%
4		clean energy, and ensuring continued operation of nuclear
5		plants advances environmental and public health interests
6		through providing carbon-free electricity while reducing
7		the air pollution profile of the Illinois energy
8		generation fleet.
9		(D) The clean energy attributes of nuclear generation
10		facilities support the State in its efforts to achieve
11		100% clean energy.
12		(E) The State currently invests in various forms of
13		clean energy, including, but not limited to, renewable
14		energy, energy efficiency, and low-emission vehicles,
15		among others.
16		(F) The Environmental Protection Agency commissioned
17		an independent audit which provided a detailed assessment
18		of the financial condition of the Illinois nuclear fleet
19		to evaluate its financial viability and whether the
20		environmental benefits of such resources were at risk. The
21		report identified the risk of losing the environmental
22		benefits of several specific nuclear units. The report
23		also identified that the LaSalle County Generating Station
24		will continue to operate through 2026 and therefore is not
25		eligible to participate in the carbon mitigation credit
26		program.

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1		(G) Nuclear plants provide carbon-free energy, which
2		helps to avoid many health-related negative impacts for
3		Illinois residents.
4		(H) The procurement of carbon mitigation credits
5		representing the environmental benefits of carbon-free
6		generation will further the State's efforts at achieving
7		100% clean energy and decarbonizing the electricity sector
8		in a safe, reliable, and affordable manner. Further, the
9		procurement of carbon emission credits will enhance the
10		health and welfare of Illinois residents through decreased
11		reliance on more highly polluting generation.
12		(I) The General Assembly therefore finds it necessary
13		to establish carbon mitigation credits to ensure decreased
14		reliance on more carbon-intensive energy resources, for
15		transitioning to a fully decarbonized electricity sector,
16		and to help ensure health and welfare of the State's
17		residents.
18		(2) As used in this subsection:
19		"Baseline costs" means costs used to establish a customer
20		protection cap that have been evaluated through an independent
21		audit of a carbon-free energy resource conducted by the
22		Environmental Protection Agency that evaluated projected
23		annual costs for operation and maintenance expenses; fully
24		allocated overhead costs, which shall be allocated using the
25		methodology developed by the Institute for Nuclear Power
26		Operations; fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures;

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1		spent fuel expenditures; a return on working capital; the cost
2		of operational and market risks that could be avoided by
3		ceasing operation; and any other costs necessary for continued
4		operations, provided that "necessary" means, for purposes of
5		this definition, that the costs could reasonably be avoided
6		only by ceasing operations of the carbon-free energy resource.
7		"Carbon mitigation credit" means a tradable credit that
8		represents the carbon emission reduction attributes of one
9		megawatt-hour of energy produced from a carbon-free energy
10		resource.
11		"Carbon-free energy resource" means a generation facility
12		that: (1) is fueled by nuclear power; and (2) is
13		interconnected to PJM Interconnection, LLC.
14		(3) Procurement.
15		(A) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on
16		June 1, 2022, the Agency shall, for electric utilities
17		serving at least 3,000,000 retail customers in the State,
18		seek to procure contracts for no more than approximately
19		54,500,000 cost-effective carbon mitigation credits from
20		carbon-free energy resources because such credits are
21		necessary to support current levels of carbon-free energy
22		generation and ensure the State meets its carbon dioxide
23		emissions reduction goals. The Agency shall not make a
24		partial award of a contract for carbon mitigation credits
25		covering a fractional amount of a carbon-free energy
26		resource's projected output.

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1		(B) Each carbon-free energy resource that intends to
2		participate in a procurement shall be required to submit
3		to the Agency the following information for the resource
4		on or before the date established by the Agency:
5		(i) the in-service date and remaining useful life
6		of the carbon-free energy resource;
7		(ii) the amount of power generated annually for
8		each of the past 10 years, which shall be used to
9		determine the capability of each facility;
10		(iii) a commitment to be reflected in any contract
11		entered into pursuant to this subsection (d-10) to
12		continue operating the carbon-free energy resource at
13		a capacity factor of at least 88% annually on average
14		for the duration of the contract or contracts executed
15		under the procurement held under this subsection
16		(d-10), except in an instance described in
17		subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subsection (d-5)
18		of this Section or made impracticable as a result of
19		compliance with law or regulation;
20		(iv) financial need and the risk of loss of the
21		environmental benefits of such resource, which shall
22		include the following information:
23		(I) the carbon-free energy resource's cost
24		projections, expressed on a per megawatt-hour
25		basis, over the next 5 delivery years, which shall
26		include the following: operation and maintenance

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1		expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which
2		shall be allocated using the methodology developed
3		by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations;
4		fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures;
5		spent fuel expenditures; a return on working
6		capital; the cost of operational and market risks
7		that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and
8		any other costs necessary for continued
9		operations, provided that "necessary" means, for
10		purposes of this subitem (I), that the costs could
11		reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations
12		of the carbon-free energy resource; and
13		(II) the carbon-free energy resource's revenue
14		projections, including energy, capacity, ancillary
15		services, any other direct State support, known or
16		anticipated federal attribute credits, known or
17		anticipated tax credits, and any other direct
18		federal support.
19		The information described in this subparagraph (B) may
20		be submitted on a confidential basis and shall be treated
21		and maintained by the Agency, the procurement
22		administrator, and the Commission as confidential and
23		proprietary and exempt from disclosure under subparagraphs
24		(a) and (g) of paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of
25		Information Act. The Office of the Attorney General shall
26		have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of, such

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1		information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney
2		General Act.
3		(C) The Agency shall solicit bids for the contracts
4		described in this subsection (d-10) from carbon-free
5		energy resources that have satisfied the requirements of
6		subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3). The contracts
7		procured pursuant to a procurement event shall reflect,
8		and be subject to, the following terms, requirements, and
9		limitations:
10		(i) Contracts are for delivery of carbon
11		mitigation credits, and are not energy or capacity
12		sales contracts requiring physical delivery. Pursuant
13		to item (iii), contract payments shall fully deduct
14		the value of any monetized federal production tax
15		credits, credits issued pursuant to a federal clean
16		energy standard, and other federal credits if
17		applicable.
18		(ii) Contracts for carbon mitigation credits shall
19		commence with the delivery year beginning on June 1,
20		2022 and shall be for a term of 5 delivery years
21		concluding on May 31, 2027.
22		(iii) The price per carbon mitigation credit to be
23		paid under a contract for a given delivery year shall
24		be equal to an accepted bid price less the sum of:
25		(I) one of the following energy price indices,
26		selected by the bidder at the time of the bid for

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1		the term of the contract:
2		(aa) the weighted-average hourly day-ahead
3		price for the applicable delivery year at the
4		busbar of all resources procured pursuant to
5		this subsection (d-10), weighted by actual
6		production from the resources; or
7		(bb) the projected energy price for the
8		PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois Hub
9		for the applicable delivery year determined
10		according to subitem (aa) of item (iii) of
11		subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of
12		subsection (d-5).
13		(II) the Base Residual Auction Capacity Price
14		for the ComEd zone as determined by PJM
15		Interconnection, LLC, divided by 24 hours per day,
16		for the applicable delivery year for the first 3
17		delivery years, and then any subsequent delivery
18		years unless the PJM Interconnection, LLC applies
19		the Minimum Offer Price Rule to participating
20		carbon-free energy resources because they supply
21		carbon mitigation credits pursuant to this Section
22		at which time, upon notice by the carbon-free
23		energy resource to the Commission and subject to
24		the Commission's confirmation, the value under
25		this subitem shall be zero, as further described
26		in the carbon mitigation credit procurement plan;

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1		and
2		(III) any value of monetized federal tax
3		credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy
4		provided to the carbon-free energy resource from
5		any unit of government that is not already
6		reflected in energy prices.
7		If the price-per-megawatt-hour calculation
8		performed under item (iii) of this subparagraph (C)
9		for a given delivery year results in a net positive
10		value, then the electric utility counterparty to the
11		contract shall multiply such net value by the
12		applicable contract quantity and remit the amount to
13		the supplier.
14		To protect retail customers from retail rate
15		impacts that may arise upon the initiation of carbon
16		policy changes, if the price-per-megawatt-hour
17		calculation performed under item (iii) of this
18		subparagraph (C) for a given delivery year results in
19		a net negative value, then the supplier counterparty
20		to the contract shall multiply such net value by the
21		applicable contract quantity and remit such amount to
22		the electric utility counterparty. The electric
23		utility shall reflect such amounts remitted by
24		suppliers as a credit on its retail customer bills as
25		soon as practicable.
26		(iv) To ensure that retail customers in Northern

