The Illinois Power Agency is pleased to announce the release of Part I of its Equity Accountability System Assessment, an IPA-authored report assessing the effectiveness of statutory Equity Accountability System (EAS) provisions in promoting equity across the clean energy economy.
The Illinois Power Agency Act directs the IPA to establish an Equity Accountability System to ensure that underserved and disadvantaged communities have access to the opportunities created by the clean energy economy. Components of the Equity Accountability System include the following:
- A minimum equity standard (MES) applicable to the project workforce of companies participating in select IPA programs and procurements;
- A dedicated category within Illinois Shines for solar projects submitted by Equity Eligible Contactors (EECs);
- The availability of an advance of capital predating project development within the EEC category;
- Bid selection preferences for utility-scale solar and wind projects committed to using a higher percentage of equity eligible contractors in project construction; and
- An online portal used to link clean energy companies to Equity Eligible Persons.
These critical initiatives were introduced into Illinois law through the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act in 2021, although some components of the EAS did not take effect until 2023. Illinois law requires that the IPA “publish a report evaluating the effectiveness of the equity actions point criteria” by the Fall of 2024. This EAS Assessment provides that evaluation, with individual chapters or sections dedicated to evaluating the efficacy of each EAS component.
Because first-year Minimum Equity Standard compliance reports are still being received and reviewed, this Assessment is being released in two parts. The first part features a robust analysis of implementation of the Equity Accountability System based on an analysis of data collected through the Agency’s programs and procurements, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and other feedback. The second part, scheduled to be released in late 2024, will provide more robust discussion of MES compliance, including compliance rates, waiver rates, and related observations.
Additional information on IPA initiatives to promote equity across the clean energy economy can be found on the Equity Accountability System page at the Illinois Shines website and at the IPA’s Energy Workforce Equity Portal.
