Program Updates
- Community-Driven Community Solar category hub, Traditional Community Solar category hub, Vendor Updates
Reminder: Program Seeks Community Solar AV and Designee Feedback on Subscriber Management Portal Feature – Survey Deadline August 31, 2026
Dear Community Solar Approved Vendors and Designees, Earlier this year, the Program Administrator successfully delivered a new Subscriber Management portal feature, reflecting stakeholder input. The feature allows users to upload subscription data, edit and terminate subscriptions, and manage subscribed or unsubscribed disclosure forms, including project permissions for both Approved Vendors
- Community-Driven Community Solar category hub, Vendor Updates
Reminder: CDCS Application Deadline for Program Year 2026-27 is Monday, August 31, 2026
As outlined in Section 5 of the Program Guidebook, the Community-Driven Community Solar (CDCS) application window closes 90 days after the start of the Program Year. With the Program Year commencing on June 1, 2026, the application submission deadline for Program Year 2026-27 CDCS projects is Monday, August 31, 2026,
- Equity Eligible Contractors category hub, Vendor Updates
Reminder: Registration for 2026-27 Mentorship Program Fall Cohort Closes Friday, August 28, 2026
Mentee and mentor registration for the 2026-27 Mentorship Program Fall Cohort opened August 17, 2026, on the Mentorship Program page and will close this Friday, August 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CPT. AVs and Designees certified as Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs), AVs designated as Small and Emerging Businesses, and/or businesses
- Vendor Updates
Mentorship Program Fall Cohort Registration Open, New Guide for Real Estate Professionals, New Large DG Case Study
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
- Consumer Updates, Vendor Updates
Illinois Shines Releases Guide for Real Estate Professionals Navigating a Home Sale with Illinois Shines
The Illinois Power Agency prioritizes educating consumers about the decision to go solar and has developed a variety of resources to support Program understanding and encourage awareness of available consumer protections. To complement its library of consumer-oriented materials, and in light of the growing number of homes with energized Illinois
- Consumer Updates, Large DG category hub, Vendor Updates
Case Study: How Harrisburg, IL Sparked Economic Growth by Embracing Solar
The Program’s newest case study spotlights seven municipal solar projects in Harrisburg, Illinois. The city government partnered with a local Approved Vendor to develop solar on City Hall, the Fire Department, and Water Department buildings, among others, through Illinois Shines’ Small and Large Distributed Generation categories. The case study highlights