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1		Illinois do not pay more for carbon mitigation credits
2		than the value such credits provide, and
3		notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection
4		(d-10), the Agency shall not accept bids for contracts
5		that exceed a customer protection cap equal to the
6		baseline costs of carbon-free energy resources.
7		The baseline costs for the applicable year shall
8		be the following:
9		(I) For the delivery year beginning June 1,
10		2022, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal
11		to $30.30 per megawatt-hour.
12		(II) For the delivery year beginning June 1,
13		2023, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal
14		to $32.50 per megawatt-hour.
15		(III) For the delivery year beginning June 1,
16		2024, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal
17		to $33.43 per megawatt-hour.
18		(IV) For the delivery year beginning June 1,
19		2025, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal
20		to $33.50 per megawatt-hour.
21		(V) For the delivery year beginning June 1,
22		2026, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal
23		to $34.50 per megawatt-hour.
24		An Environmental Protection Agency consultant
25		forecast, included in a report issued April 14, 2021,
26		projects that a carbon-free energy resource has the

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1		opportunity to earn on average approximately $30.28
2		per megawatt-hour, for the sale of energy and capacity
3		during the time period between 2022 and 2027.
4		Therefore, the sale of carbon mitigation credits
5		provides the opportunity to receive an additional
6		amount per megawatt-hour in addition to the projected
7		prices for energy and capacity.
8		Although actual energy and capacity prices may
9		vary from year-to-year, the General Assembly finds
10		that this customer protection cap will help ensure
11		that the cost of carbon mitigation credits will be
12		less than its value, based upon the social cost of
13		carbon identified in the Technical Support Document
14		issued in February 2021 by the U.S. Interagency
15		Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases and
16		the PJM Interconnection, LLC carbon dioxide marginal
17		emission rate for 2020, and that a carbon-free energy
18		resource receiving payment for carbon mitigation
19		credits receives no more than necessary to keep those
20		units in operation.
21		(D) No later than 7 days after the effective date of
22		this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the
23		Agency shall publish its proposed carbon mitigation credit
24		procurement plan. The Plan shall provide that winning bids
25		shall be selected by taking into consideration which
26		resources best match public interest criteria that

HB3445 Enrolled - 177 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		include, but are not limited to, minimizing carbon dioxide
2		emissions that result from electricity consumed in
3		Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide,
4		and particulate matter emissions that adversely affect the
5		citizens of this State. The selection of winning bids
6		shall also take into account the incremental environmental
7		benefits resulting from the procurement or procurements,
8		such as any existing environmental benefits that are
9		preserved by a procurement held under this subsection
10		(d-10) and would cease to exist if the procurement were
11		not held, including the preservation of carbon-free energy
12		resources. For those bidders having the same public
13		interest criteria score, the relative ranking of such
14		bidders shall be determined by price. The Plan shall
15		describe in detail how each public interest factor shall
16		be considered and weighted in the bid selection process to
17		ensure that the public interest criteria are applied to
18		the procurement. The Plan shall, to the extent practical
19		and permissible by federal law, ensure that successful
20		bidders make commercially reasonable efforts to apply for
21		federal tax credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy
22		programs that support carbon-free generation and for which
23		the successful bidder is eligible. Upon publishing of the
24		carbon mitigation credit procurement plan, copies of the
25		plan shall be posted and made publicly available on the
26		Agency's website. All interested parties shall have 7 days

HB3445 Enrolled - 178 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		following the date of posting to provide comment to the
2		Agency on the plan. All comments shall be posted to the
3		Agency's website. Following the end of the comment period,
4		but no more than 19 days later than the effective date of
5		this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the
6		Agency shall revise the plan as necessary based on the
7		comments received and file its carbon mitigation credit
8		procurement plan with the Commission.
9		(E) If the Commission determines that the plan is
10		likely to result in the procurement of cost-effective
11		carbon mitigation credits, then the Commission shall,
12		after notice and hearing and opportunity for comment, but
13		no later than 42 days after the Agency filed the plan,
14		approve the plan or approve it with modification. For
15		purposes of this subsection (d-10), "cost-effective" means
16		carbon mitigation credits that are procured from
17		carbon-free energy resources at prices that are within the
18		limits specified in this paragraph (3). As part of the
19		Commission's review and acceptance or rejection of the
20		procurement results, the Commission shall, in its public
21		notice of successful bidders:
22		(i) identify how the selected carbon-free energy
23		resources satisfy the public interest criteria
24		described in this paragraph (3) of minimizing carbon
25		dioxide emissions that result from electricity
26		consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide,

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1		nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions that
2		adversely affect the citizens of this State;
3		(ii) specifically address how the selection of
4		carbon-free energy resources takes into account the
5		incremental environmental benefits resulting from the
6		procurement, including any existing environmental
7		benefits that are preserved by the procurements held
8		under this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
9		Assembly and would have ceased to exist if the
10		procurements had not been held, such as the
11		preservation of carbon-free energy resources;
12		(iii) quantify the environmental benefit of
13		preserving the carbon-free energy resources procured
14		pursuant to this subsection (d-10), including the
15		following:
16		(I) an assessment value of avoided greenhouse
17		gas emissions measured as the product of the
18		carbon-free energy resources' output over the
19		contract term, using generally accepted
20		methodologies for the valuation of avoided
21		emissions; and
22		(II) an assessment of costs of replacement
23		with other carbon-free energy resources and
24		renewable energy resources, including wind and
25		photovoltaic generation, based upon an assessment
26		of the prices paid for renewable energy credits

HB3445 Enrolled - 180 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		through programs and procurements conducted
2		pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this
3		Act, and the additional storage necessary to
4		produce the same or similar capability of matching
5		customer usage patterns.
6		(F) The procurements described in this paragraph (3),
7		including, but not limited to, the execution of all
8		contracts procured, shall be completed no later than
9		December 3, 2021. The procurement and plan approval
10		processes required by this paragraph (3) shall be
11		conducted in conjunction with the procurement and plan
12		approval processes required by Section 16-111.5 of the
13		Public Utilities Act, to the extent practicable. However,
14		the Agency and Commission may, as appropriate, modify the
15		various dates and timelines under this subparagraph and
16		subparagraphs (D) and (E) of this paragraph (3) to meet
17		the December 3, 2021 contract execution deadline.
18		Following the completion of such procurements, and
19		consistent with this paragraph (3), the Agency shall
20		calculate the payments to be made under each contract in a
21		timely fashion.
22		(F-1) Costs incurred by the electric utility pursuant
23		to a contract authorized by this subsection (d-10) shall
24		be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in amount, and
25		the electric utility shall be entitled to full cost
26		recovery pursuant to a tariff or tariffs filed with the

HB3445 Enrolled - 181 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		Commission.
2		(G) The counterparty electric utility shall retire all
3		carbon mitigation credits used to comply with the
4		requirements of this subsection (d-10).
5		(H) If a carbon-free energy resource is sold to
6		another owner, the rights, obligations, and commitments
7		under this subsection (d-10) shall continue to the
8		subsequent owner.
9		(I) This subsection (d-10) shall become inoperative on
10		January 1, 2028.
11		(e) The draft procurement plans are subject to public
12		comment, as required by Section 16-111.5 of the Public
13		Utilities Act.
14		(f) The Agency shall submit the final procurement plan to
15		the Commission. The Agency shall revise a procurement plan if
16		the Commission determines that it does not meet the standards
17		set forth in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act.
18		(g) The Agency shall assess fees to each affected utility
19		to recover the costs incurred in preparation of the annual
20		procurement plan for the utility.
21		(h) The Agency shall assess fees to each bidder to recover
22		the costs incurred in connection with a competitive
23		procurement process.
24		(i) A renewable energy credit, carbon emission credit,
25		zero emission credit, or carbon mitigation credit can only be
26		used once to comply with a single portfolio or other standard

