On behalf of the Illinois Shines program, the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) and Program Administrator welcome stakeholders to Program Year 2026-27. This Program Year includes new capacity for project categories, to continue the expansion of solar development in Illinois, and brings new requirements and Program features, updated Program documents, new REC prices and contracts, stakeholder resources, and more.
Find some of the many critical and updated Illinois Shines resources newly available for Program Year 2026-27, final block sizes, and more below. Resources can be found on the Program Documents page, Program Year Webinars page, and elsewhere on the Program website.
Updated Program Documents
- Program Guidebook – Published April 17, 2026 – Effective June 1, 2026
- Consumer Protection Handbook – Published April 17, 2026 – Effective June 1, 2026
- Distributed Generation and Community Solar Contract Requirements – Published April 17, 2026 – Effective June 1, 2026
- 2026-27 Program Year REC Prices and REC Payments Calculator –Effective June 1, 2026
- Small and Emerging Business Designation Information – Effective June 1, 2026
- Updated Energization Extension Request Information – Effective June 1, 2026
- Approved Vendor Application
- Approved Vendor Renewal Application
- Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) Application
Other Program Requirements and Resources
- Welcome to Program Year 2026-27 Webinar – Recorded May 21, 2026 – Recording, Presentation Slides, and Q&A (to be published at future date).
- REC Contract and 2025-26 Annual Report resources, including:
- Minimum Equity Standard (MES) resources, including:
- Minimum Equity Standard (MES) Combined Compliance and Year-End Report Opens for Submissions Announcement
- Resources and Guidance for EECs Complying with MES Reporting Requirements Announcement
- Guide to the Equity Accountability System and Illinois Shines
- MES Combined Compliance and Year-End Report Questions Sample – Released April 17, 2026
- Equity Eligible Contractor MES Combined Compliance and Year-End Report Questions Sample – Released April 17, 2026
- MES Mid-Year Report Questions Sample – Released April 17, 2026
- MES Compliance Plan for New Entities Questions Sample – Released April 17, 2026
- MES Compliance (April 15, 2026) Webinar Recording, Presentation Slides, and Q&A
- Community Solar Updates and Reminders for Program Year 2026-27
- Small DG Category Changes for Program Year 2026-27
- Prevailing Wage Hub
Final Block Sizes Included Reallocated Capacity from the 2025-26 Program Year and Following Capacity Awards for Waitlisted Projects
Illinois Shines features annual blocks of capacity that remain open until block capacity is exhausted for the Program Year, and unused or uncontracted capacity is redistributed after the close of a Program Year. A memo outlining the steps the Agency has taken to reallocate remaining capacity from the 2025-26 Program Year for use in the 2026-27 Program Year, and other important information, can be found here.
The following table summarizes the results of the aforementioned allocations and the amount of capacity that will be available for the 2026-27 Program Year opening on June 1, 2026. For a more detailed explanation of the calculations for the final block size and waitlist allocations please reference the Final Block Determinations Calculation Workbook on the Block Capacity Dashboard page of the Program website.
| Block | Group | Category | Tier (Public Schools only) | Size kW (Public Schools only) | 2026-27ProgramYear block priorto uncontracted capacity reallocation(MW) | 2026-27 ProgramYear final block size (MW) | 2025-26Program Year waitlist (MW) | 2026-27Program Year opening available capacity (MW) |
| CEJACategory | Group | Tier | 2026-27block+ reallocated uncontracted 2025-2026capacity | Finalblock size minus 2025-26waitlist allocation | ||||
| Small DG | N/A | DG | 180.00 | 236.71 | 0.00 | 236.71 | ||
| Large DG | N/A | DG | 180.00 | 236.71 | 0.00 | 236.71 | ||
| TCS | A (30%) | CS | 78.00 | 119.52 | 16.00 | 103.52 | ||
| TCS | B (70%) | CS | 182.00 | 241.54 | 0.00 | 241.54 | ||
| CDCS | A (30%) | CS | 15.00 | 19.25 | 0.00 | 19.25 | ||
| CDCS | B (70%) | CS | 35.00 | 53.40 | 8.48 | 44.92 | ||
| EEC | A (30%) | CS (75%) | 49.50 | 55.88 | 0.00 | 55.88 | ||
| DG (25%) | 16.50 | 18.63 | 0.00 | 18.63 | ||||
| B (70%) | CS (75%) | 115.50 | 130.39 | 0.00 | 130.39 | |||
| DG (25%) | 38.50 | 43.46 | 0.00 | 43.46 | ||||
| Public Schools | N/A | CS (25%) | Tier 1, 2, and EJC (70%) | <250(25%) | 4.81 | 6.67 | 0.00 | 6.67 |
| 250 – 1000(50%) | 9.63 | 13.35 | 13.35 | |||||
| 1000-5000(25%) | 4.81 | 6.67 | 6.67 | |||||
| Tier 3, 4(30%) | <250(25%) | 2.06 | 2.86 | 2.86 | ||||
| 250 – 1000(50%) | 4.13 | 5.72 | 5.72 | |||||
| 1000-5000(25%) | 2.06 | 2.86 | 2.86 | |||||
| DG (75%) | Tier 1, 2, and EJC (70%) | <250(25%) | 14.44 | 20.02 | 0.00 | 20.02 | ||
| 250 – 1000(50%) | 28.88 | 40.04 | 40.04 | |||||
| 1000-5000(25%) | 14.44 | 20.02 | 20.02 | |||||
| Tier 3, 4 (30%) | <250(25%) | 6.19 | 8.58 | 8.58 | ||||
| 250 – 1000(50%) | 12.37 | 17.15 | 17.15 | |||||
| 1000-5000(25%) | 6.18 | 8.57 | 8.57 |
All TCS projects submitted during the 2025-26 Program Year that are not yet scored will be reviewed and scored.
Illinois Shines Energization Extension Request Form Now Live
As previously announced, the IPA introduced a new Illinois Shines Energization Extension Request Form for the 2026-27 Program Year that will replace the existing Energization Extension Request process. The Extension Request Form is now live and can be accessed on the new Project Extensions and Removals page of the Program website.
The IPA will provide an adjustment period, in which it will accept email submitted extension requests, for the first month following the implementation of the form. However, starting July 1, 2026, the IPA expects all Extension Requests be made through the Extension Request Form and will not accept requests made via email.
The Program has additionally published a Guide to Extension Requests and updated FAQs on the subject. For any questions, AVs are encouraged to attend office hours throughout the month of June, where a dedicated IPA representative will be present, and/ or reach out to [email protected].
For available Office Hours support, please see the May 29, 2026, Program announcement. For assistance at any time, please contact the Program Administrator at [email protected] or (877) 783-1820.
Thank you!
Illinois Shines Program
[email protected]