About the Program
Illinois Shines, legislatively known as the Adjustable Block Program, helps make solar more affordable for Illinoisans. The Program supports the development of on-site, Distributed Generation projects and Community Solar projects that help more Illinois residents, businesses, schools, and communities participate in our clean energy future. With valuable incentives, step-by-step guidance, consumer protection oversight, and an emphasis on equity, Illinois Shines is supporting the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act’s requirement requirement that 100 percent of Illinois energy is generated from clean sources by 2050.
There are two main ways that Illinois Shines supports solar energy:
Distributed Generation (DG)
Photovoltaic solar panels installed directly on the roof or land of a home, property, school, business, or other structure. Distributed Generation projects only serve the electrical needs of the home, property, business, etc. where the panels are installed.
Community Solar (CS)
Large, centralized solar projects that provide electricity to subscribers who don’t have access to their own panels. This is a great option for renters or homeowners for whom installing solar panels isn’t practical or cost-effective.
Illinois Shines provides incentives through payments for Renewable Energy Credits, or RECs, generated by participating solar projects. These payments are received by solar developers and may be passed on to customers through reductions to project or power costs for onsite solar, or via bill credits through community solar subscriptions. These incentives represent the environmental value of energy generated by renewable sources, as one REC is created when one megawatt-hour of renewable electricity is added to the grid. Through the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard, electric utilities purchase RECs to help meet the State’s renewable energy requirements, creating financial value for solar projects participating in Illinois Shines. Vendors are required to disclose REC values, along with system or subscription costs, so customers can compare offers and better understand their options.
To learn more about RECs and how Illinois Shines incentives work, visit the Solar and Shines Basics page.
Visit the Reports & Data tab for more information about solar development through Illinois Shines.
End of Year Reports
Program Year 2023-2024 End of Year Report
Program Year 2022-2023 End of Year Report
State of the Program Reports
April 2025 State of the Program
November 2024 State of the Program
August 2023 State of the Program
March 2024 State of the Program
Approved Vendor/Designee Program Satisfaction Survey Reports
2023 Approved Vendor and Designee Program Satisfaction Survey Report
Illinois Shines Legislative History
Illinois Shines has its basis in state law. It was established in 2016 by Future Energy Jobs Act (P.A. 99-0906) and amended in 2021 by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (P.A. 102-0662). Open the tabs to the right for more information about FEJA, CEJA, and the recently passed Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act.
Future Energy Jobs Act
Illinois Shines was created though the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act (Public Act 99-0906 or FEJA) by the Illinois General Assembly in 2016. FEJA reflected significant collaboration and negotiation between energy companies, environmental groups, and consumer advocates, and mandated higher renewable energy targets in the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Climate and Equitable Jobs Act
In 2021, the passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (Public Act 102-0662 or CEJA) significantly expanded Illinois Shines, required 100% use of renewable energy sources in Illinois by 2050, and included provisions to make solar energy more available to low- and moderate-income communities. Following CEJA’s passage, Illinois Shines made the following changes, including:
- Adding three new project categories: Public Schools, Community-Driven Community Solar, and projects submitted by Equity Eligible Contractors
- Introducing Advances of Capital for Equity Eligible Contractor projects, to help reduce barriers to Program participation and help diversify the participating Approved Vendors (AVs)
- Updating consumer protection measures to help protect consumers from unfair business practices, including introduction of a Consumer Protection Handbook that consolidated requirements for AVs and Designees
- Implementing Prevailing Wage requirements for projects participating in Illinois Shines, to ensure that employees, contractors, and subcontractors are receiving local prevailing wages set by the Illinois Department of Labor
- Collecting demographic data from participating AVs and Designees, to support a future racial disparity study to measure the presence and impact of discrimination on minority businesses and workers in Illinois’ clean energy economy
- Creating an Equity Accountability System and Minimum Equity Standard requiring a growing percentage of Equity Eligible Persons make up the project workforce of participating AVs and Designees
Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act
In 2025, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (Public Act 104-0458 or CRGA). CRGA is a comprehensive energy bill addressing a wide range of energy issues facing the State. Its provisions affecting Illinois Shines, include, but are not limited to:
- Changes to Community Solar provisions, including a project labor agreement requirement for applications over 3 MW
- Change in REC Contract structure for Small Distributed Generation and Public Schools Distributed Generation projects
- Minimum Equity Standard requirements for Equity Eligible Contractors
- New co-location and consumer protection requirements
About the Illinois Power Agency
The IPA was established in 2007 by Public Act 95-0481 and is an independent agency of the State of Illinois. Its goals and objectives are to accomplish each of the following.
Roll over each area for further detail.
Develop electricity procurement plans
Develop electricity procurement plans
Conduct competitive procurement processes
Conduct competitive procurement processes
Develop and implement a Zero Emission Standard Procurement Plan
Develop and implement a Zero Emission Standard Procurement Plan
Develop a Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan
Develop a Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan
Develop electric generation and co-generation facilities
Develop electric generation and co-generation facilities
Supply electricity from any Agency facilities
Supply electricity from any Agency facilities
Available Program Documents
Several key documents guide the operation of Illinois Shines, including:
Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan
The Illinois Power Agency was established in 2007 by Public Act 95-0481, and its goals and objectives include developing electricity procurement plans and a Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, which includes the implementation of Illinois Shines (legislatively known as the Adjustable Block Program) and Illinois Solar for All. The Long-Term Plan is updated every two years.
Program Guidebook
The Illinois Shines Program Guidebook provides existing and prospective Program participants with necessary guidance about application requirements, participation requirements, Program processes, and other aspects of Illinois Shines. The Program Guidebook works in conjunction with the Illinois Power Agency’s Long-Term Plan to outline Program requirements for Approved Vendors and their subcontractors. It is reviewed and updated periodically to reflect changes in law and/or orders of the ICC, or the development of other requirements through separate comment and requirement publishing processes.
Consumer Protection Handbook
The Consumer Protection Handbook provides consumer protection requirements for Approved Vendors and Designees who participate in either Illinois Shines and/or Illinois Solar for All, and for projects of any type or size, unless otherwise indicated. The requirements apply to Approved Vendors and is relevant to their affiliates, employees, contractors and subcontractors, agents, installers, marketers, customer service liaisons, or any entity acting in any way on the Approved Vendors’ behalf in connection with, including all Designees.
Looking for further Illinois Shines background, data and visual assets?
See the Illinois Shines media kit for additional program background and data, information about available visual assets, and support for journalists and other interested parties.