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Power Pulse!
A quarterly newsletter featuring the latest news and information
from the Illinois Power Agency.
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Our vision is to provide a clean, reliable, equitable, and cost-effective
energy future for residents and businesses across Illinois.
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| Attention mobile users: For best experience, rotate device to landscape mode. | | Illinois Power Agency Announces Joint Program Administrator for Illinois Solar for All and Illinois Shines | |
On July 2, the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) announced that it has selected Energy Solutions to serve as the Joint Program Administrator for both its Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) and Illinois Shines solar incentive programs.
The IPA’s selection was made through a competitively bid consultant retention process, beginning with a Request for Qualifications published last fall, followed by a Request for Proposals issued to qualified respondents. Proposals were evaluated against RFP scoring criteria, and the IPA’s Joint Program Administrator selection was approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission at its Regular Open Meeting on July 1, 2026.
While Illinois Shines and ILSFA will continue to operate as separate programs with distinct eligibility requirements, a Joint Program Administrator should offer back both cost efficiencies and service improvements. By consolidating application portals, call centers, consumer protection processes, and points of contact, a Joint Program Administrator will serve to make both programs more accessible, navigable, and consistent for participants and vendors.
Illinois Shines
Energy Solutions currently administers Illinois Shines, so no change in service is anticipated for Illinois Shines participants and vendors during this transition.
ILSFA
Elevate has been a vital partner in building ILSFA into a nationally recognized income-eligible solar incentive program. Since its inception, ILSFA has approved 34 Community Solar projects totaling more than 63 MW of capacity, 232 Non-profit and Public Facilities projects totaling more than 33 MW of capacity, and nearly 3,300 Residential systems totaling more than 29 MW of capacity.
The Program has also been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy with Sunny Awards for its exemplary work connecting vulnerable communities throughout Illinois with affordable community solar options. The IPA is deeply appreciative of Elevate’s staff and leadership, whose contributions have been integral in shaping ILSFA into the program it is today. ILSFA’s success stands as a testament to the strong foundation Elevate helped establish over the past eight years.
For ILSFA, administration will begin to transition from Elevate to Energy Solutions in July 2026 with that transition expected to be completed by June 30, 2027.
ILSFA project submission processes are anticipated to remain the same through the initial submission windows for the 2026-2027 Program Year. ILSFA Participants should continue to correspond and work with their existing contacts at Elevate until notified otherwise. Additional communications to ILSFA stakeholders will be forthcoming and will include more details on the transition process.
| | IPA Launches Equity Data Dashboard | |
On June 8, the IPA launched the Equity Data Dashboard, a transparent, data-driven tool designed to provide insight into the implementation and progress of the Equity Accountability System (EAS), established under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
The EAS was created to help ensure that historically underserved and disadvantaged communities can access opportunities created through Illinois’ growing clean energy economy. The EAS establishes equity requirements across IPA programs and procurements, including Illinois Shines and Competitive Procurements, and following the passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, Illinois Solar for All and Energy Storage procurements.
A core component of the EAS is the Minimum Equity Standard (MES). The MES requires a minimum percentage of an Approved Vendor, Designee, or seller’s project workforce to be comprised of Equity Eligible Persons (EEPs) or Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs).
Created to address a critical need for greater transparency and accessibility of equity-related data, the Equity Data Dashboard features interactive visuals and regularly updated metrics that provide stakeholders with a clearer understanding of participation across Illinois’ clean energy economy. The dashboard highlights who is participating, where opportunities are emerging, and how progress is advancing toward the goals established by the Equity Accountability System.
Users can explore workforce trends, demographic insights, and program outcomes to better understand progress, identify opportunities, and support continued growth across Illinois’ clean energy sector.
| IPA Procurement to Facilitate 1.55 GW of New Renewable Energy Projects in Illinois | |
On June 24, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved the results of the IPA’s Summer 2026 Indexed REC procurement event for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from utility-scale solar, utility-scale wind, and hydropower projects. Following the ICC approval, contracts were awarded to support the development of 1.55 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy generation projects in Illinois: one hydropower project (10.26 MW), three new utility-scale wind projects (800 MW), and four new utility-scale solar projects (740 MW). Seven of the eight winning projects are proposed to be located at least 50% within an Energy Transition Community Grant Area or in or adjacent to a Hydropower Preference Community.
The Agency’s procurement administrator, NERA Economic Consulting, issued the Summer 2026 Utility-Scale Wind/Hydropower, Utility-Scale Solar and Brownfield Photovoltaic RFP on behalf of the IPA to procure 2,500,000 RECs to be delivered annually from new utility-scale wind projects, new hydropower projects at an existing dam, or modernized or retooled hydropower projects at an existing dam; 1,300,000 RECs to be delivered annually from new utility-scale solar projects; and 266,271 RECs to be delivered annually from new brownfield site photovoltaic projects. A total of 2,495,349 annual RECs were procured in the Utility-Scale Wind/Hydropower category, while 1,598,797 annual RECs were procured in the Utility-Scale Solar category. No brownfield photovoltaic RECs were procured in this event.
These results mark another positive step in Illinois’ renewable energy development and diversification, including the first hydropower project to be awarded a contract in an Indexed REC procurement event, and continued growth in utility-scale renewable energy development. This procurement moves Illinois closer to meeting its Renewable Portfolio Standard goals and a reliable, affordable, and sustainable clean energy future.
For more information, please refer to the ICC’s Public Notice.
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On June 16, Ashley Hollis joined the IPA as Associate Legal Counsel – Storage and Renewable Markets. In this role, Ashley will focus on the ongoing management of energy storage and block energy procurements.
Before joining the IPA, Ashley served as Associate Legal Counsel for the Illinois Office of the Senate President, where she focused on energy and environmental policy matters.
Ashley brings a strong background in energy policy, environmental law, and public service, which will support the Agency’s efforts to expand renewable energy and energy storage resources in Illinois.
The Agency is pleased to welcome Ashley to the team.
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On July 1, Alexandria Wilson joined the IPA as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she will manage the Human Resources, IT, and Project Management & Process Improvement functional teams within the Administration bureau.
Alexandria is a public sector executive with extensive experience leading operations, strategic initiatives, procurement, and organizational transformation across Illinois state government. Throughout her career, she has focused on building high-performing teams, improving organizational effectiveness, strengthening accountability, and advancing equitable access to economic opportunities.
The Agency is pleased to welcome Alexandria to the team.
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DID YOU KNOW?
On June 26, the IPA hosted an educational webinar, titled ‘Elective Pay: Clean Energy Credits for Tax-Exempt Entities’. A recording and presentation of this webinar are now available on the IPA website. This webinar explored Elective Pay, a mechanism that enables tax-exempt entities to benefit from remaining federal clean energy tax credits.
During the webinar, attendees learned how public bodies, non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and other tax-exempt entities can still leverage federal tax credits (even with no tax liability) to reduce the overall cost of clean energy projects. The webinar detailed eligibility requirements for Elective Pay, including changes enacted by Congress last year and requirements specific to battery storage and geothermal projects.
Speakers for this session include CYR Strategies' Cassie Rowlands, an expert in Elective Pay, and IPA Director of External Affairs Sarah Duffy.
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