New Program Year Updates for Community Solar
With the new Program Year opening on June 1, 2026, the available 2026-27 block capacity allocation was not exceeded for either TCS Group A or B on the first day of the Program Year. As such, all applicant projects that otherwise qualify will be deemed acceptable and qualify for a REC Delivery Contract. Additionally, the 90-day application […]
Community Solar Updates and Reminders for 2026-27 Program Year
On May 28, 2026, the Program shared important updates and reminders for both Community-Driven Community Solar and Traditional Community Solar, including updates to scoring criteria and details about Program Year 2026-27 applications, capacity for each category, waitlist selection procedures, and more. Please see the full announcement for details. For assistance in these project categories, contact the Community Solar Sector […]
New! Community Solar Opt-In Batching
CS projects will undergo the new opt-in batching process where projects can opt-out of ICC submission for up to four ICC meetings. At the fifth ICC meeting the AV must opt-in to ICC submission or the project will be automatically and permanently withdrawn. This process is further outlined in Section 5.A of the 2026-27 Program Guidebook. Projects that […]
Financing Opportunities Webinar Held
As previously announced, the Program Administrator held a webinar on Thursday, April 9, 2026, to provide information on financial resources and financing opportunities, including grant and loan programs, Illinois Shines vendors can pursue. Presenters included Illinois Shines partner organizations HACIA, NLR, CEJJF, and the Ameren Market Development Initiative. A recording of the event and presentation slides are now available; questions and […]
Subscriber Management Portal Feature Action Items, Webinar, and Launch
he CS Subscriber Management Feature for the Program Portal has a planned March 2026 launch. The feature will replace the current manual workbook process in SharePoint and allow for improved subscriber data quality, the centralization of access, and give AVs and Designees the ability to view and manage subscriptions, view unsubscribed Disclosure Forms, and import […]
Traditional Community Solar Case Study Now Available
Through its case study series, the Program showcases successful projects participating in Illinois Shines that are achieving important financial and environmental benefits for their communities. The Program’s newest case study spotlights Walldog Solar, a Traditional Community Solar project in Pontiac, Illinois, that’s using agrivoltaics and a pollinator-friendly habitat to deliver clean solar power, while ensuring that the land can return to […]
October 31 TCS Final Scores and Project Selection
Following the Program Re-Opening, on October 31, 2025, capacity for the 2025-26 Program Year was expanded and allocated for the TCS category. Following the application window closure, and completion of the Application Review and Scoring periods, scores for projects submitted October 31, 2025, were posted on the Traditional Community Solar hub page of the Program website. The published scores […]
Upcoming Webinar: New Community Solar Subscriber Management Portal Feature
In March 2026, the Illinois Shines Program Portal will introduce a new feature designed to improve efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility by moving Community Solar subscriber data from SharePoint. The feature centralizes subscriber data, standardizes reporting, enhances accuracy, and allows for self-service access, real-time updates, and subscription history tracking. The Program will host a live webinar on February 26, 2026, from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. […]
Subscription Management Portal Feature
The Program Administrator continues development of the Community Solar Subscription Management Feature for the Program Portal, which is slated for a March 2026 launch. This new feature will replace the current manual workbook process in SharePoint and will allow for improved subscriber data quality and the centralization of access. The new feature will give Approved Vendors […]
Traditional Community Solar (TCS) Solar Scores for Projects Submitted October 31, 2025
Following the Program Re-Opening, on October 31, 2025, capacity for the 2025-26 Program Year was expanded and allocated. The expanded capacity was initially allocated to projects on the 2025-26 Program Year waitlists, leaving 0 MW of capacity available for Group A and 6.17 MW available for Group B for newly submitted applications. The expanded 20% […]