Some electric companies pay out two lump sums one at seven years and one at 15 years. On Sept. 15, 2021, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (Public Act 102-0662) was signed into law by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. However, CEJA altered the program from this cascading approach to an annual block approach. Illinois has a very favorable net metering program that helps bring down effective energy costs. A renewable energy certificate (REC) is a market-based instrument that represents the property rights to the environmental, social, and other non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation. Still, we think this is an outstanding solar perk and well worth the time it takes to apply. As a solar and EV advocate, much of his work has focused on the potential of solar power and deregulated energy, but he also writes on related topics, like real estate and economics. For small residential & commercial systems under 25 kW (AC) the SREC payment will occur in one payment. Community Solar Subscriber: A person who (i) takes delivery service from an electric utility, municipal utility, or rural electric cooperative, and (ii) has a subscription of no less than 200 watts to a community renewable generation project that is located in the utilitys service area. The Illinois SREC program could potentially cover 20% to 40% of your total solar investment for residential and business applications! 2021 Illinois Solar Incentives - Solar One USA The value of an SREC is determined by the market subject to supply and . These can be single projects or bundled together to meet that What are the most efficient solar panels? RPS Timeline Give us a call today to learn more from our experts and how this may potentially be a great opportunity for your solar power system. Is IL proposing increasing incentives for rooftop solar in the next 24 months? In addition to the federal and statewide solar perks mentioned above, there are two other local incentives that might be available to you, depending on where you live. SRECs are a great way for businesses and nonprofits to generate savings in Illinois. Illinois has two main solar policies that will have the biggest financial impact on your investment: Under the Adjustable Block Program, also known as Illinois Shines, you can earn one solar renewable energy certificate (SREC) for each megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity your solar system produces over 15 years. Small Subscriber: A residential or small commercial customer with a subscription below 25 kW. The incentive is called a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC), and its administered by the Illinois Shines Program. This program is undergoing some changes in the summer of 2022, but the basic premise remains the same: home solar producers can earn 1 SREC for every MWh of electricity produced by their systems and can sell these to earn additional income. RECs What You Need to Know About the Illinois Shines Program, What You Need to Know About the Illinois Solar for All Program, What You Need to Know About the Solar Property Tax Exemption in Illinois. These payments to your Approved Vendor will help offset the cost of your new PV system or your community solar subscription. Massachssets:Solar Systems under 25 KWs can collect SRECs for 10 years. If youre ready to take advantage of this highly beneficial Illinois solar incentive, give us a call or contact us today. Mid-American also offers net metering and allows for a shorter than 12 months initial billing period. Illinois offers a property tax exemption for home solar installations. Approved Vendor Info - Illinois Shines This incentive also takes basically no time to apply for, as youll be opted in automatically by your electric company. The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) requires that procurement bids meet a minimum of 1MW of installed capacity. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the piece of legislation that extended the federal credit and bumped up the credit rate. Distributed Generation (DG): A system which is located on-site, behind a customers meter, and used primarily to offset a single customers load; it cannot exceed 2,000 kW AC in size. The SREC program in Illinois called the IL Solar Shines Program credits you for all solar power you produce with your system. RECs are a way to track and monetize these environmental benefits and compensate owners for the countless benefits to Illinois. Educational Videos The kind of credits you get each month for surplus energy depends on the price you pay for energy from ComEd and whether you received the utilitys commercial distributed generation rebate (not currently available for residential arrays). The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created the investment tax credit (ITC) for commercial and residential solar energy systems. Like homeowners, small businesses and nonprofits can apply to the Illinois Shines program through an approved vendor. Newsletter Sign Up, News & Announcements On 9/15/21 the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act was approved which includes new funding for the Illinois Shines SREC program. This may earn customers a rebate from the utility. It takes just a few minutes to apply for when youre filing your taxes, and it provides an average value of over $6,000 in the Prairie State, provided you have a tax liability that allows you to take the full credit. Leigh Matthews, BA Hons, H.Dip. It credits all solar customers for solar production, and those energy credits can then be sold for a profit. Even if you arent quite ready to make your solar purchase, these Illinois solar rebates and incentives are sure to make the case for why solar is a smart decision in the Land of Lincoln. Its possible that the future holds a less appealing avoided-cost rate for excess energy in Illinois or no compensation at all. Assuming you have an average system installed and typical energy bills for the area around $93.98 and your panels generate enough to offset 50% of your bill, this program could save you an average of $11,277 over the first 20 years of the panels lifespan. If youre an Ameren Illinois customer with a Smart Inverter that meets eligibility requirements, you can apply for the rebate here. All Rights Reserved. Illinois Power Agency Energy Workforce Equity Portal The portal is an online source designed to help connect clean energy companies with Equity Eligible Persons looking to work in the clean energy sector in Illinois. What to know about Illinois' SREC program The best states for a home solar energy system aren't always the sunniest; those who benefit the most from installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system for their home spend a lot of money on electricity and live in a state with good solar programs and incentives. This Act included significant changes to the Adjustable Block/Illinois Shines program. Which Tax Incentives Are The Best In Illinois? You are not guaranteed to save money unless your contract includes an explicit guarantee. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. With the passing of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, however, this 5% cap has been removed. Call us at (773) 812-3447 for more information on SRECs. Want to find the best deal on solar in all of Illinois? The credits you accrue roll over for an entire year, and you can choose from two different billing periods for your credits to get reset to zero annually. represents the clean attributes of solar electricity. The perks available are plentiful and highly beneficial, and the state is currently on track to meet its RPS goal. The Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) took effect on June 1, 2017 and is designed to stimulate job creation in clean energy, assist the state in meeting its ambitious RPS goal by 2025, and promote energy efficiency. Click below and use our process to receive multiple quotes instead: Connect with approved solar installers in your area. Learn More about the IPA's implementation activities under CEJA. Before joining EcoWatch, Karsten worked in the solar energy sector, studying energy policy, climate tech and environmental education. The overall Illinois Shines program address three areas: Distributed Generation, or DG for short refers to behind the meter solar systems intended to generate electricity for the home or building they are connected to. If you are looking for information on a program serving low-income and environmental justice communities, please visit the Illinois Solar for All program site. Then for systems under 10kW you receive a lump sum payment after your solar array has been installed in one lump sum. capacity. Phone. How do I go about finding someone to install solar on my roof/property? Contact us at. General Program Information - Illinois Shines This is because the utility uses either April or October as the annual billing period end. solar calculator. Find the best price from solar installers in Illinois. are not able to meet that guideline. Updates to the SREC Program - October 2022 | Tick Tock Energy News See why here. All rights reserved. Solar farms: what are they and how do they work? Federal and state incentives are offered to ComEd customers who choose to go solar. Learn more about the technology of photovoltaics from the US Department of Energy here: Consulting with an Approved Vendor is the best way to figure out if your home (either your roof or your property for ground mounted systems) would be a good fit for a solar system. A list of Approved Vendors participating in Illinois Shines can be found. More information about these programs can be found in the Administrative Code document above. The program could get less beneficial in the future as it is in some other states, but right now, this is our pick for the second most crucial benefit program to take advantage of in Illinois. Thats because the summer months are usually the highest production months for home solar. I want solar! Keep in mind that the ITC applies only to those who buy their PV system outright (either with a cash purchase or a solar loan), and that you must have enough income for the tax credit to be meaningful (unless youre a tax-exempt entity, in which case you might be eligible for a direct payment). ComEd's Participating in Illinois Shines means you play an important role in helping the State meet its renewable energy goals. What new incentives are there in Illinois following the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act? Illinois Shines Resumes Acceptance of Traditional Community Solar Project Applications. See solar prices from qualified, local companies. Otherwise, youre paying to produce energy for which the utility wont compensate you. Once you move forward with a solar company, theyll work with you and the state to ensure that your system is eligible for SRECs once its operational. Additionally, the Illinois Shines Program has been a bit rocky in the past. Learn more below. Its a perfect incentive for businesses, farms, homes, non-profits, government buildings, others to take advantage of. solar panel. If your project is on the waitlist first seeking confirmation of funding, now is the time to move forward. Solar projects serviced by Ameren Illinois, MidAmerican, Mt. Participants in the Solar for All program can expect no upfront costs to install solar, no ongoing costs (i.e., free maintenance), and fees that wont exceed 50% of the value of energy generated by the system. Office. Illinois Adjustable Block Program Overview - Carbon Solutions SREC Trading How does the Illinois SREC program work? To learn about any incentives you may qualify for, launch our Solar Incentives & Rebates | ComEd - An Exelon Company Illinois SREC Program - YouTube We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) Program is an excellent option for low-income households to convert to solar power. The tax exemption prevents the value of your solar panel system from contributing to your tax-assessed value. With EnergySage, you can compare your solar options when you receive quotes from the best local solar installers near you. Carbon Solutions Group (CSG) is serving as a Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) Aggregator for the Illinois Adjustable Block Program. Like other solar tax credits, with the ITC you can deduct 26% of the cost of your solar energy system from your federal taxes. Illinois Power Agency2022. Casey is an EnergySage writer covering solar, community solar, and sustainability. Importantly, the pricing of your SRECs is fixed, and when you receive the incentive depends on the size of your solar panel system; if youre installing a system with an inverter size of less than 10 kW, you receive your SREC incentive as an upfront lump-sum payment. Learn actionable tips for making each room in your home greener. At that time, youll be paid a lump sum for all of the credits you accrued. The document titled "2022 Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan" below provides information pertaining to the Renewable Energy Credit (REC) program. For each megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity your solar system produces, you will be granted one SREC. Solar House Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) offers one of the best net metering programs in Illinois. Illinois SRECs help those solar system owners recoup their investment. (Same as System), Renewable Energy Credit (REC) or Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC): The environmental attributes represented by 1 MWh of electricity generated by a renewable generator. Absolutely! Recent Posts. Lastly, each size range within a category corresponds to an SREC price. Formore details on Net Metering, view our Frequently Asked Questions. Failure to enroll or re-enroll may significantly impact the value you receive from your PV system. Community Solar Resources Distributed Generation Project Developer (DG Project Developer): A DG, Project Developer may oversee client relationships, design of the solar project, and site management. To receive the rebate, your solar panel system cannot be larger than 2,000 kW in capacity. TheIllinois Solar for Allprogram helps low-income households install solar panels with no upfront costs. You dont need to apply for anything or file any paperwork, and the savings are massive. For a personalized assessment of the credits and rebates you may qualify for, launch our Karsten is an editor and energy specialist focused on environmental, social and cultural development. No, there are currently no plans for incentives to become less beneficial in Illinois in the next two years. Above, weve discussed all of the incentives available to Illinois property owners. Our experts will be happy to discuss this exciting incentive and make sure you understand all the rewarding benefits Illinois SRECs can potentially bring to your project. The PUC mandates that all excess energy be credited at the full retail rate, which gives you the best chance of eliminating your utility bills. Utility companies that need to meet the states RPS goals buy them to remain in compliance. This incentive can net you several hundred dollars each year, seriously reducing your solar payback period. Designee: Third-party (i.e., non-Approved Vendor) entities that have direct interaction with end-use customers.