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1		as set forth in subsection (c), subsection (d), or subsection
2		(d-5) of this Section, respectively. A renewable energy
3		credit, carbon emission credit, zero emission credit, or
4		carbon mitigation credit cannot be used to satisfy the
5		requirements of more than one standard. If more than one type
6		of credit is issued for the same megawatt hour of energy, only
7		one credit can be used to satisfy the requirements of a single
8		standard. After such use, the credit must be retired together
9		with any other credits issued for the same megawatt hour of
10		energy.
11		(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-113, eff. 1-1-20;
12		102-662, eff. 9-15-21.)
13		(20 ILCS 3855/1-129 new)
14		Sec. 1-129. Policy study.
15		(a) The General Assembly finds that:
16		(1) in 2021, Illinois became the first state in the
17		Midwest to mandate a clean energy future when it enacted
18		the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (Public Act 102-662);
19		(2) through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act,
20		Illinois established a plan to completely decarbonize its
21		energy sector by 2050 in an equitable manner that invests
22		in the State's workforce;
23		(3) technology in the energy sector continues to
24		advance creating cleaner and more efficient options to
25		help the State attain the target of 50% renewable energy

HB3445 Enrolled - 183 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		by 2040; and
2		(4) while numerous legislative proposals purport to
3		help the State on its path to equitably attain 100% clean
4		energy, it is important to have a neutral party with
5		relevant expertise evaluate each proposal to ensure it is
6		consistent with the State's goals and maximizes benefits
7		to Illinois residents.
8		(b) The General Assembly intends:
9		(1) to prioritize the public interest over the profit
10		motives of utilities and private developers; and
11		(2) to invest in projects that reduce harmful
12		emissions and contribute to the clean economy.
13		(c) The Agency shall commission and publish a policy study
14		to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposals described
15		in subsection (g). The potential impacts may include, but are
16		not limited to, support for Illinois' decarbonization goals,
17		the environment, grid reliability, carbon and other pollutant
18		emissions, resource adequacy, long-term and short-term
19		electric rates, environmental justice communities, jobs, and
20		the economy. Where applicable, the study shall address the
21		impact of a proposal with respect to reports by the
22		Midcontinent Independent System Operator, PJM, and North
23		American Electric Reliability Corporation staff that Illinois
24		has begun to experience resource adequacy issues.
25		(d) The Agency shall retain the services of technical and
26		policy experts with energy market and other relevant fields of

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1		expertise. The technical and policy experts may include the
2		existing planning and procurement consultant and applicable
3		subcontractors and the procurement administrator and
4		applicable subcontractors. The Illinois Commerce Commission,
5		the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the
6		Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide
7		support to and consult with the Agency. The Agency may consult
8		with other State agencies, commissions, or task forces as
9		needed. The Agency may consult with and seek assistance from
10		the Regional Transmission Organizations PJM and MISO.
11		(e) The Agency may solicit information, including
12		confidential or proprietary information, from entities likely
13		to be impacted by the proposals described in subsection (g)
14		for purposes of this study. Any information designated as
15		confidential or proprietary information by the entity
16		providing the information shall be kept confidential by the
17		Agency, its consultants, and its contractors and is not
18		subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
19		(f) The Agency shall publish a final policy study no later
20		than March 1, 2024 and suitable copies shall be delivered to
21		the Governor and members of the General Assembly. Prior to
22		publishing the final policy study, the Agency shall publish a
23		preliminary draft of the policy study and provide for a 20-day
24		open public comment period. The Agency shall review public
25		comments and publish a final policy study no later than 20 days
26		after the public comment period ends. The policy study shall

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1		include policy recommendations to the General Assembly.
2		(g) The policy study shall evaluate the following
3		proposals and may consider or suggest additional or
4		alternative items:
5		(1) House Bill 2132 of the 103rd General Assembly as
6		it passed out of the House on March 24, 2023 or a similar
7		pilot program to establish one new utility-scale offshore
8		wind project capable of producing at least 700,000
9		megawatt hours annually for at least 20 years in Lake
10		Michigan that includes an equity and inclusion plan to
11		create job opportunities for underrepresented populations
12		in addition to equity investment eligible communities and
13		a fully executed project labor agreement. The pilot
14		program may result in an increase in the amounts paid by
15		eligible retail customers in connection with electric
16		service that shall not exceed 0.25% of the amount paid per
17		kilowatt hour by those customers during the year ending
18		May 31, 2009.
19		(2) Senate Bill 1587 and amendments to Senate Bill
20		1587 of the 103rd General Assembly filed prior to May 31,
21		2023 or a similar proposal for the deployment of energy
22		storage systems supported by the State through the
23		development of energy storage credit targets for the
24		Agency to procure on behalf of Illinois electric utilities
25		from privately owned, large scale energy storage providers
26		using energy storage contracts of at least 15 year

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1		durations based on a competitive energy storage
2		procurement plan developed by the Agency designed to
3		enhance overall grid reliability, flexibility and
4		efficiency, and to lower electricity prices. The plan must
5		require participants to comply with the equity
6		accountability system requirements in subsection (c-10) of
7		Section 1-75 and to submit proof of project labor
8		agreements. For purposes of this policy study, it should
9		be assumed that the costs associated with procuring energy
10		storage credits shall be recovered through tariffed
11		charges assessed across all retail customers in a uniform
12		cents per kilowatt hour charge. In addition to large scale
13		energy storage, the proposal shall also include the
14		creation of distributed level energy storage programs
15		through utility tariffs as approved by the Illinois
16		Commerce Commission. The programs shall include a
17		residential and a commercial storage program that would
18		allow customer-sited batteries to provide grid benefits
19		and cost-savings to ratepayers. The proposal shall also
20		include a community solar energy storage program intended
21		to serve as a peak reduction program by utilizing
22		community solar paired storage projects deployed daily in
23		summer months during peak hours. The installation of the
24		energy storage systems associated with these distributed
25		renewable systems must comply with the prevailing wage
26		requirements described in subparagraph (Q) of paragraph

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1		(1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75. The policy study
2		shall include a review of the ability of coal-fueled
3		generating plant sites located in Illinois that have been
4		closed since 2016 or are scheduled to be closed by 2030 to
5		support the installation of energy storage systems and
6		potential associated interconnection costs. This review
7		shall include: (i) whether those sites are already in a
8		regional transmission organization interconnection queue,
9		including MISO's replacement power interconnection queue,
10		or would be submitted to the replacement power
11		interconnection queue no later than September 1, 2023,
12		and, if a site is in a queue, the site's position in the
13		queue; and (ii) how soon those sites could support
14		development and installation of energy storage systems and
15		any barriers to that development. This review shall also
16		include consultation with electric generation facility
17		owners or operators and renewable developers that own or
18		are in the process of developing energy storage systems in
19		Illinois or that have experience developing energy storage
20		systems in other States.
21		(3) A policy establishing high voltage direct current
22		renewable energy credits that requires the Agency to
23		procure contracts with at least 25 years but no more than
24		40 years duration for the delivery of renewable energy
25		credits on behalf of electric utilities in Illinois with
26		at least 300,000 customers from a high voltage direct

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1		current transmission facility with more than 100 miles of
2		underground transmission lines in this State capable of
3		transmitting electricity at or above 525 kilovolts and
4		delivering power in the PJM market. High voltage direct
5		current renewable energy credits procured by the Agency
6		pursuant to this policy would not count toward the
7		renewable energy credit purchase targets in subsection (c)
8		of Section 1-75. The study shall also evaluate: (i) this
9		policy's potential for wholesale electricity price impacts
10		in both PJM and MISO, the net rate impact to Illinois
11		ratepayers, and the impact on grid reliability and
12		resilience; (ii) whether a 25-year to 40-year guaranteed
13		contract is necessary to build a high voltage direct
14		current transmission facility; (iii) whether specific high
15		voltage direct current transmission facility projects are
16		committed to Illinois' fair labor and equity standards;
17		and (iv) whether the policy creates incentives for
18		renewable development outside of Illinois rather than
19		within the State.
20		Section 15. The Illinois Procurement Code is amended by
21		changing Section 1-10 as follows:
22		(30 ILCS 500/1-10)
23		Sec. 1-10. Application.
24		(a) This Code applies only to procurements for which

