103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB1353 Introduced 2/6/2023, by Sen. Patrick J. Joyce SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-2020 ILCS 3855/1-75 Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency is authorized to oversee the procurement by electric utilities of renewable energy credits from new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities in accordance with the planning and procurement provisions of the Act. Provides that the Agency shall not comply with the annual percentage targets of the long-term renewable resources procurement plan by procuring renewable energy credits that are unlikely to lead to the development of new renewable resources or modernized or retooled hydroelectric resources (rather than the development of new renewable resources). Provides that the Agency shall consider other approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, to procure renewable energy credits from new and existing hydroelectric facilities to support the development and maintenance of these facilities. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, for all procurements of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities, the Agency shall establish contract terms designed to optimize existing hydroelectric facilities through modernization or retooling. Provides that procurement of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities shall comply with specified geographic requirements. Provides that all new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements included in the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a change in provisions concerning definitions. LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB1353 Introduced 2/6/2023, by Sen. Patrick J. Joyce SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-2020 ILCS 3855/1-75 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency is authorized to oversee the procurement by electric utilities of renewable energy credits from new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities in accordance with the planning and procurement provisions of the Act. Provides that the Agency shall not comply with the annual percentage targets of the long-term renewable resources procurement plan by procuring renewable energy credits that are unlikely to lead to the development of new renewable resources or modernized or retooled hydroelectric resources (rather than the development of new renewable resources). Provides that the Agency shall consider other approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, to procure renewable energy credits from new and existing hydroelectric facilities to support the development and maintenance of these facilities. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, for all procurements of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities, the Agency shall establish contract terms designed to optimize existing hydroelectric facilities through modernization or retooling. Provides that procurement of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities shall comply with specified geographic requirements. Provides that all new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements included in the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a change in provisions concerning definitions. LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB1353 Introduced 2/6/2023, by Sen. Patrick J. Joyce SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-2020 ILCS 3855/1-75 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency is authorized to oversee the procurement by electric utilities of renewable energy credits from new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities in accordance with the planning and procurement provisions of the Act. Provides that the Agency shall not comply with the annual percentage targets of the long-term renewable resources procurement plan by procuring renewable energy credits that are unlikely to lead to the development of new renewable resources or modernized or retooled hydroelectric resources (rather than the development of new renewable resources). Provides that the Agency shall consider other approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, to procure renewable energy credits from new and existing hydroelectric facilities to support the development and maintenance of these facilities. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, for all procurements of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities, the Agency shall establish contract terms designed to optimize existing hydroelectric facilities through modernization or retooling. Provides that procurement of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities shall comply with specified geographic requirements. Provides that all new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements included in the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a change in provisions concerning definitions. LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b A BILL FOR SB1353LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 AN ACT concerning State government. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by 5 changing Sections 1-10, 1-20, and 1-75 as follows: 6 (20 ILCS 3855/1-10) 7 Sec. 1-10. Definitions. 8 "Agency" means the Illinois Power Agency. 9 "Agency loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to 10 which the Illinois Finance Authority agrees to loan the 11 proceeds of revenue bonds issued with respect to a project to 12 the Agency upon terms providing for loan repayment 13 installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal 14 of, interest and premium, if any, on those revenue bonds, and 15 providing for maintenance, insurance, and other matters in 16 respect of the project. 17 "Authority" means the Illinois Finance Authority. 18 "Brownfield site photovoltaic project" means photovoltaics 19 that are either: 20 (1) interconnected to an electric utility as defined 21 in this Section, a municipal utility as defined in this 22 Section, a public utility as defined in Section 3-105 of 23 the Public Utilities Act, or an electric cooperative as 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB1353 Introduced 2/6/2023, by Sen. Patrick J. Joyce SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-2020 ILCS 3855/1-75 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Provides that the Illinois Power Agency is authorized to oversee the procurement by electric utilities of renewable energy credits from new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities in accordance with the planning and procurement provisions of the Act. Provides that the Agency shall not comply with the annual percentage targets of the long-term renewable resources procurement plan by procuring renewable energy credits that are unlikely to lead to the development of new renewable resources or modernized or retooled hydroelectric resources (rather than the development of new renewable resources). Provides that the Agency shall consider other approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, to procure renewable energy credits from new and existing hydroelectric facilities to support the development and maintenance of these facilities. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, for all procurements of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities, the Agency shall establish contract terms designed to optimize existing hydroelectric facilities through modernization or retooling. Provides that procurement of renewable energy credits from hydroelectric facilities shall comply with specified geographic requirements. Provides that all new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower facilities shall be subject to the prevailing wage requirements included in the Prevailing Wage Act. Makes a change in provisions concerning definitions. LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b A BILL FOR 20 ILCS 3855/1-10 20 ILCS 3855/1-20 20 ILCS 3855/1-75 LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 2 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 2 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 2 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 defined in Section 3-119 of the Public Utilities Act and 2 located at a site that is regulated by any of the following 3 entities under the following programs: 4 (A) the United States Environmental Protection 5 Agency under the federal Comprehensive Environmental 6 Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as 7 amended; 8 (B) the United States Environmental Protection 9 Agency under the Corrective Action Program of the 10 federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as 11 amended; 12 (C) the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 13 under the Illinois Site Remediation Program; or 14 (D) the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency 15 under the Illinois Solid Waste Program; or 16 (2) located at the site of a coal mine that has 17 permanently ceased coal production, permanently halted any 18 re-mining operations, and is no longer accepting any coal 19 combustion residues; has both completed all clean-up and 20 remediation obligations under the federal Surface Mining 21 and Reclamation Act of 1977 and all applicable Illinois 22 rules and any other clean-up, remediation, or ongoing 23 monitoring to safeguard the health and well-being of the 24 people of the State of Illinois, as well as demonstrated 25 compliance with all applicable federal and State 26 environmental rules and regulations, including, but not SB1353 - 2 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 3 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 3 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 3 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 limited, to 35 Ill. Adm. Code Part 845 and any rules for 2 historic fill of coal combustion residuals, including any 3 rules finalized in Subdocket A of Illinois Pollution 4 Control Board docket R2020-019. 5 "Clean coal facility" means an electric generating 6 facility that uses primarily coal as a feedstock and that 7 captures and sequesters carbon dioxide emissions at the 8 following levels: at least 50% of the total carbon dioxide 9 emissions that the facility would otherwise emit if, at the 10 time construction commences, the facility is scheduled to 11 commence operation before 2016, at least 70% of the total 12 carbon dioxide emissions that the facility would otherwise 13 emit if, at the time construction commences, the facility is 14 scheduled to commence operation during 2016 or 2017, and at 15 least 90% of the total carbon dioxide emissions that the 16 facility would otherwise emit if, at the time construction 17 commences, the facility is scheduled to commence operation 18 after 2017. The power block of the clean coal facility shall 19 not exceed allowable emission rates for sulfur dioxide, 20 nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulates and mercury for 21 a natural gas-fired combined-cycle facility the same size as 22 and in the same location as the clean coal facility at the time 23 the clean coal facility obtains an approved air permit. All 24 coal used by a clean coal facility shall have high volatile 25 bituminous rank and greater than 1.7 pounds of sulfur per 26 million Btu btu content, unless the clean coal facility does SB1353 - 3 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 4 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 4 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 4 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 not use gasification technology and was operating as a 2 conventional coal-fired electric generating facility on June 3 1, 2009 (the effective date of Public Act 95-1027). 4 "Clean coal SNG brownfield facility" means a facility that 5 (1) has commenced construction by July 1, 2015 on an urban 6 brownfield site in a municipality with at least 1,000,000 7 residents; (2) uses a gasification process to produce 8 substitute natural gas; (3) uses coal as at least 50% of the 9 total feedstock over the term of any sourcing agreement with a 10 utility and the remainder of the feedstock may be either 11 petroleum coke or coal, with all such coal having a high 12 bituminous rank and greater than 1.7 pounds of sulfur per 13 million Btu content unless the facility reasonably determines 14 that it is necessary to use additional petroleum coke to 15 deliver additional consumer savings, in which case the 16 facility shall use coal for at least 35% of the total feedstock 17 over the term of any sourcing agreement; and (4) captures and 18 sequesters at least 85% of the total carbon dioxide emissions 19 that the facility would otherwise emit. 20 "Clean coal SNG facility" means a facility that uses a 21 gasification process to produce substitute natural gas, that 22 sequesters at least 90% of the total carbon dioxide emissions 23 that the facility would otherwise emit, that uses at least 90% 24 coal as a feedstock, with all such coal having a high 25 bituminous rank and greater than 1.7 pounds of sulfur per 26 million Btu btu content, and that has a valid and effective SB1353 - 4 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 5 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 5 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 5 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 permit to construct emission sources and air pollution control 2 equipment and approval with respect to the federal regulations 3 for Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality 4 (PSD) for the plant pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act; 5 provided, however, a clean coal SNG brownfield facility shall 6 not be a clean coal SNG facility. 