Equity Eligible Persons (EEPs) and Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs)
The IPA Act defines “Equity Eligible Person” (EEP) as a person who would most benefit from equitable investments by the State designed to combat discrimination, specifically:
1. Graduates or current or former participants in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, Illinois Climate Works Pre-apprenticeship Program, Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, or the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program, and the Solar Training Pipeline and Multicultural Jobs Program;
2. Persons who are graduates of or currently enrolled in foster care system;
3. Persons who were formerly incarcerated;
4. Persons whose primary residence is in an Equity Investment Eligible Community (more information about these communities can be found on the Equity Investment Eligible Communities section of this page)
The IPA has further defined “persons who were formerly incarcerated” as any individual who (i) was sentenced to a term of imprisonment, not including juvenile detention, after the disposition of one or more misdemeanor or felony charges; and (ii) has completed their sentence. There is no time limit or expiration regarding when the incarceration occurred. The IPA defines “persons who are graduates of or currently enrolled in the foster care system” as any individual who is currently or was formerly a youth in care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, or the equivalent agency in another state.
The IPA Act defines “Equity Eligible Contractor” (EEC) as a business that is majority-owned by eligible persons, or a nonprofit or cooperative that is majority-governed by eligible persons, or is a natural person that is an eligible person offering personal services as an independent contractor. Under Illinois Shines, participating Approved Vendors and Designees, and Subcontractors can register as EECs. For more information about EEC registration and benefits of becoming an EEC, visit the Become an Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) page.
An EEC category within Illinois Shines was developed as part of the Equity Accountability System to have at least 10% from distributed renewable energy devices or community solar projects submitted by Approved Vendors that are EECs. The IPA Act requires the Agency, over time, to propose to increase the percentage in the EEC category to 40% based on factors including the number of EECs and capacity used in the EEC category in previous delivery years. Additional information on the EEC category can be found on the Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs) page.
FEJA and CEJA Job Training Programs
The following job training programs were funded by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA or P.A. 102-0662), passed in 2021, and the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA or P.A. 99-0906), passed in 2016. Graduation from or enrollment in one of these programs qualifies a person for Equity Eligible Person (EEP) status. If the EEP is a majority-owner of a business, nonprofit or cooperative, or is a natural person that is offering personal services as an independent contractor they may also qualify to become an Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC). Registration to become an EEC is on the Become an Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) page.
Graduates and current enrollees of job training programs made available by the Climate and Equity Jobs Act (CEJA) are eligible for EEP status. These programs and their offerors are listed below. Please note that information on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) selection of offerors for CEJA’s Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program and Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program can be found on the DCEO website. Please note that some offerors provide multiple trainings and only the specific CEJA training programs on this list are eligible for EEC certification.
- Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program: Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Joliet Junior College, College of Lake County, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Safer Foundation, The Workforce Connection, Parkland College, Community College District 536 (Lewis and Clark), 548 Foundation, College of DuPage, and Richland Community College
- Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program: 548 Foundation and Hire 360
- Energy Transition Navigator Program: Chicago Urban League, Community Assistance Program, Goodwill Industries of Northern IL, North Lawndale Employment Network, Central States SER, The Community Works Inc. NFP, Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago, Heaven’s View Community Development Corporation, Vermilion Advantage, NFP, Carbondale Branch NAACP, The Community Foundation of Macon County, and Senior Services Plus
Past graduates of job training programs made available by the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) are also eligible for EEP status. These programs and their offerors are listed below. Please note that some offerors provide multiple trainings and only the specific FEJA training programs on this list are eligible for EEC certification.
- Solar Pipeline Training Program: Elevate, Illinois Central College, OAI, Inc. and Safer Foundation
- Multi-Cultural Job Training Program: ASPIRA, Inc of Illinois (ASPIRA), Austin Peoples Action Center (APAC), Chatham Business Association Small Business Development, Inc (Chatham Business Association), Chicago Urban League, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), and National Latino Education Institute (NLEI).
- For a list of FEJA Grantees visit the IPA’s Energy Workforce Equity Portal.
A spreadsheet of CEJA and FEJA grantee awards, amounts, locations, and contact information can be found on the DCEO website. If you or a colleague are a graduate of or are enrolled in a training program and are unsure whether it is a qualifying program or require assistance in completing your EEC registration application, please reach out to the Program Administrator at eec@iillinoisshines.com.
Equity Investment Eligible Communities
Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIECs) are geographic areas throughout Illinois which would most benefit from equitable investments by the State designed to combat discrimination. The eligible communities are: (1) R3 Areas as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation Tax Act, where residents have historically been excluded from economic opportunities, including opportunities in the energy sector; and (2) Environmental justice communities, as defined by the Illinois Power Agency pursuant to the Illinois Power Agency Act, where residents have historically been subject to disproportionate burdens of pollution, including pollution from the energy sector.
As noted above, residing in an EIEC is one of the four qualifiers for certification as an EEP (thus is also a qualifier for certification as an EEC as well). The map of EIEC communities can be found on the IPA’s website:
Equity Eligible Contractors Utilizing Advance of Capital
A feature of the Equity Accountability System is the ability of Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs) to request an advance of a portion of REC Contract value prior to the associated project’s Energization. This capital advancement pre-energization is intended to serve EEC-certified businesses exhibiting true need and to support a more diverse Approved Vendor pool. Advance of capital requests must be submitted with the Part I application and are limited to projects participating in the EEC category of Illinois Shines. The Advance of Capital request template is linked in the Part I application. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the template can email eec@illinoisshines.com.
For more information, please see this announcement.
Final Advance of Capital Rationale
published December 12, 2023
Final Advance of Capital Evaluation Criteria
published December 12, 2023