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1		bidders, offerors, potential contractors, or contractors were
2		first solicited on or after July 1, 1998. This Code shall not
3		be construed to affect or impair any contract, or any
4		provision of a contract, entered into based on a solicitation
5		prior to the implementation date of this Code as described in
6		Article 99, including, but not limited to, any covenant
7		entered into with respect to any revenue bonds or similar
8		instruments. All procurements for which contracts are
9		solicited between the effective date of Articles 50 and 99 and
10		July 1, 1998 shall be substantially in accordance with this
11		Code and its intent.
12		(b) This Code shall apply regardless of the source of the
13		funds with which the contracts are paid, including federal
14		assistance moneys. This Code shall not apply to:
15		(1) Contracts between the State and its political
16		subdivisions or other governments, or between State
17		governmental bodies, except as specifically provided in
18		this Code.
19		(2) Grants, except for the filing requirements of
20		Section 20-80.
21		(3) Purchase of care, except as provided in Section
22		5-30.6 of the Illinois Public Aid Code and this Section.
23		(4) Hiring of an individual as an employee and not as
24		an independent contractor, whether pursuant to an
25		employment code or policy or by contract directly with
26		that individual.

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1		(5) Collective bargaining contracts.
2		(6) Purchase of real estate, except that notice of
3		this type of contract with a value of more than $25,000
4		must be published in the Procurement Bulletin within 10
5		calendar days after the deed is recorded in the county of
6		jurisdiction. The notice shall identify the real estate
7		purchased, the names of all parties to the contract, the
8		value of the contract, and the effective date of the
9		contract.
10		(7) Contracts necessary to prepare for anticipated
11		litigation, enforcement actions, or investigations,
12		provided that the chief legal counsel to the Governor
13		shall give his or her prior approval when the procuring
14		agency is one subject to the jurisdiction of the Governor,
15		and provided that the chief legal counsel of any other
16		procuring entity subject to this Code shall give his or
17		her prior approval when the procuring entity is not one
18		subject to the jurisdiction of the Governor.
19		(8) (Blank).
20		(9) Procurement expenditures by the Illinois
21		Conservation Foundation when only private funds are used.
22		(10) (Blank).
23		(11) Public-private agreements entered into according
24		to the procurement requirements of Section 20 of the
25		Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act and
26		design-build agreements entered into according to the

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1		procurement requirements of Section 25 of the
2		Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Act.
3		(12) (A) Contracts for legal, financial, and other
4		professional and artistic services entered into by the
5		Illinois Finance Authority in which the State of Illinois
6		is not obligated. Such contracts shall be awarded through
7		a competitive process authorized by the members of the
8		Illinois Finance Authority and are subject to Sections
9		5-30, 20-160, 50-13, 50-20, 50-35, and 50-37 of this Code,
10		as well as the final approval by the members of the
11		Illinois Finance Authority of the terms of the contract.
12		(B) Contracts for legal and financial services entered
13		into by the Illinois Housing Development Authority in
14		connection with the issuance of bonds in which the State
15		of Illinois is not obligated. Such contracts shall be
16		awarded through a competitive process authorized by the
17		members of the Illinois Housing Development Authority and
18		are subject to Sections 5-30, 20-160, 50-13, 50-20, 50-35,
19		and 50-37 of this Code, as well as the final approval by
20		the members of the Illinois Housing Development Authority
21		of the terms of the contract.
22		(13) Contracts for services, commodities, and
23		equipment to support the delivery of timely forensic
24		science services in consultation with and subject to the
25		approval of the Chief Procurement Officer as provided in
26		subsection (d) of Section 5-4-3a of the Unified Code of

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1		Corrections, except for the requirements of Sections
2		20-60, 20-65, 20-70, and 20-160 and Article 50 of this
3		Code; however, the Chief Procurement Officer may, in
4		writing with justification, waive any certification
5		required under Article 50 of this Code. For any contracts
6		for services which are currently provided by members of a
7		collective bargaining agreement, the applicable terms of
8		the collective bargaining agreement concerning
9		subcontracting shall be followed.
10		On and after January 1, 2019, this paragraph (13),
11		except for this sentence, is inoperative.
12		(14) Contracts for participation expenditures required
13		by a domestic or international trade show or exhibition of
14		an exhibitor, member, or sponsor.
15		(15) Contracts with a railroad or utility that
16		requires the State to reimburse the railroad or utilities
17		for the relocation of utilities for construction or other
18		public purpose. Contracts included within this paragraph
19		(15) shall include, but not be limited to, those
20		associated with: relocations, crossings, installations,
21		and maintenance. For the purposes of this paragraph (15),
22		"railroad" means any form of non-highway ground
23		transportation that runs on rails or electromagnetic
24		guideways and "utility" means: (1) public utilities as
25		defined in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act, (2)
26		telecommunications carriers as defined in Section 13-202

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1		of the Public Utilities Act, (3) electric cooperatives as
2		defined in Section 3.4 of the Electric Supplier Act, (4)
3		telephone or telecommunications cooperatives as defined in
4		Section 13-212 of the Public Utilities Act, (5) rural
5		water or waste water systems with 10,000 connections or
6		less, (6) a holder as defined in Section 21-201 of the
7		Public Utilities Act, and (7) municipalities owning or
8		operating utility systems consisting of public utilities
9		as that term is defined in Section 11-117-2 of the
10		Illinois Municipal Code.
11		(16) Procurement expenditures necessary for the
12		Department of Public Health to provide the delivery of
13		timely newborn screening services in accordance with the
14		Newborn Metabolic Screening Act.
15		(17) Procurement expenditures necessary for the
16		Department of Agriculture, the Department of Financial and
17		Professional Regulation, the Department of Human Services,
18		and the Department of Public Health to implement the
19		Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program and Opioid
20		Alternative Pilot Program requirements and ensure access
21		to medical cannabis for patients with debilitating medical
22		conditions in accordance with the Compassionate Use of
23		Medical Cannabis Program Act.
24		(18) This Code does not apply to any procurements
25		necessary for the Department of Agriculture, the
26		Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the

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1		Department of Human Services, the Department of Commerce
2		and Economic Opportunity, and the Department of Public
3		Health to implement the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act if
4		the applicable agency has made a good faith determination
5		that it is necessary and appropriate for the expenditure
6		to fall within this exemption and if the process is
7		conducted in a manner substantially in accordance with the
8		requirements of Sections 20-160, 25-60, 30-22, 50-5,
9		50-10, 50-10.5, 50-12, 50-13, 50-15, 50-20, 50-21, 50-35,
10		50-36, 50-37, 50-38, and 50-50 of this Code; however, for
11		Section 50-35, compliance applies only to contracts or
12		subcontracts over $100,000. Notice of each contract
13		entered into under this paragraph (18) that is related to
14		the procurement of goods and services identified in
15		paragraph (1) through (9) of this subsection shall be
16		published in the Procurement Bulletin within 14 calendar
17		days after contract execution. The Chief Procurement
18		Officer shall prescribe the form and content of the
19		notice. Each agency shall provide the Chief Procurement
20		Officer, on a monthly basis, in the form and content
21		prescribed by the Chief Procurement Officer, a report of
22		contracts that are related to the procurement of goods and
23		services identified in this subsection. At a minimum, this
24		report shall include the name of the contractor, a
25		description of the supply or service provided, the total
26		amount of the contract, the term of the contract, and the

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1		exception to this Code utilized. A copy of any or all of
2		these contracts shall be made available to the Chief
3		Procurement Officer immediately upon request. The Chief
4		Procurement Officer shall submit a report to the Governor
5		and General Assembly no later than November 1 of each year
6		that includes, at a minimum, an annual summary of the
7		monthly information reported to the Chief Procurement
8		Officer. This exemption becomes inoperative 5 years after
9		June 25, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-27).
10		(19) Acquisition of modifications or adjustments,
11		limited to assistive technology devices and assistive
12		technology services, adaptive equipment, repairs, and
13		replacement parts to provide reasonable accommodations (i)
14		that enable a qualified applicant with a disability to
15		complete the job application process and be considered for
16		the position such qualified applicant desires, (ii) that
17		modify or adjust the work environment to enable a
18		qualified current employee with a disability to perform
19		the essential functions of the position held by that
20		employee, (iii) to enable a qualified current employee
21		with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges
22		of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated
23		employees without disabilities, and (iv) that allow a
24		customer, client, claimant, or member of the public
25		seeking State services full use and enjoyment of and
26		access to its programs, services, or benefits.