7 "Clean energy" means energy generation that is 90% or 8 greater free of carbon dioxide emissions. 9 "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission. 10 "Community renewable generation project" means an electric 11 generating facility that: 12 (1) is powered by wind, solar thermal energy, 13 photovoltaic cells or panels, biodiesel, crops and 14 untreated and unadulterated organic waste biomass, and 15 hydropower that does not involve new construction or 16 significant expansion of hydropower dams; 17 (2) is interconnected at the distribution system level 18 of an electric utility as defined in this Section, a 19 municipal utility as defined in this Section that owns or 20 operates electric distribution facilities, a public 21 utility as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public 22 Utilities Act, or an electric cooperative, as defined in 23 Section 3-119 of the Public Utilities Act; 24 (3) credits the value of electricity generated by the 25 facility to the subscribers of the facility; and 26 (4) is limited in nameplate capacity to less than or SB1353 - 5 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 6 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 6 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 6 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 equal to 5,000 kilowatts. 2 "Costs incurred in connection with the development and 3 construction of a facility" means: 4 (1) the cost of acquisition of all real property, 5 fixtures, and improvements in connection therewith and 6 equipment, personal property, and other property, rights, 7 and easements acquired that are deemed necessary for the 8 operation and maintenance of the facility; 9 (2) financing costs with respect to bonds, notes, and 10 other evidences of indebtedness of the Agency; 11 (3) all origination, commitment, utilization, 12 facility, placement, underwriting, syndication, credit 13 enhancement, and rating agency fees; 14 (4) engineering, design, procurement, consulting, 15 legal, accounting, title insurance, survey, appraisal, 16 escrow, trustee, collateral agency, interest rate hedging, 17 interest rate swap, capitalized interest, contingency, as 18 required by lenders, and other financing costs, and other 19 expenses for professional services; and 20 (5) the costs of plans, specifications, site study and 21 investigation, installation, surveys, other Agency costs 22 and estimates of costs, and other expenses necessary or 23 incidental to determining the feasibility of any project, 24 together with such other expenses as may be necessary or 25 incidental to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and 26 construction of a specific project and starting up, SB1353 - 6 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 7 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 7 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 7 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 commissioning, and placing that project in operation. 2 "Delivery services" has the same definition as found in 3 Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. 4 "Delivery year" means the consecutive 12-month period 5 beginning June 1 of a given year and ending May 31 of the 6 following year. 7 "Department" means the Department of Commerce and Economic 8 Opportunity. 9 "Director" means the Director of the Illinois Power 10 Agency. 11 "Demand-response" means measures that decrease peak 12 electricity demand or shift demand from peak to off-peak 13 periods. 14 "Distributed renewable energy generation device" means a 15 device that is: 16 (1) powered by wind, solar thermal energy, 17 photovoltaic cells or panels, biodiesel, crops and 18 untreated and unadulterated organic waste biomass, tree 19 waste, and hydropower that does not involve new 20 construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams, 21 waste heat to power systems, or qualified combined heat 22 and power systems; 23 (2) interconnected at the distribution system level of 24 either an electric utility as defined in this Section, a 25 municipal utility as defined in this Section that owns or 26 operates electric distribution facilities, or a rural SB1353 - 7 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 8 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 8 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 8 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 electric cooperative as defined in Section 3-119 of the 2 Public Utilities Act; 3 (3) located on the customer side of the customer's 4 electric meter and is primarily used to offset that 5 customer's electricity load; and 6 (4) (blank). 7 "Energy efficiency" means measures that reduce the amount 8 of electricity or natural gas consumed in order to achieve a 9 given end use. "Energy efficiency" includes voltage 10 optimization measures that optimize the voltage at points on 11 the electric distribution voltage system and thereby reduce 12 electricity consumption by electric customers' end use 13 devices. "Energy efficiency" also includes measures that 14 reduce the total Btus of electricity, natural gas, and other 15 fuels needed to meet the end use or uses. 16 "Electric utility" has the same definition as found in 17 Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. 18 "Equity investment eligible community" or "eligible 19 community" are synonymous and mean the geographic areas 20 throughout Illinois which would most benefit from equitable 21 investments by the State designed to combat discrimination. 22 Specifically, the eligible communities shall be defined as the 23 following areas: 24 (1) R3 Areas as established pursuant to Section 10-40 25 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, where residents 26 have historically been excluded from economic SB1353 - 8 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 9 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 9 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 9 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 opportunities, including opportunities in the energy 2 sector; and 3 (2) environmental Environmental justice communities, 4 as defined by the Illinois Power Agency pursuant to the 5 Illinois Power Agency Act, where residents have 6 historically been subject to disproportionate burdens of 7 pollution, including pollution from the energy sector. 8 "Equity eligible persons" or "eligible persons" means 9 persons who would most benefit from equitable investments by 10 the State designed to combat discrimination, specifically: 11 (1) persons who graduate from or are current or former 12 participants in the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, 13 the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, the 14 Illinois Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, 15 Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, or the 16 Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program, and 17 the solar training pipeline and multi-cultural jobs 18 program created in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(3) of Section 19 16-208.12 16-108.21 of the Public Utilities Act; 20 (2) persons who are graduates of or currently enrolled 21 in the foster care system; 22 (3) persons who were formerly incarcerated; 23 (4) persons whose primary residence is in an equity 24 investment eligible community. 25 "Equity eligible contractor" means a business that is 26 majority-owned by eligible persons, or a nonprofit or SB1353 - 9 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 10 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 10 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 10 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 cooperative that is majority-governed by eligible persons, or 2 is a natural person that is an eligible person offering 3 personal services as an independent contractor. 4 "Facility" means an electric generating unit or a 5 co-generating unit that produces electricity along with 6 related equipment necessary to connect the facility to an 7 electric transmission or distribution system. 8 "General contractor Contractor" means the entity or 9 organization with main responsibility for the building of a 10 construction project and who is the party signing the prime 11 construction contract for the project. 12 "Governmental aggregator" means one or more units of local 13 government that individually or collectively procure 14 electricity to serve residential retail electrical loads 15 located within its or their jurisdiction. 16 "High voltage direct current converter station" means the 17 collection of equipment that converts direct current energy 18 from a high voltage direct current transmission line into 19 alternating current using Voltage Source Conversion technology 20 and that is interconnected with transmission or distribution 21 assets located in Illinois. 22 "High voltage direct current renewable energy credit" 23 means a renewable energy credit associated with a renewable 24 energy resource where the renewable energy resource has 25 entered into a contract to transmit the energy associated with 26 such renewable energy credit over high voltage direct current SB1353 - 10 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 11 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 11 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 11 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 transmission facilities. 2 "High voltage direct current transmission facilities" 3 means the collection of installed equipment that converts 4 alternating current energy in one location to direct current 5 and transmits that direct current energy to a high voltage 6 direct current converter station using Voltage Source 7 Conversion technology. "High voltage direct current 8 transmission facilities" includes the high voltage direct 9 current converter station itself and associated high voltage 10 direct current transmission lines. Notwithstanding the 11 preceding, after September 15, 2021 (the effective date of 12 Public Act 102-662) this amendatory Act of the 102nd General 13 Assembly, an otherwise qualifying collection of equipment does 14 not qualify as high voltage direct current transmission 15 facilities unless its developer entered into a project labor 16 agreement, is capable of transmitting electricity at 525kv 17 with an Illinois converter station located and interconnected 18 in the region of the PJM Interconnection, LLC, and the system 19 does not operate as a public utility, as that term is defined 20 in Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act. 21 "Index price" means the real-time energy settlement price 22 at the applicable Illinois trading hub, such as PJM-NIHUB or 23 MISO-IL, for a given settlement period. 24 "Indexed renewable energy credit" means a tradable credit 25 that represents the environmental attributes of one megawatt 26 hour of energy produced from a renewable energy resource, the SB1353 - 11 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 12 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 12 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 12 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 price of which shall be calculated by subtracting the strike 2 price offered by a new utility-scale wind project or a new 3 utility-scale photovoltaic project from the index price in a 4 given settlement period. 5 "Indexed renewable energy credit counterparty" has the 6 same meaning as "public utility" as defined in Section 3-105 7 of the Public Utilities Act. 8 "Local government" means a unit of local government as 9 defined in Section 1 of Article VII of the Illinois 10 Constitution. 11 "Municipality" means a city, village, or incorporated 12 town. 13 "Municipal utility" means a public utility owned and 14 operated by any subdivision or municipal corporation of this 15 State. 16 "Nameplate capacity" means the aggregate inverter 17 nameplate capacity in kilowatts AC. 18 "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, 19 corporation, either domestic or foreign, company, association, 20 limited liability company, joint stock company, or association 21 and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal 22 representative thereof. 23 "Project" means the planning, bidding, and construction of 24 a facility. 25 "Project labor agreement" means a pre-hire collective 26 bargaining agreement that covers all terms and conditions of SB1353 - 12 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 13 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 13 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 13 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 employment on a specific construction project and must include 2 the following: 3 (1) provisions establishing the minimum hourly wage 4 for each class of labor organization employee; 5 (2) provisions establishing the benefits and other 6 compensation for each class of labor organization 7 employee; 8 (3) provisions establishing that no strike or disputes 9 will be engaged in by the labor organization employees; 10 (4) provisions establishing that no lockout or 11 disputes will be engaged in by the general contractor 12 building the project; and 13 (5) provisions for minorities and women, as defined 14 under the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and 15 Persons with Disabilities Act, setting forth goals for 16 apprenticeship hours to be performed by minorities and 17 women and setting forth goals for total hours to be 18 performed by underrepresented minorities and women. 