Registration for 2025-26 Mentorship Program Winter Cohort Now Open
Registration for AVs and Designees for the 2025-26 Mentorship Program Winter Cohort is now openandwill close on December 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CPT. Please submit your application to participate by navigating to the Mentorship Program page. The Mentorship Program provides mentees with virtual courses and trainings covering Program processes and requirements, and facilitates opportunities to network […]
Illinois Shines Honors Graduating Mentees of Program Year 2025-26 Mentorship Program Fall Cohort
The Illinois Shines Program Year 2025-26 Mentorship Program Fall Cohort concluded Thursday, November 20, 2025, with an in-person graduation and celebration event for mentees. The event capped an eight-week Mentorship Program from September to November, during which mentees completed virtual training courses and participated in live, interactive sessions with experienced AV mentors and the Program […]
Illinois Shines Releases Latest State of the Program Communication
Illinois Shines has released its latest State of the Program communication, reflecting updates from Program Year 2025-26. The communication, published twice yearly, details key areas of Program progress, implemented solutions, current initiatives, forums to solicit and address stakeholder needs and requests, and an updated Program vision and stakeholder commitments from the Program Administrator. Updates are provided […]
Reminders – Public Schools Prioritization Window and Designee Renewal Deadlines, Phishing Attempts
As set forth in the Long-Term Plan and the Program Guidebook, the following items have December 1, 2025, deadlines: Phishing EmailsThe Illinois Shines Program Administrator has been alerted to phishing attempts sent via email to stakeholders this week, asking AVs and Designees to update their contact information. These emails look official, as they include the […]
CDCS Program Year 2025-26 Scores Released, Program Holiday Hours, IPA Webpage on Utility-Scale Projects
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 Scores for Program Year 2025-2026
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. 2024-25 […]
IPA to Host First Webinar on Elective Pay Tax Benefit
Elective Pay is a new mechanism that allows tax-exempt entities to file a tax return and receive a reimbursement for a portion of their project costs. The IPA is interested in ensuring that entities across Illinois leverage federal incentives for their solar and other clean energy projects, including by using Elective Pay to reimburse up to […]
Updates Following 2025-26 Program Year Re-Opening, Winter Mentorship Registration, Program Releases MES Year-End Report Implementation Report
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]
Reminders: Closure Date for 180-Day Prioritization Window for Public Schools Subcategory and Designee Renewal Deadline
As set forth in the Long-Term Plan and the Program Guidebook, the following items have December 1, 2025, deadlines: 180-Day Prioritization Window for Public Schools SubcategoriesAs stated in the Program Guidebook Section 1.E, Public Schools capacity is allocated by Group, tier, location, and project size subcategories. If any of the allocations are not filled within […]
Updates Following 2025-26 Program Year Re-Opening
Following the Order on the 2024 Long-Term Plan Re-Opening, a brief Program pause occurred to undertake data and reporting updates, and to allocate capacity to waitlisted applications. The pause concluded on October 31, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. CPT. The Portal and Program website were updated to reflect the Order’s instruction to expand capacity for the 2025-26 […]