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1		For purposes of this paragraph (19):
2		"Assistive technology devices" means any item, piece
3		of equipment, or product system, whether acquired
4		commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that
5		is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional
6		capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
7		"Assistive technology services" means any service that
8		directly assists an individual with a disability in
9		selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology
10		device.
11		"Qualified" has the same meaning and use as provided
12		under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act when
13		describing an individual with a disability.
14		(20) Procurement expenditures necessary for the
15		Illinois Commerce Commission to hire third-party
16		facilitators pursuant to Sections 16-105.17 and 16-108.18
17		of the Public Utilities Act or an ombudsman pursuant to
18		Section 16-107.5 of the Public Utilities Act, a
19		facilitator pursuant to Section 16-105.17 of the Public
20		Utilities Act, or a grid auditor pursuant to Section
21		16-105.10 of the Public Utilities Act.
22		(21) Procurement expenditures for the purchase,
23		renewal, and expansion of software, software licenses, or
24		software maintenance agreements that support the efforts
25		of the Illinois State Police to enforce, regulate, and
26		administer the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act, the

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1		Firearm Concealed Carry Act, the Firearms Restraining
2		Order Act, the Firearm Dealer License Certification Act,
3		the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS), the
4		Uniform Crime Reporting Act, the Criminal Identification
5		Act, the Uniform Conviction Information Act, and the Gun
6		Trafficking Information Act, or establish or maintain
7		record management systems necessary to conduct human
8		trafficking investigations or gun trafficking or other
9		stolen firearm investigations. This paragraph (21) applies
10		to contracts entered into on or after the effective date
11		of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly and
12		the renewal of contracts that are in effect on the
13		effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
14		Assembly.
15		Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for contracts
16		with an annual value of more than $100,000 entered into on or
17		after October 1, 2017 under an exemption provided in any
18		paragraph of this subsection (b), except paragraph (1), (2),
19		or (5), each State agency shall post to the appropriate
20		procurement bulletin the name of the contractor, a description
21		of the supply or service provided, the total amount of the
22		contract, the term of the contract, and the exception to the
23		Code utilized. The chief procurement officer shall submit a
24		report to the Governor and General Assembly no later than
25		November 1 of each year that shall include, at a minimum, an
26		annual summary of the monthly information reported to the

HB3445 Enrolled - 198 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		chief procurement officer.
2		(c) This Code does not apply to the electric power
3		procurement process provided for under Section 1-75 of the
4		Illinois Power Agency Act and Section 16-111.5 of the Public
5		Utilities Act. This Code does not apply to the procurement of
6		technical and policy experts pursuant to Section 1-129 of the
7		Illinois Power Agency Act.
8		(d) Except for Section 20-160 and Article 50 of this Code,
9		and as expressly required by Section 9.1 of the Illinois
10		Lottery Law, the provisions of this Code do not apply to the
11		procurement process provided for under Section 9.1 of the
12		Illinois Lottery Law.
13		(e) This Code does not apply to the process used by the
14		Capital Development Board to retain a person or entity to
15		assist the Capital Development Board with its duties related
16		to the determination of costs of a clean coal SNG brownfield
17		facility, as defined by Section 1-10 of the Illinois Power
18		Agency Act, as required in subsection (h-3) of Section 9-220
19		of the Public Utilities Act, including calculating the range
20		of capital costs, the range of operating and maintenance
21		costs, or the sequestration costs or monitoring the
22		construction of clean coal SNG brownfield facility for the
23		full duration of construction.
24		(f) (Blank).
25		(g) (Blank).
26		(h) This Code does not apply to the process to procure or

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1		contracts entered into in accordance with Sections 11-5.2 and
2		11-5.3 of the Illinois Public Aid Code.
3		(i) Each chief procurement officer may access records
4		necessary to review whether a contract, purchase, or other
5		expenditure is or is not subject to the provisions of this
6		Code, unless such records would be subject to attorney-client
7		privilege.
8		(j) This Code does not apply to the process used by the
9		Capital Development Board to retain an artist or work or works
10		of art as required in Section 14 of the Capital Development
11		Board Act.
12		(k) This Code does not apply to the process to procure
13		contracts, or contracts entered into, by the State Board of
14		Elections or the State Electoral Board for hearing officers
15		appointed pursuant to the Election Code.
16		(l) This Code does not apply to the processes used by the
17		Illinois Student Assistance Commission to procure supplies and
18		services paid for from the private funds of the Illinois
19		Prepaid Tuition Fund. As used in this subsection (l), "private
20		funds" means funds derived from deposits paid into the
21		Illinois Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund and the earnings thereon.
22		(m) This Code shall apply regardless of the source of
23		funds with which contracts are paid, including federal
24		assistance moneys. Except as specifically provided in this
25		Code, this Code shall not apply to procurement expenditures
26		necessary for the Department of Public Health to conduct the

HB3445 Enrolled - 200 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		Healthy Illinois Survey in accordance with Section 2310-431 of
2		the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law of the
3		Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
4		(Source: P.A. 101-27, eff. 6-25-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19;
5		101-363, eff. 8-9-19; 102-175, eff. 7-29-21; 102-483, eff
6		1-1-22; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-600, eff. 8-27-21; 102-662,
7		eff. 9-15-21; 102-721, eff. 1-1-23; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
8		102-1116, eff. 1-10-23.)
9		Section 20. The Counties Code is amended by changing
10		Section 5-12020 as follows:
11		(55 ILCS 5/5-12020)
12		Sec. 5-12020. Commercial wind energy facilities and
13		commercial solar energy facilities.
14		(a) As used in this Section:
15		"Commercial solar energy facility" means a "commercial
16		solar energy system" as defined in Section 10-720 of the
17		Property Tax Code. "Commercial solar energy facility" does not
18		mean a utility-scale solar energy facility being constructed
19		at a site that was eligible to participate in a procurement
20		event conducted by the Illinois Power Agency pursuant to
21		subsection (c-5) of Section 1-75 of the Illinois Power Agency
22		Act.
23		"Commercial wind energy facility" means a wind energy
24		conversion facility of equal or greater than 500 kilowatts in

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1		total nameplate generating capacity. "Commercial wind energy
2		facility" includes a wind energy conversion facility seeking
3		an extension of a permit to construct granted by a county or
4		municipality before January 27, 2023 (the effective date of
5		Public Act 102-1123) this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
6		Assembly.
7		"Facility owner" means (i) a person with a direct
8		ownership interest in a commercial wind energy facility or a
9		commercial solar energy facility, or both, regardless of
10		whether the person is involved in acquiring the necessary
11		rights, permits, and approvals or otherwise planning for the
12		construction and operation of the facility, and (ii) at the
13		time the facility is being developed, a person who is acting as
14		a developer of the facility by acquiring the necessary rights,
15		permits, and approvals or by planning for the construction and
16		operation of the facility, regardless of whether the person
17		will own or operate the facility.
18		"Nonparticipating property" means real property that is
19		not a participating property.
20		"Nonparticipating residence" means a residence that is
21		located on nonparticipating property and that is existing and
22		occupied on the date that an application for a permit to
23		develop the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial
24		solar energy facility is filed with the county.
25		"Occupied community building" means any one or more of the
26		following buildings that is existing and occupied on the date

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1		that the application for a permit to develop the commercial
2		wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
3		is filed with the county: a school, place of worship, day care
4		facility, public library, or community center.
5		"Participating property" means real property that is the
6		subject of a written agreement between a facility owner and
7		the owner of the real property that provides the facility
8		owner an easement, option, lease, or license to use the real
9		property for the purpose of constructing a commercial wind
10		energy facility, a commercial solar energy facility, or
11		supporting facilities. "Participating property" also includes
12		real property that is owned by a facility owner for the purpose
13		of constructing a commercial wind energy facility, a
14		commercial solar energy facility, or supporting facilities.
15		"Participating residence" means a residence that is
16		located on participating property and that is existing and
17		occupied on the date that an application for a permit to
18		develop the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial
19		solar energy facility is filed with the county.
20		"Protected lands" means real property that is:
21		(1) subject to a permanent conservation right
22		consistent with the Real Property Conservation Rights Act;
23		or
24		(2) registered or designated as a nature preserve,
25		buffer, or land and water reserve under the Illinois
26		Natural Areas Preservation Act.