19 A labor organization and the general contractor building 20 the project shall have the authority to include other terms 21 and conditions as they deem necessary. 22 "Public utility" has the same definition as found in 23 Section 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act. 24 "Qualified combined heat and power systems" means systems 25 that, either simultaneously or sequentially, produce 26 electricity and useful thermal energy from a single fuel SB1353 - 13 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 14 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 14 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 14 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 source. Such systems are eligible for "renewable energy 2 credits" in an amount equal to its total energy output where a 3 renewable fuel is consumed or in an amount equal to the net 4 reduction in nonrenewable fuel consumed on a total energy 5 output basis. 6 "Real property" means any interest in land together with 7 all structures, fixtures, and improvements thereon, including 8 lands under water and riparian rights, any easements, 9 covenants, licenses, leases, rights-of-way, uses, and other 10 interests, together with any liens, judgments, mortgages, or 11 other claims or security interests related to real property. 12 "Renewable energy credit" means a tradable credit that 13 represents the environmental attributes of one megawatt hour 14 of energy produced from a renewable energy resource. 15 "Renewable energy resources" includes energy and its 16 associated renewable energy credit or renewable energy credits 17 from wind, solar thermal energy, photovoltaic cells and 18 panels, biodiesel, anaerobic digestion, crops and untreated 19 and unadulterated organic waste biomass, and hydropower that 20 does not involve new construction or significant expansion of 21 hydropower dams, waste heat to power systems, or qualified 22 combined heat and power systems. For purposes of this Act, 23 landfill gas produced in the State is considered a renewable 24 energy resource. "Renewable energy resources" does not include 25 the incineration or burning of tires, garbage, general 26 household, institutional, and commercial waste, industrial SB1353 - 14 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 15 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 15 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 15 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 lunchroom or office waste, landscape waste, railroad 2 crossties, utility poles, or construction or demolition 3 debris, other than untreated and unadulterated waste wood. 4 "Renewable energy resources" also includes high voltage direct 5 current renewable energy credits and the associated energy 6 converted to alternating current by a high voltage direct 7 current converter station to the extent that: (1) the 8 generator of such renewable energy resource contracted with a 9 third party to transmit the energy over the high voltage 10 direct current transmission facilities, and (2) the 11 third-party contracting for delivery of renewable energy 12 resources over the high voltage direct current transmission 13 facilities have ownership rights over the unretired associated 14 high voltage direct current renewable energy credit. 15 "Retail customer" has the same definition as found in 16 Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. 17 "Revenue bond" means any bond, note, or other evidence of 18 indebtedness issued by the Authority, the principal and 19 interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income 20 derived from any project or activity of the Agency. 21 "Sequester" means permanent storage of carbon dioxide by 22 injecting it into a saline aquifer, a depleted gas reservoir, 23 or an oil reservoir, directly or through an enhanced oil 24 recovery process that may involve intermediate storage, 25 regardless of whether these activities are conducted by a 26 clean coal facility, a clean coal SNG facility, a clean coal SB1353 - 15 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 16 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 16 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 16 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 SNG brownfield facility, or a party with which a clean coal 2 facility, clean coal SNG facility, or clean coal SNG 3 brownfield facility has contracted for such purposes. 4 "Service area" has the same definition as found in Section 5 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. 6 "Settlement period" means the period of time utilized by 7 MISO and PJM and their successor organizations as the basis 8 for settlement calculations in the real-time energy market. 9 "Sourcing agreement" means (i) in the case of an electric 10 utility, an agreement between the owner of a clean coal 11 facility and such electric utility, which agreement shall have 12 terms and conditions meeting the requirements of paragraph (3) 13 of subsection (d) of Section 1-75, (ii) in the case of an 14 alternative retail electric supplier, an agreement between the 15 owner of a clean coal facility and such alternative retail 16 electric supplier, which agreement shall have terms and 17 conditions meeting the requirements of Section 16-115(d)(5) of 18 the Public Utilities Act, and (iii) in case of a gas utility, 19 an agreement between the owner of a clean coal SNG brownfield 20 facility and the gas utility, which agreement shall have the 21 terms and conditions meeting the requirements of subsection 22 (h-1) of Section 9-220 of the Public Utilities Act. 23 "Strike price" means a contract price for energy and 24 renewable energy credits from a new utility-scale wind project 25 or a new utility-scale photovoltaic project. 26 "Subscriber" means a person who (i) takes delivery service SB1353 - 16 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 17 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 17 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 17 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 from an electric utility, and (ii) has a subscription of no 2 less than 200 watts to a community renewable generation 3 project that is located in the electric utility's service 4 area. No subscriber's subscriptions may total more than 40% of 5 the nameplate capacity of an individual community renewable 6 generation project. Entities that are affiliated by virtue of 7 a common parent shall not represent multiple subscriptions 8 that total more than 40% of the nameplate capacity of an 9 individual community renewable generation project. 10 "Subscription" means an interest in a community renewable 11 generation project expressed in kilowatts, which is sized 12 primarily to offset part or all of the subscriber's 13 electricity usage. 14 "Substitute natural gas" or "SNG" means a gas manufactured 15 by gasification of hydrocarbon feedstock, which is 16 substantially interchangeable in use and distribution with 17 conventional natural gas. 18 "Total resource cost test" or "TRC test" means a standard 19 that is met if, for an investment in energy efficiency or 20 demand-response measures, the benefit-cost ratio is greater 21 than one. The benefit-cost ratio is the ratio of the net 22 present value of the total benefits of the program to the net 23 present value of the total costs as calculated over the 24 lifetime of the measures. A total resource cost test compares 25 the sum of avoided electric utility costs, representing the 26 benefits that accrue to the system and the participant in the SB1353 - 17 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 18 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 18 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 18 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 delivery of those efficiency measures and including avoided 2 costs associated with reduced use of natural gas or other 3 fuels, avoided costs associated with reduced water 4 consumption, and avoided costs associated with reduced 5 operation and maintenance costs, as well as other quantifiable 6 societal benefits, to the sum of all incremental costs of 7 end-use measures that are implemented due to the program 8 (including both utility and participant contributions), plus 9 costs to administer, deliver, and evaluate each demand-side 10 program, to quantify the net savings obtained by substituting 11 the demand-side program for supply resources. In calculating 12 avoided costs of power and energy that an electric utility 13 would otherwise have had to acquire, reasonable estimates 14 shall be included of financial costs likely to be imposed by 15 future regulations and legislation on emissions of greenhouse 16 gases. In discounting future societal costs and benefits for 17 the purpose of calculating net present values, a societal 18 discount rate based on actual, long-term Treasury bond yields 19 should be used. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the 20 TRC test shall not include or take into account a calculation 21 of market price suppression effects or demand reduction 22 induced price effects. 23 "Utility-scale solar project" means an electric generating 24 facility that: 25 (1) generates electricity using photovoltaic cells; 26 and SB1353 - 18 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 19 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 19 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 19 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (2) has a nameplate capacity that is greater than 2 5,000 kilowatts. 3 "Utility-scale wind project" means an electric generating 4 facility that: 5 (1) generates electricity using wind; and 6 (2) has a nameplate capacity that is greater than 7 5,000 kilowatts. 8 "Waste Heat to Power Systems" means systems that capture 9 and generate electricity from energy that would otherwise be 10 lost to the atmosphere without the use of additional fuel. 11 "Zero emission credit" means a tradable credit that 12 represents the environmental attributes of one megawatt hour 13 of energy produced from a zero emission facility. 14 "Zero emission facility" means a facility that: (1) is 15 fueled by nuclear power; and (2) is interconnected with PJM 16 Interconnection, LLC or the Midcontinent Independent System 17 Operator, Inc., or their successors. 18 (Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21; revised 6-2-22.) 19 (20 ILCS 3855/1-20) 20 Sec. 1-20. General powers and duties of the Agency. 21 (a) The Agency is authorized to do each of the following: 22 (1) Develop electricity procurement plans to ensure 23 adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and 24 environmentally sustainable electric service at the lowest 25 total cost over time, taking into account any benefits of SB1353 - 19 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 20 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 20 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 20 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 price stability, for electric utilities that on December 2 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least 100,000 3 customers in Illinois and for small multi-jurisdictional 4 electric utilities that (A) on December 31, 2005 served 5 less than 100,000 customers in Illinois and (B) request a 6 procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. 7 Except as provided in paragraph (1.5) of this subsection 8 (a), the electricity procurement plans shall be updated on 9 an annual basis and shall include electricity generated 10 from renewable resources sufficient to achieve the 11 standards specified in this Act. Beginning with the 12 delivery year commencing June 1, 2017, develop procurement 13 plans to include zero emission credits generated from zero 14 emission facilities sufficient to achieve the standards 15 specified in this Act. Beginning with the delivery year 16 commencing on June 1, 2022, the Agency is authorized to 17 develop carbon mitigation credit procurement plans to 18 include carbon mitigation credits generated from 19 carbon-free energy resources sufficient to achieve the 20 standards specified in this Act. 21 (1.5) Develop a long-term renewable resources 22 procurement plan in accordance with subsection (c) of 23 Section 1-75 of this Act for renewable energy credits in 24 amounts sufficient to achieve the standards specified in 25 this Act for delivery years commencing June 1, 2017 and 26 for the programs and renewable energy credits specified in SB1353 - 20 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 21 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 21 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 21 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Section 1-56 of this Act. Electricity procurement plans 2 for delivery years commencing after May 31, 2017, shall 3 not include procurement of renewable energy resources. 