45-Day CDCS Application Window Now Open
As a result of the Modified 2024 Long-Term Plan, the Program opened an additional 45-day Community-Driven Community Solar (“CDCS”) application window today, January 16, 2026. The application submission deadline for the CDCS 45-day window is March 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CPT. Applications are not accepted after the close of the 45-day window. Submitted projects will […]
Call for Stakeholder Input for New IPA Resources
The Illinois Power Agency seeks help to continue building its resource library. Illinois Shines recently published the Homeowner Handouts Buying a Home That Has an Illinois Shines Solar Project and Selling Your Home That Has an Illinois Shines Solar Project in both English and Spanish. In continuation of this series, the Program hopes to publish handouts for real estate agents to […]
45-Day CDCS Application Window Opens January 16, New EAS Learning Series, Part II Verification Cut Off for January
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, and Reference and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Thank you!Illinois Shines [email protected]
45-Day CDCS Application Window Opens January 16
As a result of the Modified 2024 Long-Term Plan, the Program will open an additional 45-day Community-Driven Community Solar (“CDCS”) application window on January 16, 2026, regardless of capacity availability as of that date. The application submission deadline for the CDCS 45-day window is March 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CPT. Applications are not accepted after […]
Reminder: Minimum Equity Standard Mid-Year Report Due December 31
As set forth in the Long-Term Plan and the Program Guidebook, in Program Year 2025-26, at least 14% of the project workforce for each Approved Vendor and Designee participating in the Illinois Shines program must be composed of Equity Eligible Persons. The Minimum Equity Standard (“MES”) applies to all Approved Vendors and Designees participating in […]
CDCS Random Selection Event Results, Annual Report Draft Drawdown Results, Elective Pay Webinars’ Recordings Published
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, and Reference and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Thank you!Illinois Shines [email protected]
Community-Driven Community Solar Project Selection Results for Program Year 2025-26
On June 2, 2025, the 90-day project application window opened for Community-Driven Community Solar (“CDCS”) for the 2025-2026 Program Year, allowing Approved Vendors (“AVs”) to submit CDCS applications until 11:59 p.m. CPT on September 2, 2025. Capacity available for the CDCS category was 34.07 MW for Group A and 56.99 MW for Group B. On […]
Reminder of December 17 Elective Pay Webinar
Elective Pay is a new mechanism that allows tax-exempt entities – such as local government offices, public schools, nonprofits, or houses of worship – who have installed or plan to install a clean energy project to file a tax return and receive a reimbursement for a portion (often at least 30%) of their project costs, even […]
Reminder: Program Year 2025-26 Community-Driven Community Solar Random Selection Event on December 17
As outlined in Section 5 of the Program Guidebook, the Community-Driven Community Solar (“CDCS”) application window closes 90 days after the start of the Program Year. With the Program Year commencing on June 2, 2025, the application submission deadline for Program Year 2025-26 CDCS projects was September 2, 2025. In accordance with the CDCS scoring guidelines previously […]
Annual Report Draft Drawdown Results, CDCS Random Selection Event, MES Mid-Year Report Submission Deadline
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, and Reference and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines· Events· Due Dates Stakeholder Support· Program Administrator Office Hours· Application Tips and Tricks Program […]