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1		"Supporting facilities" means the transmission lines,
2		substations, access roads, meteorological towers, storage
3		containers, and equipment associated with the generation and
4		storage of electricity by the commercial wind energy facility
5		or commercial solar energy facility.
6		"Wind tower" includes the wind turbine tower, nacelle, and
7		blades.
8		(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or whether
9		the county has formed a zoning commission and adopted formal
10		zoning under Section 5-12007, a county may establish standards
11		for commercial wind energy facilities, commercial solar energy
12		facilities, or both. The standards may include all of the
13		requirements specified in this Section but may not include
14		requirements for commercial wind energy facilities or
15		commercial solar energy facilities that are more restrictive
16		than specified in this Section. A county may also regulate the
17		siting of commercial wind energy facilities with standards
18		that are not more restrictive than the requirements specified
19		in this Section in unincorporated areas of the county that are
20		outside the zoning jurisdiction of a municipality and that are
21		outside the 1.5-mile radius surrounding the zoning
22		jurisdiction of a municipality.
23		(c) If a county has elected to establish standards under
24		subsection (b), before the county grants siting approval or a
25		special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or a
26		commercial solar energy facility, or modification of an

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1		approved siting or special use permit, the county board of the
2		county in which the facility is to be sited or the zoning board
3		of appeals for the county shall hold at least one public
4		hearing. The public hearing shall be conducted in accordance
5		with the Open Meetings Act and shall be held not more than 60
6		45 days after the filing of the application for the facility.
7		The county shall allow interested parties to a special use
8		permit an opportunity to present evidence and to cross-examine
9		witnesses at the hearing, but the county may impose reasonable
10		restrictions on the public hearing, including reasonable time
11		limitations on the presentation of evidence and the
12		cross-examination of witnesses. The county shall also allow
13		public comment at the public hearing in accordance with the
14		Open Meetings Act. The county shall make its siting and
15		permitting decisions not more than 30 days after the
16		conclusion of the public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall
17		be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
18		county. A facility owner must enter into an agricultural
19		impact mitigation agreement with the Department of Agriculture
20		prior to the date of the required public hearing. A commercial
21		wind energy facility owner seeking an extension of a permit
22		granted by a county prior to July 24, 2015 (the effective date
23		of Public Act 99-132) must enter into an agricultural impact
24		mitigation agreement with the Department of Agriculture prior
25		to a decision by the county to grant the permit extension.
26		Counties may allow test wind towers or test solar energy

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1		systems to be sited without formal approval by the county
2		board.
3		(d) A county with an existing zoning ordinance in conflict
4		with this Section shall amend that zoning ordinance to be in
5		compliance with this Section within 120 days after January 27,
6		2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1123) this
7		amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
8		(e) A county may require:
9		(1) a wind tower of a commercial wind energy facility
10		to be sited as follows, with setback distances measured
11		from the center of the base of the wind tower:
12		Setback Description Setback Distance
13		Occupied Community 2.1 times the maximum blade tip
14		Buildings height of the wind tower to the
15		nearest point on the outside
16		wall of the structure
17		Participating Residences 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
18		height of the wind tower to the
19		nearest point on the outside
20		wall of the structure
21		Nonparticipating Residences 2.1 times the maximum blade tip
22		height of the wind tower to the

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1		nearest point on the outside
2		wall of the structure
3		Boundary Lines of None
4		Participating Property
5		Boundary Lines of 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
6		Nonparticipating Property height of the wind tower to the
7		nearest point on the property
8		line of the nonparticipating
9		property
10		Public Road Rights-of-Way 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
11		height of the wind tower
12		to the center point of the
13		public road right-of-way
14		Overhead Communication and 1.1 times the maximum blade tip
15		Electric Transmission height of the wind tower to the
16		and Distribution Facilities nearest edge of the property
17		(Not Including Overhead line, easement, or
18		Utility Service Lines to right-of-way right of way
19		Individual Houses or containing the overhead line
20		Outbuildings)
21		Overhead Utility Service None

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1		Lines to Individual
2		Houses or Outbuildings
3		Fish and Wildlife Areas 2.1 times the maximum blade
4		and Illinois Nature tip height of the wind tower
5		Preserve Commission to the nearest point on the
6		Protected Lands property line of the fish and
7		wildlife area or protected
8		land
9		This Section does not exempt or excuse compliance with
10		electric facility clearances approved or required by the
11		National Electrical Code, The National Electrical Safety
12		Code, Illinois Commerce Commission, Federal Energy
13		Regulatory Commission, and their designees or successors.
14		(2) a wind tower of a commercial wind energy facility
15		to be sited so that industry standard computer modeling
16		indicates that any occupied community building or
17		nonparticipating residence will not experience more than
18		30 hours per year of shadow flicker under planned
19		operating conditions;
20		(3) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited as
21		follows, with setback distances measured from the nearest
22		edge of any component of the facility:
23		Setback Description Setback Distance

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1		Occupied Community 150 feet from the nearest
2		Buildings and Dwellings on point on the outside wall
3		Nonparticipating Properties of the structure
4		Boundary Lines of None
5		Participating Property
6		Public Road Rights-of-Way 50 feet from the nearest
7		edge
8		Boundary Lines of 50 feet to the nearest
9		Nonparticipating Property point on the property
10		line of the nonparticipating
11		property
12		(4) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited so
13		that the facility's perimeter is enclosed by fencing
14		having a height of at least 6 feet and no more than 25
15		feet; and
16		(5) a commercial solar energy facility to be sited so
17		that no component of a solar panel has a height of more
18		than 20 feet above ground when the solar energy facility's
19		arrays are at full tilt.
20		The requirements set forth in this subsection (e) may be
21		waived subject to the written consent of the owner of each

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1		affected nonparticipating property.
2		(f) A county may not set a sound limitation for wind towers
3		in commercial wind energy facilities or any components in
4		commercial solar energy facilities facility that is more
5		restrictive than the sound limitations established by the
6		Illinois Pollution Control Board under 35 Ill. Adm. Code Parts
7		900, 901, and 910.
8		(g) A county may not place any restriction on the
9		installation or use of a commercial wind energy facility or a
10		commercial solar energy facility unless it adopts an ordinance
11		that complies with this Section. A county may not establish
12		siting standards for supporting facilities that preclude
13		development of commercial wind energy facilities or commercial
14		solar energy facilities.
15		A request for siting approval or a special use permit for a
16		commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
17		facility, or modification of an approved siting or special use
18		permit, shall be approved if the request is in compliance with
19		the standards and conditions imposed in this Act, the zoning
20		ordinance adopted consistent with this Code, and the
21		conditions imposed under State and federal statutes and
22		regulations.
23		(h) A county may not adopt zoning regulations that
24		disallow, permanently or temporarily, commercial wind energy
25		facilities or commercial solar energy facilities from being
26		developed or operated in any district zoned to allow

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1		agricultural or industrial uses.
2		(i) A county may not require permit application fees for a
3		commercial wind energy facility or commercial solar energy
4		facility that are unreasonable. All application fees imposed
5		by the county shall be consistent with fees for projects in the
6		county with similar capital value and cost.
7		(j) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a county
8		shall not require standards for construction, decommissioning,
9		or deconstruction of a commercial wind energy facility or
10		commercial solar energy facility or related financial
11		assurances that are more restrictive than those included in
12		the Department of Agriculture's standard wind farm
13		agricultural impact mitigation agreement, template 81818, or
14		standard solar agricultural impact mitigation agreement,
15		version 8.19.19, as applicable and in effect on December 31,
16		2022. The amount of any decommissioning payment shall be in
17		accordance with the financial assurance limited to the cost
18		identified in the decommissioning or deconstruction plan, as
19		required by those agricultural impact mitigation agreements,
20		minus the salvage value of the project.
21		(j-5) A commercial wind energy facility or a commercial
22		solar energy facility shall file a farmland drainage plan with
23		the county and impacted drainage districts outlining how
24		surface and subsurface drainage of farmland will be restored
25		during and following construction or deconstruction of the
26		facility. The plan is to be created independently by the