4 (2) Conduct competitive procurement processes to 5 procure the supply resources identified in the electricity 6 procurement plan, pursuant to Section 16-111.5 of the 7 Public Utilities Act, and, for the delivery year 8 commencing June 1, 2017, conduct procurement processes to 9 procure zero emission credits from zero emission 10 facilities, under subsection (d-5) of Section 1-75 of this 11 Act. For the delivery year commencing June 1, 2022, the 12 Agency is authorized to conduct procurement processes to 13 procure carbon mitigation credits from carbon-free energy 14 resources, under subsection (d-10) of Section 1-75 of this 15 Act. 16 (2.5) Beginning with the procurement for the 2017 17 delivery year, conduct competitive procurement processes 18 and implement programs to procure renewable energy credits 19 identified in the long-term renewable resources 20 procurement plan developed and approved under subsection 21 (c) of Section 1-75 of this Act and Section 16-111.5 of the 22 Public Utilities Act. 23 (2.10) Oversee the procurement by electric utilities 24 that served more than 300,000 customers in this State as 25 of January 1, 2019 of renewable energy credits from new 26 renewable energy facilities to be installed, along with SB1353 - 21 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 22 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 22 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 22 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 energy storage facilities, at or adjacent to the sites of 2 electric generating facilities that burned coal as their 3 primary fuel source as of January 1, 2016 in accordance 4 with subsection (c-5) of Section 1-75 of this Act. 5 (2.15) Oversee the procurement by electric utilities 6 of renewable energy credits from new, newly modernized, or 7 retooled hydropower facilities in accordance with Section 8 1-75 of this Act. 9 (3) Develop electric generation and co-generation 10 facilities that use indigenous coal or renewable 11 resources, or both, financed with bonds issued by the 12 Illinois Finance Authority. 13 (4) Supply electricity from the Agency's facilities at 14 cost to one or more of the following: municipal electric 15 systems, governmental aggregators, or rural electric 16 cooperatives in Illinois. 17 (b) Except as otherwise limited by this Act, the Agency 18 has all of the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the 19 purposes and provisions of this Act, including without 20 limitation, each of the following: 21 (1) To have a corporate seal, and to alter that seal at 22 pleasure, and to use it by causing it or a facsimile to be 23 affixed or impressed or reproduced in any other manner. 24 (2) To use the services of the Illinois Finance 25 Authority necessary to carry out the Agency's purposes. 26 (3) To negotiate and enter into loan agreements and SB1353 - 22 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 23 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 23 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 23 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 other agreements with the Illinois Finance Authority. 2 (4) To obtain and employ personnel and hire 3 consultants that are necessary to fulfill the Agency's 4 purposes, and to make expenditures for that purpose within 5 the appropriations for that purpose. 6 (5) To purchase, receive, take by grant, gift, devise, 7 bequest, or otherwise, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, 8 hold, improve, employ, use, and otherwise deal in and 9 with, real or personal property whether tangible or 10 intangible, or any interest therein, within the State. 11 (6) To acquire real or personal property, whether 12 tangible or intangible, including without limitation 13 property rights, interests in property, franchises, 14 obligations, contracts, and debt and equity securities, 15 and to do so by the exercise of the power of eminent domain 16 in accordance with Section 1-21; except that any real 17 property acquired by the exercise of the power of eminent 18 domain must be located within the State. 19 (7) To sell, convey, lease, exchange, transfer, 20 abandon, or otherwise dispose of, or mortgage, pledge, or 21 create a security interest in, any of its assets, 22 properties, or any interest therein, wherever situated. 23 (8) To purchase, take, receive, subscribe for, or 24 otherwise acquire, hold, make a tender offer for, vote, 25 employ, sell, lend, lease, exchange, transfer, or 26 otherwise dispose of, mortgage, pledge, or grant a SB1353 - 23 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 24 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 24 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 24 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 security interest in, use, and otherwise deal in and with, 2 bonds and other obligations, shares, or other securities 3 (or interests therein) issued by others, whether engaged 4 in a similar or different business or activity. 5 (9) To make and execute agreements, contracts, and 6 other instruments necessary or convenient in the exercise 7 of the powers and functions of the Agency under this Act, 8 including contracts with any person, including personal 9 service contracts, or with any local government, State 10 agency, or other entity; and all State agencies and all 11 local governments are authorized to enter into and do all 12 things necessary to perform any such agreement, contract, 13 or other instrument with the Agency. No such agreement, 14 contract, or other instrument shall exceed 40 years. 15 (10) To lend money, invest and reinvest its funds in 16 accordance with the Public Funds Investment Act, and take 17 and hold real and personal property as security for the 18 payment of funds loaned or invested. 19 (11) To borrow money at such rate or rates of interest 20 as the Agency may determine, issue its notes, bonds, or 21 other obligations to evidence that indebtedness, and 22 secure any of its obligations by mortgage or pledge of its 23 real or personal property, machinery, equipment, 24 structures, fixtures, inventories, revenues, grants, and 25 other funds as provided or any interest therein, wherever 26 situated. SB1353 - 24 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 25 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 25 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 25 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (12) To enter into agreements with the Illinois 2 Finance Authority to issue bonds whether or not the income 3 therefrom is exempt from federal taxation. 4 (13) To procure insurance against any loss in 5 connection with its properties or operations in such 6 amount or amounts and from such insurers, including the 7 federal government, as it may deem necessary or desirable, 8 and to pay any premiums therefor. 9 (14) To negotiate and enter into agreements with 10 trustees or receivers appointed by United States 11 bankruptcy courts or federal district courts or in other 12 proceedings involving adjustment of debts and authorize 13 proceedings involving adjustment of debts and authorize 14 legal counsel for the Agency to appear in any such 15 proceedings. 16 (15) To file a petition under Chapter 9 of Title 11 of 17 the United States Bankruptcy Code or take other similar 18 action for the adjustment of its debts. 19 (16) To enter into management agreements for the 20 operation of any of the property or facilities owned by 21 the Agency. 22 (17) To enter into an agreement to transfer and to 23 transfer any land, facilities, fixtures, or equipment of 24 the Agency to one or more municipal electric systems, 25 governmental aggregators, or rural electric agencies or 26 cooperatives, for such consideration and upon such terms SB1353 - 25 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 26 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 26 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 26 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 as the Agency may determine to be in the best interest of 2 the residents of Illinois. 3 (18) To enter upon any lands and within any building 4 whenever in its judgment it may be necessary for the 5 purpose of making surveys and examinations to accomplish 6 any purpose authorized by this Act. 7 (19) To maintain an office or offices at such place or 8 places in the State as it may determine. 9 (20) To request information, and to make any inquiry, 10 investigation, survey, or study that the Agency may deem 11 necessary to enable it effectively to carry out the 12 provisions of this Act. 13 (21) To accept and expend appropriations. 14 (22) To engage in any activity or operation that is 15 incidental to and in furtherance of efficient operation to 16 accomplish the Agency's purposes, including hiring 17 employees that the Director deems essential for the 18 operations of the Agency. 19 (23) To adopt, revise, amend, and repeal rules with 20 respect to its operations, properties, and facilities as 21 may be necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes 22 of this Act, subject to the provisions of the Illinois 23 Administrative Procedure Act and Sections 1-22 and 1-35 of 24 this Act. 25 (24) To establish and collect charges and fees as 26 described in this Act. SB1353 - 26 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 27 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 27 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 27 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (25) To conduct competitive gasification feedstock 2 procurement processes to procure the feedstocks for the 3 clean coal SNG brownfield facility in accordance with the 4 requirements of Section 1-78 of this Act. 5 (26) To review, revise, and approve sourcing 6 agreements and mediate and resolve disputes between gas 7 utilities and the clean coal SNG brownfield facility 8 pursuant to subsection (h-1) of Section 9-220 of the 9 Public Utilities Act. 10 (27) To request, review and accept proposals, execute 11 contracts, purchase renewable energy credits and otherwise 12 dedicate funds from the Illinois Power Agency Renewable 13 Energy Resources Fund to create and carry out the 14 objectives of the Illinois Solar for All Program in 15 accordance with Section 1-56 of this Act. 16 (28) To ensure Illinois residents and business benefit 17 from programs administered by the Agency and are properly 18 protected from any deceptive or misleading marketing 19 practices by participants in the Agency's programs and 20 procurements. 21 (c) In conducting the procurement of electricity or other 22 products, beginning January 1, 2022, the Agency shall not 23 procure any products or services from persons or organizations 24 that are in violation of the Displaced Energy Workers Bill of 25 Rights, as provided under the Energy Community Reinvestment 26 Act at the time of the procurement event or fail to comply the SB1353 - 27 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 28 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 28 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 28 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 labor standards established in subparagraph (Q) of paragraph 2 (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75. 3 (Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.) 4 (20 ILCS 3855/1-75) 5 Sec. 1-75. Planning and Procurement Bureau. The Planning 6 and Procurement Bureau has the following duties and 7 responsibilities: 8 (a) The Planning and Procurement Bureau shall each year, 9 beginning in 2008, develop procurement plans and conduct 10 competitive procurement processes in accordance with the 11 requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act 12 for the eligible retail customers of electric utilities that 13 on December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least 14 100,000 customers in Illinois. Beginning with the delivery 15 year commencing on June 1, 2017, the Planning and Procurement 16 Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the procurement 17 of zero emission credits from zero emission facilities in 18 accordance with the requirements of subsection (d-5) of this 19 Section. Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory 20 Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Planning and 21 Procurement Bureau shall develop plans and processes for the 22 procurement of carbon mitigation credits from carbon-free 23 energy resources in accordance with the requirements of 24 subsection (d-10) of this Section. The Planning and 25 Procurement Bureau shall also develop procurement plans and SB1353 - 28 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 29 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 29 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 29 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 conduct competitive procurement processes in accordance with 2 the requirements of Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities 3 Act for the eligible retail customers of small 4 multi-jurisdictional electric utilities that (i) on December 5 31, 2005 served less than 100,000 customers in Illinois and 6 (ii) request a procurement plan for their Illinois 7 jurisdictional load. This Section shall not apply to a small 8 multi-jurisdictional utility until such time as a small 9 multi-jurisdictional utility requests the Agency to prepare a 10 procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. For 11 the purposes of this Section, the term "eligible retail 12 customers" has the same definition as found in Section 13 16-111.5(a) of the Public Utilities Act. 14 Beginning with the plan or plans to be implemented in the 15 2017 delivery year, the Agency shall no longer include the 16 procurement of renewable energy resources in the annual 17 procurement plans required by this subsection (a), except as 18 provided in subsection (q) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public 19 Utilities Act, and shall instead develop a long-term renewable 20 resources procurement plan in accordance with subsection (c) 21 of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities 22 Act. 23 In accordance with subsection (c-5) of this Section, the 24 Planning and Procurement Bureau shall oversee the procurement 25 by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail 26 customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable SB1353 - 29 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 30 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 30 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 30 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 energy credits from new utility-scale solar projects to be 2 installed, along with energy storage facilities, at or 3 adjacent to the sites of electric generating facilities that, 4 as of January 1, 2016, burned coal as their primary fuel 5 source. 6 (1) The Agency shall each year, beginning in 2008, as 7 needed, issue a request for qualifications for experts or 8 expert consulting firms to develop the procurement plans 9 in accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public 10 Utilities Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert 11 consulting firm must have: 12 (A) direct previous experience assembling 13 large-scale power supply plans or portfolios for 14 end-use customers; 15 (B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics, 16 engineering, risk management, or a related area of 17 study; 18 (C) 10 years of experience in the electricity 19 sector, including managing supply risk; 20 (D) expertise in wholesale electricity market 21 rules, including those established by the Federal 22 Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission 23 organizations; 24 (E) expertise in credit protocols and familiarity 25 with contract protocols; 26 (F) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the SB1353 - 30 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 31 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 31 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 31 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 required functions and responsibilities; and 2 (G) the absence of a conflict of interest and 3 inappropriate bias for or against potential bidders or 4 the affected electric utilities. 5 (2) The Agency shall each year, as needed, issue a 6 request for qualifications for a procurement administrator 7 to conduct the competitive procurement processes in 8 accordance with Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities 9 Act. In order to qualify an expert or expert consulting 10 firm must have: 11 (A) direct previous experience administering a 12 large-scale competitive procurement process; 13 (B) an advanced degree in economics, mathematics, 14 engineering, or a related area of study; 15 (C) 10 years of experience in the electricity 16 sector, including risk management experience; 17 (D) expertise in wholesale electricity market 18 rules, including those established by the Federal 19 Energy Regulatory Commission and regional transmission 20 organizations; 21 (E) expertise in credit and contract protocols; 22 (F) adequate resources to perform and fulfill the 23 required functions and responsibilities; and 24 (G) the absence of a conflict of interest and 25 inappropriate bias for or against potential bidders or 26 the affected electric utilities. SB1353 - 31 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 32 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 32 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 32 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (3) The Agency shall provide affected utilities and 2 other interested parties with the lists of qualified 3 experts or expert consulting firms identified through the 4 request for qualifications processes that are under 5 consideration to develop the procurement plans and to 6 serve as the procurement administrator. The Agency shall 7 also provide each qualified expert's or expert consulting 8 firm's response to the request for qualifications. All 9 information provided under this subparagraph shall also be 10 provided to the Commission. The Agency may provide by rule 11 for fees associated with supplying the information to 12 utilities and other interested parties. These parties 13 shall, within 5 business days, notify the Agency in 14 writing if they object to any experts or expert consulting 15 firms on the lists. Objections shall be based on: 16 (A) failure to satisfy qualification criteria; 17 (B) identification of a conflict of interest; or 18 (C) evidence of inappropriate bias for or against 19 potential bidders or the affected utilities. 20 The Agency shall remove experts or expert consulting 21 firms from the lists within 10 days if there is a 22 reasonable basis for an objection and provide the updated 23 lists to the affected utilities and other interested 24 parties. If the Agency fails to remove an expert or expert 25 consulting firm from a list, an objecting party may seek 26 review by the Commission within 5 days thereafter by SB1353 - 32 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 33 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 33 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 33 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 filing a petition, and the Commission shall render a 2 ruling on the petition within 10 days. There is no right of 3 appeal of the Commission's ruling. 4 (4) The Agency shall issue requests for proposals to 5 the qualified experts or expert consulting firms to 6 develop a procurement plan for the affected utilities and 7 to serve as procurement administrator. 8 (5) The Agency shall select an expert or expert 9 consulting firm to develop procurement plans based on the 10 proposals submitted and shall award contracts of up to 5 11 years to those selected. 12 (6) The Agency shall select an expert or expert 13 consulting firm, with approval of the Commission, to serve 14 as procurement administrator based on the proposals 15 submitted. If the Commission rejects, within 5 days, the 16 Agency's selection, the Agency shall submit another 17 recommendation within 3 days based on the proposals 18 submitted. The Agency shall award a 5-year contract to the 19 expert or expert consulting firm so selected with 20 Commission approval. 21 (b) The experts or expert consulting firms retained by the 22 Agency shall, as appropriate, prepare procurement plans, and 23 conduct a competitive procurement process as prescribed in 24 Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, to ensure 25 adequate, reliable, affordable, efficient, and environmentally 26 sustainable electric service at the lowest total cost over SB1353 - 33 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 34 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 34 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 34 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 time, taking into account any benefits of price stability, for 2 eligible retail customers of electric utilities that on 3 December 31, 2005 provided electric service to at least 4 100,000 customers in the State of Illinois, and for eligible 5 Illinois retail customers of small multi-jurisdictional 6 electric utilities that (i) on December 31, 2005 served less 7 than 100,000 customers in Illinois and (ii) request a 8 procurement plan for their Illinois jurisdictional load. 9 (c) Renewable portfolio standard. 10 (1)(A) The Agency shall develop a long-term renewable 11 resources procurement plan that shall include procurement 12 programs and competitive procurement events necessary to 13 meet the goals set forth in this subsection (c). The 14 initial long-term renewable resources procurement plan 15 shall be released for comment no later than 160 days after 16 June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public Act 99-906). 17 The Agency shall review, and may revise on an expedited 18 basis, the long-term renewable resources procurement plan 19 at least every 2 years, which shall be conducted in 20 conjunction with the procurement plan under Section 21 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the extent 22 practicable to minimize administrative expense. No later 23 than 120 days after the effective date of this amendatory 24 Act of the 103rd 102nd General Assembly, the Agency shall 25 release for comment a revision to the long-term renewable 26 resources procurement plan, updating elements of the most SB1353 - 34 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 35 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 35 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 35 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 recently approved plan as needed to comply with this 2 amendatory Act of the 103rd 102nd General Assembly, and 3 any long-term renewable resources procurement plan update 4 published by the Agency but not yet approved by the 5 Illinois Commerce Commission shall be withdrawn. The 6 long-term renewable resources procurement plans shall be 7 subject to review and approval by the Commission under 8 Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. 9 (B) Subject to subparagraph (F) of this paragraph (1), 10 the long-term renewable resources procurement plan shall 11 attempt to meet the goals for procurement of renewable 12 energy credits at levels of at least the following overall 13 percentages: 13% by the 2017 delivery year; increasing by 14 at least 1.5% each delivery year thereafter to at least 15 25% by the 2025 delivery year; increasing by at least 3% 16 each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by the 2030 17 delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40% for each 18 delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall attempt to 19 procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency shall 20 determine the annual increase between delivery year 2030 21 and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account energy 22 demand, other energy resources, and other public policy 23 goals. In the event of a conflict between these goals and 24 the new wind, and new photovoltaic, and hydropower 25 procurement requirements described in items (i) through 26 (iii) of subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1), the SB1353 - 35 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 36 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 36 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 36 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 long-term plan shall prioritize compliance with the new 2 wind, and new photovoltaic, and hydropower procurement 3 requirements described in items (i) through (iii) of 4 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1) over the annual 5 percentage targets described in this subparagraph (B). The 6 Agency shall not comply with the annual percentage targets 7 described in this subparagraph (B) by procuring renewable 8 energy credits that are unlikely to lead to the 9 development of new renewable resources or modernized or 10 retooled hydropower resources. 11 For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2017, the 12 procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the 13 prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B), 14 cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at 15 least 13% of each utility's load for eligible retail 16 customers and 13% of the applicable portion of each 17 utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible 18 retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 50% 19 of the utility's load for retail customers who are not 20 eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017. 21 For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the 22 procurement plan shall attempt to include, subject to the 23 prioritization outlined in this subparagraph (B), 24 cost-effective renewable energy resources equal to at 25 least 14.5% of each utility's load for eligible retail 26 customers and 14.5% of the applicable portion of each SB1353 - 36 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 37 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 37 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 37 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 utility's load for retail customers who are not eligible 2 retail customers, which applicable portion shall equal 75% 3 of the utility's load for retail customers who are not 4 eligible retail customers on February 28, 2017. 