MES Combined Compliance and Year-End Report, and Waiver Requests, Due July 15
As previously announced, the Minimum Equity Standard (MES) Combined Compliance and Year-End Report, which includes the 2026-27 MES Compliance Plan and the 2025-26 MES Year-End Report, is due from all participating Approved Vendors (AVs) and Designees on July 15, 2026. The Program emailed participants a link to their secure MES submission portal on May 26, […]
2025-26 Mentorship Program Final Report Published, Detailing Successful Expansion to Two Cohorts
On July 7, 2026, Illinois Shines released the Program Year 2025-26 Mentorship Program Report. Approved Vendors and Designees that are certified as Equity Eligible Contractors and/or are minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, disability-owned, or are considered small businesses are encouraged to apply to the Mentorship Program, which is designed to help mentees successfully participate in Illinois Shines. […]
IPA Announces Joint Program Administrator for Illinois Solar for All and Illinois Shines
The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) announced on July 2, 2026, that it has selected Energy Solutions to serve as the Joint Program Administrator for both Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) and Illinois Shines solar incentive programs. The selection follows a competitively bid consultant retention process, beginning with a Request for Qualifications published last fall, followed […]
TCS Group A Soft Close Initiated, Update on Part I and Part II Application Processing, AV and Designee Program Satisfaction Survey Results Published
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, Reference and Reminders, and Other Opportunities. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Other Opportunities Thank you!Illinois […]
TCS Group A Block Reaches Capacity, Soft Close Period Initiated
The annual block of capacity for the Traditional Community Solar (TCS) Group A block has been filled. Section 1.G of the Program Guidebook provides for a soft close period which allows the block to remain open for seven calendar days or when the next project applications submitted to the block would exceed capacity by 10 megawatts. […]
Update on Part I and Part II Application Processing Following Submission Spikes
Illinois Shines has an expected turnaround time for review of Part I and Part II applications of 10 days, and the Program provides daily application progress updates on the Project Application Reports page of the Program website. Due to a simultaneous spike in Small DG Part I applications and Part II application submissions, including a […]
Annual Report Opens July 1, MES Combined Compliance and Year-End Report Submission Deadline, Extension Form Use Required Starting July 1
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, Reference and Reminders, and Other Opportunities. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Other Opportunities Thank you!Illinois […]
Reminder: Use of New Energization Extension Request Form Required Starting July 1, 2026
As previously announced, the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) introduced the Illinois Shines Scheduled Energization Date Extension Request form for the 2026-27 Program Year, replacing the email submission Extension Request process. The new form streamlines the submission process and automatically notifies necessary stakeholders at the IPA, Program Administrator, and Utilities upon submission. The Extension Request Form […]
Self-Performance REC Adder Guidelines, June 26 IPA Power Hour on Elective Pay
The IPA announces new information related to the Illinois Shines program. This announcement includes: Coming Up in Illinois Shines, Stakeholder Support, Program News, Reference and Reminders, and Other Opportunities. The full announcement is available here. Topics include the following: Coming up in Illinois Shines Stakeholder Support Program News Reference and Reminders Other Opportunities Thank you!Illinois […]
Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) Community Solar Self-Performance REC Adder Guidelines
As established in the Modified 2026 Long-Term Plan, specified in section 1.J of the Program Guidebook, and beginning with Program Year 2026-27, a new $5/REC adder will be applied to the REC price for projects submitting into the Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) Community Solar (CS) subcategory where the EEC Approved Vendor (AV) “self-performs” at least […]