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1		facility developer and shall include the location of any
2		potentially impacted drainage district facilities to the
3		extent this information is publicly available from the county
4		or the drainage district, plans to repair any subsurface
5		drainage affected during construction or deconstruction using
6		procedures outlined in the agricultural impact mitigation
7		agreement entered into by the commercial wind energy facility
8		owner or commercial solar energy facility owner, and
9		procedures for the repair and restoration of surface drainage
10		affected during construction or deconstruction. All surface
11		and subsurface damage shall be repaired as soon as reasonably
12		practicable.
13		(k) A county may not condition approval of a commercial
14		wind energy facility or commercial solar energy facility on a
15		property value guarantee and may not require a facility owner
16		to pay into a neighboring property devaluation escrow account.
17		(l) A county may require certain vegetative screening
18		surrounding a commercial wind energy facility or commercial
19		solar energy facility but may not require earthen berms or
20		similar structures.
21		(m) A county may set blade tip height limitations for wind
22		towers in commercial wind energy facilities but may not set a
23		blade tip height limitation that is more restrictive than the
24		height allowed under a Determination of No Hazard to Air
25		Navigation by the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 CFR
26		Part 77.

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1		(n) A county may require that a commercial wind energy
2		facility owner or commercial solar energy facility owner
3		provide:
4		(1) the results and recommendations from consultation
5		with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that are
6		obtained through the Ecological Compliance Assessment Tool
7		(EcoCAT) or a comparable successor tool; and
8		(2) the results of the United States Fish and Wildlife
9		Service's Information for Planning and Consulting
10		environmental review or a comparable successor tool that
11		is consistent with (i) the "U.S. Fish and Wildlife
12		Service's Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines" and (ii) any
13		applicable United States Fish and Wildlife Service solar
14		wildlife guidelines that have been subject to public
15		review.
16		(o) A county may require a commercial wind energy facility
17		or commercial solar energy facility to adhere to the
18		recommendations provided by the Illinois Department of Natural
19		Resources in an EcoCAT natural resource review report under 17
20		Ill. Adm. Admin. Code Part 1075.
21		(p) A county may require a facility owner to:
22		(1) demonstrate avoidance of protected lands as
23		identified by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
24		and the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission; or
25		(2) consider the recommendations of the Illinois
26		Department of Natural Resources for setbacks from

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1		protected lands, including areas identified by the
2		Illinois Nature Preserve Commission.
3		(q) A county may require that a facility owner provide
4		evidence of consultation with the Illinois State Historic
5		Preservation Office to assess potential impacts on
6		State-registered historic sites under the Illinois State
7		Agency Historic Resources Preservation Act.
8		(r) To maximize community benefits, including, but not
9		limited to, reduced stormwater runoff, flooding, and erosion
10		at the ground mounted solar energy system, improved soil
11		health, and increased foraging habitat for game birds,
12		songbirds, and pollinators, a county may (1) require a
13		commercial solar energy facility owner to plant, establish,
14		and maintain for the life of the facility vegetative ground
15		cover, consistent with the goals of the Pollinator-Friendly
16		Solar Site Act and (2) require the submittal of a vegetation
17		management plan that is in compliance with the agricultural
18		impact mitigation agreement in the application to construct
19		and operate a commercial solar energy facility in the county
20		if the vegetative ground cover and vegetation management plan
21		comply with the requirements of the underlying agreement with
22		the landowner or landowners where the facility will be
23		constructed.
24		No later than 90 days after January 27, 2023 (the
25		effective date of Public Act 102-1123) this amendatory Act of
26		the 102nd General Assembly, the Illinois Department of Natural

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1		Resources shall develop guidelines for vegetation management
2		plans that may be required under this subsection for
3		commercial solar energy facilities. The guidelines must
4		include guidance for short-term and long-term property
5		management practices that provide and maintain native and
6		non-invasive naturalized perennial vegetation to protect the
7		health and well-being of pollinators.
8		(s) If a facility owner enters into a road use agreement
9		with the Illinois Department of Transportation, a road
10		district, or other unit of local government relating to a
11		commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
12		facility, the road use agreement shall require the facility
13		owner to be responsible for (i) the reasonable cost of
14		improving roads used by the facility owner to construct the
15		commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy
16		facility and (ii) the reasonable cost of repairing roads used
17		by the facility owner during construction of the commercial
18		wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
19		so that those roads are in a condition that is safe for the
20		driving public after the completion of the facility's
21		construction. Roadways improved in preparation for and during
22		the construction of the commercial wind energy facility or
23		commercial solar energy facility shall be repaired and
24		restored to the improved condition at the reasonable cost of
25		the developer if the roadways have degraded or were damaged as
26		a result of construction-related activities.

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1		The road use agreement shall not require the facility
2		owner to pay costs, fees, or charges for road work that is not
3		specifically and uniquely attributable to the construction of
4		the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar
5		energy facility. Road-related fees, permit fees, or other
6		charges imposed by the Illinois Department of Transportation,
7		a road district, or other unit of local government under a road
8		use agreement with the facility owner shall be reasonably
9		related to the cost of administration of the road use
10		agreement.
11		(s-5) The facility owner shall also compensate landowners
12		for crop losses or other agricultural damages resulting from
13		damage to the drainage system caused by the construction of
14		the commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar
15		energy facility. The commercial wind energy facility owner or
16		commercial solar energy facility owner shall repair or pay for
17		the repair of all damage to the subsurface drainage system
18		caused by the construction of the commercial wind energy
19		facility or the commercial solar energy facility in accordance
20		with the agriculture impact mitigation agreement requirements
21		for repair of drainage. The commercial wind energy facility
22		owner or commercial solar energy facility owner shall repair
23		or pay for the repair and restoration of surface drainage
24		caused by the construction or deconstruction of the commercial
25		wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy facility
26		as soon as reasonably practicable.

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1		(t) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a facility
2		owner with siting approval from a county to construct a
3		commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
4		facility is authorized to cross or impact a drainage system,
5		including, but not limited to, drainage tiles, open drainage
6		ditches districts, culverts, and water gathering vaults, owned
7		or under the control of a drainage district under the Illinois
8		Drainage Code without obtaining prior agreement or approval
9		from the drainage district in accordance with the farmland
10		drainage plan required by subsection (j-5) , except that the
11		facility owner shall repair or pay for the repair of all damage
12		to the drainage system caused by the construction of the
13		commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy
14		facility within a reasonable time after construction of the
15		commercial wind energy facility or the commercial solar energy
16		facility is complete.
17		(u) The amendments to this Section adopted in Public Act
18		102-1123 this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly do
19		not apply to (1) an application for siting approval or for a
20		special use permit for a commercial wind energy facility or
21		commercial solar energy facility if the application was
22		submitted to a unit of local government before January 27,
23		2023 (the effective date of Public Act 102-1123) this
24		amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly or (2) a
25		commercial wind energy facility or a commercial solar energy
26		facility if the facility owner has submitted an agricultural

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1		impact mitigation agreement to the Department of Agriculture
2		before January 27, 2023 (the effective date of Public Act
3		102-1123) this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly.
4		(Source: P.A. 101-4, eff. 4-19-19; 102-1123, eff. 1-27-23;
5		revised 4-5-23.)
6		Section 25. The Public Utilities Act is amended by adding
7		Section 4-610 and Article XXIII as follows:
8		(220 ILCS 5/4-610 new)
9		Sec. 4-610. Thermal energy networks.
10		(a) The General Assembly finds that:
11		(1) the State has an interest in decarbonizing
12		buildings in a manner that is affordable and accessible,
13		preserves and creates living-wage jobs, and retains the
14		knowledge and experience of the existing utility
15		workforce;
16		(2) thermal energy networks have the potential to
17		affordably decarbonize buildings at the community-scale
18		and utility-scale and help achieve the goals of the
19		Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (Public Act 102-662);
20		(3) the construction industry is highly skilled and
21		labor intensive, and the installation of modern thermal
22		energy networks involves particularly complex work,
23		therefore effective qualification standards for craft
24		labor personnel employed on these projects are critically

