Welcome to Illinois Shines Program Year 2025-26
On behalf of the Illinois Shines program, the Illinois Power Agency and Program Administrator welcome stakeholders to Program Year 2025-26. This Program Year includes new capacity for project categories to continue the expansion of solar development in Illinois, and brings new requirements and Program features, updated Program documents, new REC prices and contracts, stakeholder resources, […]
Program Year 2025-26 Opening June 2, MES Year-End Report Submission Open, Community Solar Updates and Reminders for 2025-26 Program Year
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, Ongoing Operations Updates, Application Processing Updates, Ongoing Program Portal Updates, and other Requirements and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics covered include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder […]
Minimum Equity Standard Program Year 2024-25: Year-End Report Opens for Submissions
The Minimum Equity Standard (MES) Program Year 2024-25 Year-End Report has opened for submissions today and is due from all participating Approved Vendors and Designees on July 15, 2025. All Program participants should have received an email from the Program Administrator with a link to their secure MES submission portal. Please use the link within […]
Uncontracted Capacity Reallocation Process for the 2025-26 Program Year
Illinois Shines features annual blocks of capacity that remain open until block capacity is exhausted for the Program Year, and unused or uncontracted capacity is redistributed after the close of a Program Year. A memo outlining the steps the Agency has taken to reallocate remaining capacity from the 2024-25 Program Year for use in the […]
Community Solar Updates and Reminders for 2025-26 Program Year
Community Driven Community Solar (CDCS)On June 2, 2025, the 90-day CDCS application window will open for the 2025-26 Program Year. Upon closing of the 90-day application window on September 2, 2025, projects will be reviewed and scored based on the scoring criteria as outlined in Appendix F of the Program Guidebook, with projects selected from […]
Reminder: Partial Portal Closure and Application Unavailability, 2026 Long-Term Plan Feedback Request, and REC Contract Amendments Signatures Due May 26, 2025
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, Ongoing Operations Updates, Application Processing Updates, Ongoing Program Portal Updates, and other Requirements and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics covered include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support […]
Enforcement of Two Withhold Limit from ICC Meetings
Per the Program Guidebook, the Program allows for Approved Vendors to only withhold projects from ICC submission twice before they must be withdrawn. This policy will be strictly enforced in conjunction with the start of the 2025-26 Program Year that commences June 2, 2025, beginning with the memo submitted for the June 18, 2025 ICC meeting […]
Stakeholder Feedback Request Regarding 2026 Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan
As part of the development of the 2026 Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, the Illinois Power Agency held stakeholder workshops on April 30 (for Chapter 8 – Illinois Solar for All) and May 1 (for Chapters 7 and 10 – Illinois Shines and the Equity Accountability System). Earlier today, the Agency issued a request for stakeholder […]
Disclosure Form Guidance for 2024-25 Waitlisted Projects, Annual Report Resources, Enforcement of Two Withhold Limit from ICC Meetings
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, Ongoing Operations Updates, Application Processing Updates, Ongoing Program Portal Updates, and other Requirements and Reminders. The full announcement is available here. Topics covered include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder […]
Program Year 2025-26 Welcome Webinar – May 22, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. CPT
June 2, 2025 marks the opening of the Illinois Shines 2025-26 Program Year. In support of stakeholders, an informational webinar on the upcoming 2025-26 Program Year changes will be held on May 22, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CPT. The Program Administrator and IPA will discuss the 2026 Long-Term Plan, updates to the Program […]