5 For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2019, and for 6 each year thereafter, the procurement plans shall attempt 7 to include, subject to the prioritization outlined in this 8 subparagraph (B), cost-effective renewable energy 9 resources equal to a minimum percentage of each utility's 10 load for all retail customers as follows: 16% by June 1, 11 2019; increasing by 1.5% each year thereafter to 25% by 12 June 1, 2025; and 25% by June 1, 2026; increasing by at 13 least 3% each delivery year thereafter to at least 40% by 14 the 2030 delivery year, and continuing at no less than 40% 15 for each delivery year thereafter. The Agency shall 16 attempt to procure 50% by delivery year 2040. The Agency 17 shall determine the annual increase between delivery year 18 2030 and delivery year 2040, if any, taking into account 19 energy demand, other energy resources, and other public 20 policy goals. 21 For each delivery year, the Agency shall first 22 recognize each utility's obligations for that delivery 23 year under existing contracts. Any renewable energy 24 credits under existing contracts, including renewable 25 energy credits as part of renewable energy resources, 26 shall be used to meet the goals set forth in this SB1353 - 37 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 38 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 38 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 38 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 subsection (c) for the delivery year. 2 (C) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan 3 described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (1) shall 4 include the procurement of renewable energy credits from 5 new projects pursuant to in amounts equal to at least the 6 following terms: 7 (i) At least 10,000,000 renewable energy credits 8 delivered annually by the end of the 2021 delivery 9 year, and increasing ratably to reach 45,000,000 10 renewable energy credits delivered annually from new 11 wind and solar projects by the end of delivery year 12 2030 such that the goals in subparagraph (B) of this 13 paragraph (1) are met entirely by procurements of 14 renewable energy credits from new wind and 15 photovoltaic projects. Of that amount, to the extent 16 possible, the Agency shall procure 45% from wind 17 projects and 55% from photovoltaic projects. Of the 18 amount to be procured from photovoltaic projects, the 19 Agency shall procure: at least 50% from solar 20 photovoltaic projects using the program outlined in 21 subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) from 22 distributed renewable energy generation devices or 23 community renewable generation projects; at least 47% 24 from utility-scale solar projects; at least 3% from 25 brownfield site photovoltaic projects that are not 26 community renewable generation projects. The Agency SB1353 - 38 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 39 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 39 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 39 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 shall procure additional renewable energy credits from 2 new, newly modernized, or retooled hydropower 3 facilities. 4 In developing the long-term renewable resources 5 procurement plan, the Agency shall consider other 6 approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, 7 that can be used to procure renewable energy credits 8 from brownfield site photovoltaic projects and thereby 9 help return blighted or contaminated land to 10 productive use while enhancing public health and the 11 well-being of Illinois residents, including those in 12 environmental justice communities, as defined using 13 existing methodologies and findings used by the Agency 14 and its Administrator in its Illinois Solar for All 15 Program. The Agency shall also consider other 16 approaches, in addition to competitive procurements, 17 to procure renewable energy credits from new and 18 existing hydropower facilities to support the 19 development and maintenance of these facilities. 20 (ii) In any given delivery year, if forecasted 21 expenses are less than the maximum budget available 22 under subparagraph (E) of this paragraph (1), the 23 Agency shall continue to procure new renewable energy 24 credits until that budget is exhausted in the manner 25 outlined in item (i) of this subparagraph (C). 26 (iii) For purposes of this Section: SB1353 - 39 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 40 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 40 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 40 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 "New wind projects" means wind renewable energy 2 facilities that are energized after June 1, 2017 for 3 the delivery year commencing June 1, 2017. 4 "New photovoltaic projects" means photovoltaic 5 renewable energy facilities that are energized after 6 June 1, 2017. Photovoltaic projects developed under 7 Section 1-56 of this Act shall not apply towards the 8 new photovoltaic project requirements in this 9 subparagraph (C). 10 For purposes of calculating whether the Agency has 11 procured enough new wind and solar renewable energy 12 credits required by this subparagraph (C), renewable 13 energy facilities that have a multi-year renewable 14 energy credit delivery contract with the utility 15 through at least delivery year 2030 shall be 16 considered new, however no renewable energy credits 17 from contracts entered into before June 1, 2021 shall 18 be used to calculate whether the Agency has procured 19 the correct proportion of new wind and new solar 20 contracts described in this subparagraph (C) for 21 delivery year 2021 and thereafter. 22 (D) Renewable energy credits shall be cost effective. 23 For purposes of this subsection (c), "cost effective" 24 means that the costs of procuring renewable energy 25 resources do not cause the limit stated in subparagraph 26 (E) of this paragraph (1) to be exceeded and, for SB1353 - 40 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 41 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 41 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 41 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 renewable energy credits procured through a competitive 2 procurement event, do not exceed benchmarks based on 3 market prices for like products in the region. For 4 purposes of this subsection (c), "like products" means 5 contracts for renewable energy credits from the same or 6 substantially similar technology, same or substantially 7 similar vintage (new or existing), the same or 8 substantially similar quantity, and the same or 9 substantially similar contract length and structure. 10 Benchmarks shall reflect development, financing, or 11 related costs resulting from requirements imposed through 12 other provisions of State law, including, but not limited 13 to, requirements in subparagraphs (P) and (Q) of this 14 paragraph (1) and the Renewable Energy Facilities 15 Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act. Confidential 16 benchmarks shall be developed by the procurement 17 administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff, 18 Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be 19 subject to Commission review and approval. If price 20 benchmarks for like products in the region are not 21 available, the procurement administrator shall establish 22 price benchmarks based on publicly available data on 23 regional technology costs and expected current and future 24 regional energy prices. The benchmarks in this Section 25 shall not be used to curtail or otherwise reduce 26 contractual obligations entered into by or through the SB1353 - 41 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 42 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 42 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 42 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Agency prior to June 1, 2017 (the effective date of Public 2 Act 99-906). 3 (E) For purposes of this subsection (c), the required 4 procurement of cost-effective renewable energy resources 5 for a particular year commencing prior to June 1, 2017 6 shall be measured as a percentage of the actual amount of 7 electricity (megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric 8 utility to eligible retail customers in the delivery year 9 ending immediately prior to the procurement, and, for 10 delivery years commencing on and after June 1, 2017, the 11 required procurement of cost-effective renewable energy 12 resources for a particular year shall be measured as a 13 percentage of the actual amount of electricity 14 (megawatt-hours) delivered by the electric utility in the 15 delivery year ending immediately prior to the procurement, 16 to all retail customers in its service territory. For 17 purposes of this subsection (c), the amount paid per 18 kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric 19 service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For 20 purposes of this subsection (c), the total amount paid for 21 electric service includes without limitation amounts paid 22 for supply, transmission, capacity, distribution, 23 surcharges, and add-on taxes. 24 Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection 25 (c), the total of renewable energy resources procured 26 under the procurement plan for any single year shall be SB1353 - 42 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 43 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 43 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 43 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 subject to the limitations of this subparagraph (E). Such 2 procurement shall be reduced for all retail customers 3 based on the amount necessary to limit the annual 4 estimated average net increase due to the costs of these 5 resources included in the amounts paid by eligible retail 6 customers in connection with electric service to no more 7 than 4.25% of the amount paid per kilowatthour by those 8 customers during the year ending May 31, 2009. To arrive 9 at a maximum dollar amount of renewable energy resources 10 to be procured for the particular delivery year, the 11 resulting per kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the 12 actual amount of kilowatthours of electricity delivered, 13 or applicable portion of such amount as specified in 14 paragraph (1) of this subsection (c), as applicable, by 15 the electric utility in the delivery year immediately 16 prior to the procurement to all retail customers in its 17 service territory. The calculations required by this 18 subparagraph (E) shall be made only once for each delivery 19 year at the time that the renewable energy resources are 20 procured. Once the determination as to the amount of 21 renewable energy resources to procure is made based on the 22 calculations set forth in this subparagraph (E) and the 23 contracts procuring those amounts are executed, no 24 subsequent rate impact determinations shall be made and no 25 adjustments to those contract amounts shall be allowed. 26 All costs incurred under such contracts shall be fully SB1353 - 43 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 44 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 44 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 44 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 recoverable by the electric utility as provided in this 2 Section. 3 (F) If the limitation on the amount of renewable 4 energy resources procured in subparagraph (E) of this 5 paragraph (1) prevents the Agency from meeting all of the 6 goals in this subsection (c), the Agency's long-term plan 7 shall prioritize compliance with the requirements of this 8 subsection (c) regarding renewable energy credits in the 9 following order: 10 (i) renewable energy credits under existing 11 contractual obligations as of June 1, 2021; 12 (i-5) funding for the Illinois Solar for All 13 Program, as described in subparagraph (O) of this 14 paragraph (1); 15 (ii) renewable energy credits necessary to comply 16 with the new wind and new photovoltaic procurement 17 requirements described in items (i) through (iii) of 18 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph (1); and 19 (iii) renewable energy credits necessary to meet 20 the remaining requirements of this subsection (c). 21 (G) The following provisions shall apply to the 22 Agency's procurement of renewable energy credits under 23 this subsection (c): 24 (i) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable 25 resources procurement plan has been approved, the 26 Agency shall conduct an initial forward procurement SB1353 - 44 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 45 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 45 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 45 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale 2 wind projects within 160 days after June 1, 2017 (the 3 effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes 4 of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall 5 solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000 6 renewable energy credits delivered annually from new 7 utility-scale wind projects to begin delivery on June 8 1, 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, 9 unless the project has delays in the establishment of 10 an operating interconnection with the applicable 11 transmission or distribution system as a result of the 12 actions or inactions of the transmission or 13 distribution provider, or other causes for force 14 majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in 15 which case, not later than June 1, 2022. Payments to 16 suppliers of renewable energy credits shall commence 17 upon delivery. Renewable energy credits procured under 18 this initial procurement shall be included in the 19 Agency's long-term plan and shall apply to all 20 renewable energy goals in this subsection (c). 