HB3445 Enrolled - 218 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		needed to promote successful project delivery; and
2		(4) it is the intent of the General Assembly to
3		establish a stakeholder workshop within the Commission to
4		promote the successful planning and delivery of thermal
5		energy networks in an equitable manner that reduces
6		emissions, offers affordable building decarbonization, and
7		provides opportunities for employment with fair labor
8		standards and preapprenticeship and apprenticeship
9		programs.
10		(b) As used in this Section:
11		"Thermal energy" means piped noncombustible fluids used
12		for transferring heat into and out of buildings for the
13		purpose of reducing any resultant onsite greenhouse gas
14		emissions of all types of heating and cooling processes,
15		including, but not limited to, comfort heating and cooling,
16		domestic hot water, and refrigeration.
17		"Thermal energy network" means all real estate, fixtures,
18		and personal property operated, owned, used, or to be used
19		for, in connection with, or to facilitate a utility-scale
20		distribution infrastructure project that supplies thermal
21		energy.
22		(c) The Commission, in order to develop a regulatory
23		structure for utility thermal energy networks that scale with
24		affordable and accessible building electrification, protect
25		utility customers, and promote the successful planning and
26		delivery of thermal energy networks, shall convene a workshop

HB3445 Enrolled - 219 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		process for the purpose of establishing an open, inclusive,
2		and cooperative forum regarding such thermal energy networks.
3		The workshops may be facilitated by an independent,
4		third-party facilitator selected by the Commission. The series
5		of workshops shall include no fewer than 3 workshops. After
6		the conclusion of the workshops, the Commission shall open a
7		comment period that allows interested and diverse stakeholders
8		to submit comments and recommendations regarding the thermal
9		energy networks. Based on the workshop process and stakeholder
10		comments and recommendations offered verbally or in writing
11		during the workshops and in writing during the comment period
12		following the workshops, the Commission or, if applicable, the
13		independent third-party facilitator, shall prepare a report,
14		to be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly no
15		later than March 1, 2024, describing the stakeholders,
16		discussions, proposals, and areas of consensus and
17		disagreement from the workshop process, and making
18		recommendations regarding thermal energy networks.
19		(d) The workshop shall be designed to achieve the
20		following objectives:
21		(1) determine appropriate ownership, market, and rate
22		structures for thermal energy networks and whether the
23		provision of thermal energy services by thermal network
24		energy providers is in the public interest;
25		(2) consider project designs that could maximize the
26		value of existing State energy efficiency and

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1		weatherization programs and maximize federal funding
2		opportunities to the extent practicable;
3		(3) determine whether thermal energy network projects
4		further climate justice and emissions reductions and
5		benefits to utility customers and society at large,
6		including but not limited to public health benefits in
7		areas with disproportionate environmental burdens, job
8		retention and creation, reliability, and increased
9		affordability of renewable thermal energy options;
10		(4) consider approaches to thermal energy network
11		projects that advance financial and technical approaches
12		to equitable and affordable building electrification,
13		including access to thermal energy network benefits by low
14		and moderate income households; and
15		(5) consider approaches to promote the training and
16		transition of utility workers to work on thermal energy
17		networks.
18		(220 ILCS 5/Art. XXIII heading new)
19		ARTICLE XXIII. TRANSMISSION EFFICIENCY AND COOPERATION LAW
20		(220 ILCS 5/23-100 new)
21		Sec. 23-100. Short title. This Article may be cited as the
22		Transmission Efficiency and Cooperation Law.
23		(220 ILCS 5/23-105 new)

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1		Sec. 23-105. Incumbent transmission line owner rights.
2		(a) As used in this Section:
3		"Electric transmission line" means a transmission line
4		that is designed and constructed with the capability of being
5		safely and reliably energized at 100 kilovolts or more and its
6		associated transmission facilities, including transmission
7		substations. "Electric transmission line" does not include
8		electric transmission lines located on an electric generating
9		facility's side of the facility's point of interconnection
10		with an incumbent electric transmission line owner.
11		"Incumbent electric transmission owner" means any public
12		utility, municipal corporation, or electric cooperative that
13		owns, operates, and maintains at least one electric
14		transmission line in this State.
15		"Regional transmission operator" means a regional
16		transmission organization, independent system operator, or
17		equivalent entity approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory
18		Commission, or its successor agency, that exercises functional
19		control over electric transmission lines located in this
20		State.
21		"Transmission affiliate" means any company that has been
22		issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity in
23		Illinois authorizing it to own and operate an electric
24		transmission line, and is an Illinois electric utility as
25		defined in Section 16-102 or an affiliate thereof through a
26		common ownership structure.

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1		"Transmission plan" means a transmission plan adopted by
2		the Midcontinent Independent System Operator between January
3		1, 2022 and December 31, 2024.
4		(b) An incumbent electric transmission owner has the right
5		to construct, own, and maintain an electric transmission line
6		that has been approved for construction in a transmission plan
7		and that will connect to facilities that are owned by that
8		incumbent electric transmission owner and are or will be under
9		the functional control of the Midcontinent Independent System
10		Operator. The right to construct, own, and maintain any such
11		electric transmission line that will connect to facilities
12		located in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator region
13		of the State and owned by 2 or more incumbent electric
14		transmission owners belongs individually and proportionally to
15		each incumbent electric transmission owner, unless otherwise
16		agreed upon in writing. An incumbent electric transmission
17		owner shall be permitted to assign its right to construct,
18		own, and maintain an electric transmission line to a
19		transmission affiliate.
20		(c) Nothing in this Section limits the right of any
21		incumbent electric transmission owner to construct, own, and
22		maintain any transmission equipment or facilities that have a
23		capacity of less than 100 kilovolts or of any entity otherwise
24		qualified under this Act to own, operate, and maintain
25		electric transmission facilities that are not approved for
26		construction in a transmission plan or that will not connect

HB3445 Enrolled - 223 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		to facilities under the functional control of a regional
2		transmission operator.
3		(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to impair,
4		abridge, or diminish in any way the powers, rights, and
5		privileges of municipal corporations that are not incumbent
6		electric transmission owners to partner with an incumbent
7		electric transmission owner on the development and ownership
8		of an electric transmission line included in a transmission
9		plan or to develop, construct, own, operate, maintain,
10		upgrade, and renew facilities that are not included in a
11		transmission plan but that are necessary or convenient in the
12		provision of electric service, directly or indirectly, to
13		citizens and businesses located in the service areas of
14		municipal systems as that term is defined in Section 17-100,
15		including the rights of such municipal systems and of
16		municipal power agencies as defined in Section 11-119.1-3 of
17		the Illinois Municipal Code to develop, construct, own,
18		operate, maintain, upgrade, and renew such electric
19		transmission lines and related facilities.
20		(e) Nothing in this Section shall relieve an incumbent
21		electric transmission owner asserting its right to construct
22		an electric transmission line, or its transmission affiliate
23		as applicable, of the requirement to file an application for a
24		certificate of convenience and necessity to the extent
25		otherwise required by this Act.
26		(f) Within 90 days after the later of the effective date of

HB3445 Enrolled - 224 - LRB103 29599 AMQ 55994 b
1		this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly or approval
2		of the construction of an electric transmission line by a
3		regional transmission operator, an incumbent electric
4		transmission owner otherwise authorized to engage in the
5		construction under this Section may provide notice to the
6		Commission and the applicable regional transmission operator
7		indicating it will not construct any or all of the electric
8		transmission line so approved, or it will assign any or all of
9		the construction to a transmission affiliate. If the notice is
10		given and indicates the notifying incumbent electric
11		transmission owner or its transmission affiliate will not
12		construct any or all of the electric transmission line so
13		approved, the incumbent electric transmission owner shall
14		indicate the reason for that election, and the Commission may
15		grant permission and approval for such construction to another
16		entity otherwise qualified to own and operate the electric
17		transmission line pursuant to this Act.