SB 1474

Abstract

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that there shall be created a low-income community hydropower pilot project program. Provides that under this program, persons shall propose pilot community hydropower projects. Provides that community hydropower projects proposed may exceed 2,000 kilowatts in nameplate capacity, and the amount paid per project under this program may not exceed $20,000,000. Provides that pilot projects must result in economic benefits for the members of the community in which the project will be located. Provides that the proposed pilot project must include a partnership with at least one community-based organization. Provides that approved pilot projects shall be competitively bid by the Illinois Power Agency, subject to fair and equitable guidelines developed by the Agency. Provides that contracts entered into under this program may be entered into with an entity that will develop and administer the program or with developers and shall also include contracts for renewable energy credits related to the program. Provides that a project proposed by a utility shall not be included in the utility's rate base. Makes corresponding changes to the Act and the Public Utilities Act. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 3855/1-56 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Changes the definitions of "community renewable generation project", "distributed renewable energy generation device", and "renewable energy resources". Defines "hydropower", "modernized", and "retooled". Provides that the Illinois Power Agency is authorized to oversee the procurement by electric utilities of renewable energy credits from newly modernized or retooled hydropower dams or dams that have been converted to support hydropower generation. Provides that in developing the long-term renewable resources procurement plan: the Agency shall also consider other approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, to procure renewable energy credits from new and existing hydropower facilities to support the development and maintenance of these facilities; and the Agency shall explore options to convert existing dams but shall not consider approaches to develop new dams where they do not already exist. Provides that on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, for all procurements of renewable energy credits from hydropower facilities, the Agency shall establish contract terms designed to optimize existing hydropower facilities through modernization or retooling and establish new hydropower facilities at existing dams, and that such procurements shall prioritize projects located in or adjacent to designated environmental justice communities or in projects located in units of local government with median incomes that do not exceed 82% of the median income of the State. Provides that all new, modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities are subject to the prevailing wage requirements under the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes other changes. Amends the Public Utilities Act. Provides that the renewable energy access plan developed and adopted by the Illinois Commerce Commission shall make findings and policy recommendations based on analysis regarding the impact of converting non-powered dams to hydropower dams relative to the alternative renewable energy resources. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that specified procurements shall prioritize projects located in designated environmental justice communities (rather than projects located in or adjacent to designated environmental justice communities).