21 (ii) Notwithstanding whether a long-term renewable 22 resources procurement plan has been approved, the 23 Agency shall conduct an initial forward procurement 24 for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale 25 solar projects and brownfield site photovoltaic 26 projects within one year after June 1, 2017 (the SB1353 - 45 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 46 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 46 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 46 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 effective date of Public Act 99-906). For the purposes 2 of this initial forward procurement, the Agency shall 3 solicit 15-year contracts for delivery of 1,000,000 4 renewable energy credits delivered annually from new 5 utility-scale solar projects and brownfield site 6 photovoltaic projects to begin delivery on June 1, 7 2019, if available, but not later than June 1, 2021, 8 unless the project has delays in the establishment of 9 an operating interconnection with the applicable 10 transmission or distribution system as a result of the 11 actions or inactions of the transmission or 12 distribution provider, or other causes for force 13 majeure as outlined in the procurement contract, in 14 which case, not later than June 1, 2022. The Agency may 15 structure this initial procurement in one or more 16 discrete procurement events. Payments to suppliers of 17 renewable energy credits shall commence upon delivery. 18 Renewable energy credits procured under this initial 19 procurement shall be included in the Agency's 20 long-term plan and shall apply to all renewable energy 21 goals in this subsection (c). 22 (iii) Notwithstanding whether the Commission has 23 approved the periodic long-term renewable resources 24 procurement plan revision described in Section 25 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, the Agency shall 26 conduct at least one subsequent forward procurement SB1353 - 46 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 47 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 47 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 47 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 for renewable energy credits from new utility-scale 2 wind projects, new utility-scale solar projects, and 3 new brownfield site photovoltaic projects within 240 4 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act 5 of the 102nd General Assembly in quantities necessary 6 to meet the requirements of subparagraph (C) of this 7 paragraph (1) through the delivery year beginning June 8 1, 2021. 9 (iv) Notwithstanding whether the Commission has 10 approved the periodic long-term renewable resources 11 procurement plan revision described in Section 12 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act, the Agency shall 13 open capacity for each category in the Adjustable 14 Block program within 90 days after the effective date 15 of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly 16 manner: 17 (1) The Agency shall open the first block of 18 annual capacity for the category described in item 19 (i) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). The 20 first block of annual capacity for item (i) shall 21 be for at least 75 megawatts of total nameplate 22 capacity. The price of the renewable energy credit 23 for this block of capacity shall be 4% less than 24 the price of the last open block in this category. 25 Projects on a waitlist shall be awarded contracts 26 first in the order in which they appear on the SB1353 - 47 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 48 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 48 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 48 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 waitlist. Notwithstanding anything to the 2 contrary, for those renewable energy credits that 3 qualify and are procured under this subitem (1) of 4 this item (iv), the renewable energy credit 5 delivery contract value shall be paid in full, 6 based on the estimated generation during the first 7 15 years of operation, by the contracting 8 utilities at the time that the facility producing 9 the renewable energy credits is interconnected at 10 the distribution system level of the utility and 11 verified as energized and in compliance by the 12 Program Administrator. The electric utility shall 13 receive and retire all renewable energy credits 14 generated by the project for the first 15 years of 15 operation. Renewable energy credits generated by 16 the project thereafter shall not be transferred 17 under the renewable energy credit delivery 18 contract with the counterparty electric utility. 19 (2) The Agency shall open the first block of 20 annual capacity for the category described in item 21 (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). 22 The first block of annual capacity for item (ii) 23 shall be for at least 75 megawatts of total 24 nameplate capacity. 25 (A) The price of the renewable energy 26 credit for any project on a waitlist for this SB1353 - 48 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 49 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 49 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 49 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 category before the opening of this block 2 shall be 4% less than the price of the last 3 open block in this category. Projects on the 4 waitlist shall be awarded contracts first in 5 the order in which they appear on the 6 waitlist. Any projects that are less than or 7 equal to 25 kilowatts in size on the waitlist 8 for this capacity shall be moved to the 9 waitlist for paragraph (1) of this item (iv). 10 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, 11 projects that were on the waitlist prior to 12 opening of this block shall not be required to 13 be in compliance with the requirements of 14 subparagraph (Q) of this paragraph (1) of this 15 subsection (c). Notwithstanding anything to 16 the contrary, for those renewable energy 17 credits procured from projects that were on 18 the waitlist for this category before the 19 opening of this block 20% of the renewable 20 energy credit delivery contract value, based 21 on the estimated generation during the first 22 15 years of operation, shall be paid by the 23 contracting utilities at the time that the 24 facility producing the renewable energy 25 credits is interconnected at the distribution 26 system level of the utility and verified as SB1353 - 49 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 50 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 50 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 50 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 energized by the Program Administrator. The 2 remaining portion shall be paid ratably over 3 the subsequent 4-year period. The electric 4 utility shall receive and retire all renewable 5 energy credits generated by the project during 6 the first 15 years of operation. Renewable 7 energy credits generated by the project 8 thereafter shall not be transferred under the 9 renewable energy credit delivery contract with 10 the counterparty electric utility. 11 (B) The price of renewable energy credits 12 for any project not on the waitlist for this 13 category before the opening of the block shall 14 be determined and published by the Agency. 15 Projects not on a waitlist as of the opening 16 of this block shall be subject to the 17 requirements of subparagraph (Q) of this 18 paragraph (1), as applicable. Projects not on 19 a waitlist as of the opening of this block 20 shall be subject to the contract provisions 21 outlined in item (iii) of subparagraph (L) of 22 this paragraph (1). The Agency shall strive to 23 publish updated prices and an updated 24 renewable energy credit delivery contract as 25 quickly as possible. 26 (3) For opening the first 2 blocks of annual SB1353 - 50 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 51 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 51 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 51 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 capacity for projects participating in item (iii) 2 of subparagraph (K) of paragraph (1) of subsection 3 (c), projects shall be selected exclusively from 4 those projects on the ordinal waitlists of 5 community renewable generation projects 6 established by the Agency based on the status of 7 those ordinal waitlists as of December 31, 2020, 8 and only those projects previously determined to 9 be eligible for the Agency's April 2019 community 10 solar project selection process. 11 The first 2 blocks of annual capacity for item 12 (iii) shall be for 250 megawatts of total 13 nameplate capacity, with both blocks opening 14 simultaneously under the schedule outlined in the 15 paragraphs below. Projects shall be selected as 16 follows: 17 (A) The geographic balance of selected 18 projects shall follow the Group classification 19 found in the Agency's Revised Long-Term 20 Renewable Resources Procurement Plan, with 70% 21 of capacity allocated to projects on the Group 22 B waitlist and 30% of capacity allocated to 23 projects on the Group A waitlist. 24 (B) Contract awards for waitlisted 25 projects shall be allocated proportionate to 26 the total nameplate capacity amount across SB1353 - 51 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 52 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 52 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 52 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 both ordinal waitlists associated with that 2 applicant firm or its affiliates, subject to 3 the following conditions. 4 (i) Each applicant firm having a 5 waitlisted project eligible for selection 6 shall receive no less than 500 kilowatts 7 in awarded capacity across all groups, and 8 no approved vendor may receive more than 9 20% of each Group's waitlist allocation. 10 (ii) Each applicant firm, upon 11 receiving an award of program capacity 12 proportionate to its waitlisted capacity, 13 may then determine which waitlisted 14 projects it chooses to be selected for a 15 contract award up to that capacity amount. 16 (iii) Assuming all other program 17 requirements are met, applicant firms may 18 adjust the nameplate capacity of applicant 19 projects without losing waitlist 20 eligibility, so long as no project is 21 greater than 2,000 kilowatts in size. 22 (iv) Assuming all other program 23 requirements are met, applicant firms may 24 adjust the expected production associated 25 with applicant projects, subject to 26 verification by the Program Administrator. SB1353 - 52 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 53 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 53 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 53 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (C) After a review of affiliate 2 information and the current ordinal waitlists, 3 the Agency shall announce the nameplate 4 capacity award amounts associated with 5 applicant firms no later than 90 days after 6 the effective date of this amendatory Act of 7 the 102nd General Assembly. 8 (D) Applicant firms shall submit their 9 portfolio of projects used to satisfy those 10 contract awards no less than 90 days after the 11 Agency's announcement. The total nameplate 12 capacity of all projects used to satisfy that 13 portfolio shall be no greater than the 14 Agency's nameplate capacity award amount 15 associated with that applicant firm. An 16 applicant firm may decline, in whole or in 17 part, its nameplate capacity award without 18 penalty, with such unmet capacity rolled over 19 to the next block opening for project 20 selection under item (iii) of subparagraph (K) 21 of this subsection (c). Any projects not 22 included in an applicant firm's portfolio may 23 reapply without prejudice upon the next block 24 reopening for project selection under item 25 (iii) of subparagraph (K) of this subsection 26 (c). SB1353 - 53 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 54 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 54 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 54 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (E) The renewable energy credit delivery 2 contract shall be subject to the contract and 3 payment terms outlined in item (iv) of 4 subparagraph (L) of this subsection (c). 5 Contract instruments used for this 6 subparagraph shall contain the following 7 terms: 8 (i) Renewable energy credit prices 9 shall be fixed, without further adjustment 10 under any other provision of this Act or 11 for any other reason, at 10% lower than 12 prices applicable to the last open block 13 for this category, inclusive of any adders 14 available for achieving a minimum of 50% 15 of subscribers to the project's nameplate 16 capacity being residential or small 17 commercial customers with subscriptions of 18 below 25 kilowatts in size; 19 (ii) A requirement that a minimum of 20 50% of subscribers to the project's 21 nameplate capacity be residential or small 22 commercial customers with subscriptions of 23 below 25 kilowatts in size; 24 (iii) Permission for the ability of a 25 contract holder to substitute projects 26 with other waitlisted projects without SB1353 - 54 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 55 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 55 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 55 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 penalty should a project receive a 2 non-binding estimate of costs to construct 3 the interconnection facilities and any 4 required distribution upgrades associated 5 with that project of greater than 30 cents 6 per watt AC of that project's nameplate 7 capacity. In developing the applicable 8 contract instrument, the Agency may 9 consider whether other circumstances 10 outside of the control of the applicant 11 firm should also warrant project 12 substitution rights. 13 The Agency shall publish a finalized 14 updated renewable energy credit delivery 15 contract developed consistent with these terms 16 and conditions no less than 30 days before 17 applicant firms must submit their portfolio of 18 projects pursuant to item (D). 19 (F) To be eligible for an award, the 20 applicant firm shall certify that not less 21 than prevailing wage, as determined pursuant 22 to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, was or 23 will be paid to employees who are engaged in 24 construction activities associated with a 25 selected project. 26 (4) The Agency shall open the first block of SB1353 - 55 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 56 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 56 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 56 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 annual capacity for the category described in item 2 (iv) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1). 3 The first block of annual capacity for item (iv) 4 shall be for at least 50 megawatts of total 5 nameplate capacity. Renewable energy credit prices 6 shall be fixed, without further adjustment under 7 any other provision of this Act or for any other 8 reason, at the price in the last open block in the 9 category described in item (ii) of subparagraph 10 (K) of this paragraph (1). Pricing for future 11 blocks of annual capacity for this category may be 12 adjusted in the Agency's second revision to its 13 Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. 14 Projects in this category shall be subject to the 15 contract terms outlined in item (iv) of 16 subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1). 17 (5) The Agency shall open the equivalent of 2 18 years of annual capacity for the category 19 described in item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this 20 paragraph (1). The first block of annual capacity 21 for item (v) shall be for at least 10 megawatts of 22 total nameplate capacity. Notwithstanding the 23 provisions of item (v) of subparagraph (K) of this 24 paragraph (1), for the purpose of this initial 25 block, the agency shall accept new project 26 applications intended to increase the diversity of SB1353 - 56 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 57 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 57 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 57 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 areas hosting community solar projects, the 2 business models of projects, and the size of 3 projects, as described by the Agency in its 4 long-term renewable resources procurement plan 5 that is approved as of the effective date of this 6 amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. 7 Projects in this category shall be subject to the 8 contract terms outlined in item (iii) of 9 subsection (L) of this paragraph (1). 10 (6) The Agency shall open the first blocks of 11 annual capacity for the category described in item 12 (vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), 13 with allocations of capacity within the block 14 generally matching the historical share of block 15 capacity allocated between the category described 16 in items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this 17 paragraph (1). The first two blocks of annual 18 capacity for item (vi) shall be for at least 75 19 megawatts of total nameplate capacity. The price 20 of renewable energy credits for the blocks of 21 capacity shall be 4% less than the price of the 22 last open blocks in the categories described in 23 items (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this 24 paragraph (1). Pricing for future blocks of annual 25 capacity for this category may be adjusted in the 26 Agency's second revision to its Long-Term SB1353 - 57 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 58 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 58 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 58 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Renewable Resources Procurement Plan. Projects in 2 this category shall be subject to the applicable 3 contract terms outlined in items (ii) and (iii) of 4 subparagraph (L) of this paragraph (1). 5 (v) Upon the effective date of this amendatory Act 6 of the 102nd General Assembly, for all competitive 7 procurements and any procurements of renewable energy 8 credits credit from new utility-scale wind and new 9 utility-scale photovoltaic projects, the Agency shall 10 procure indexed renewable energy credits and direct 11 respondents to offer a strike price. 12 (1) The purchase price of the indexed 13 renewable energy credit payment shall be 14 calculated for each settlement period. That 15 payment, for any settlement period, shall be equal 16 to the difference resulting from subtracting the 17 strike price from the index price for that 18 settlement period. If this difference results in a 19 negative number, the indexed REC counterparty 20 shall owe the seller the absolute value multiplied 21 by the quantity of energy produced in the relevant 22 settlement period. If this difference results in a 23 positive number, the seller shall owe the indexed 24 REC counterparty this amount multiplied by the 25 quantity of energy produced in the relevant 26 settlement period. SB1353 - 58 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 59 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 59 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 59 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (2) Parties shall cash settle every month, 2 summing up all settlements (both positive and 3 negative, if applicable) for the prior month. 4 (3) To ensure funding in the annual budget 5 established under subparagraph (E) for indexed 6 renewable energy credit procurements for each year 7 of the term of such contracts, which must have a 8 minimum tenure of 20 calendar years, the 9 procurement administrator, Agency, Commission 10 staff, and procurement monitor shall quantify the 11 annual cost of the contract by utilizing an 12 industry-standard, third-party forward price curve 13 for energy at the appropriate hub or load zone, 14 including the estimated magnitude and timing of 15 the price effects related to federal carbon 16 controls. Each forward price curve shall contain a 17 specific value of the forecasted market price of 18 electricity for each annual delivery year of the 19 contract. For procurement planning purposes, the 20 impact on the annual budget for the cost of 21 indexed renewable energy credits for each delivery 22 year shall be determined as the expected annual 23 contract expenditure for that year, equaling the 24 difference between (i) the sum across all relevant 25 contracts of the applicable strike price 26 multiplied by contract quantity and (ii) the sum SB1353 - 59 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 60 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 60 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 60 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 across all relevant contracts of the forward price 2 curve for the applicable load zone for that year 3 multiplied by contract quantity. The contracting 4 utility shall not assume an obligation in excess 5 of the estimated annual cost of the contracts for 6 indexed renewable energy credits. Forward curves 7 shall be revised on an annual basis as updated 8 forward price curves are released and filed with 9 the Commission in the proceeding approving the 10 Agency's most recent long-term renewable resources 11 procurement plan. If the expected contract spend 12 is higher or lower than the total quantity of 13 contracts multiplied by the forward price curve 14 value for that year, the forward price curve shall 15 be updated by the procurement administrator, in 16 consultation with the Agency, Commission staff, 17 and procurement monitors, using then-currently 18 available price forecast data and additional 19 budget dollars shall be obligated or reobligated 20 as appropriate. 21 (4) To ensure that indexed renewable energy 22 credit prices remain predictable and affordable, 23 the Agency may consider the institution of a price 24 collar on REC prices paid under indexed renewable 25 energy credit procurements establishing floor and 26 ceiling REC prices applicable to indexed REC SB1353 - 60 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 61 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 61 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 61 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 contract prices. Any price collars applicable to 2 indexed REC procurements shall be proposed by the 3 Agency through its long-term renewable resources 4 procurement plan. 5 (v-5) On and after the effective date of this 6 amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, for all 7 procurements of renewable energy credits from 8 hydropower facilities, the Agency shall establish 9 contract terms designed to optimize existing 10 hydropower facilities through modernization or 11 retooling. 12 (vi) All procurements under this subparagraph (G), 13 including the procurement of renewable energy credits 14 from hydropower facilities, shall comply with the 15 geographic requirements in subparagraph (I) of this 16 paragraph (1) and shall follow the procurement 17 processes and procedures described in this Section and 18 Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act to the 19 extent practicable, and these processes and procedures 20 may be expedited to accommodate the schedule 21 established by this subparagraph (G). 22 (H) The procurement of renewable energy resources for 23 a given delivery year shall be reduced as described in 24 this subparagraph (H) if an alternative retail electric 25 supplier meets the requirements described in this 26 subparagraph (H). SB1353 - 61 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 62 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 62 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 62 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (i) Within 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the 2 effective date of Public Act 99-906), an alternative 3 retail electric supplier or its successor shall submit 4 an informational filing to the Illinois Commerce 5 Commission certifying that, as of December 31, 2015, 6 the alternative retail electric supplier owned one or 7 more electric generating facilities that generates 8 renewable energy resources as defined in Section 1-10 9 of this Act, provided that such facilities are not 10 powered by wind or photovoltaics, and the facilities 11 generate one renewable energy credit for each 12 megawatthour of energy produced from the facility. 13 The informational filing shall identify each 14 facility that was eligible to satisfy the alternative 15 retail electric supplier's obligations under Section 16 16-115D of the Public Utilities Act as described in 17 this item (i). 18 (ii) For a given delivery year, the alternative 19 retail electric supplier may elect to supply its 20 retail customers with renewable energy credits from 21 the facility or facilities described in item (i) of 22 this subparagraph (H) that continue to be owned by the 23 alternative retail electric supplier. 24 (iii) The alternative retail electric supplier 25 shall notify the Agency and the applicable utility, no 26 later than February 28 of the year preceding the SB1353 - 62 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 63 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 63 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 63 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 applicable delivery year or 15 days after June 1, 2017 2 (the effective date of Public Act 99-906), whichever 3 is later, of its election under item (ii) of this 4 subparagraph (H) to supply renewable energy credits to 5 retail customers of the utility. Such election shall 6 identify the amount of renewable energy credits to be 7 supplied by the alternative retail electric supplier 8 to the utility's retail customers and the source of 9 the renewable energy credits identified in the 10 informational filing as described in item (i) of this 11 subparagraph (H), subject to the following 12 limitations: 13 For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, 14 the maximum amount of renewable energy credits to 15 be supplied by an alternative retail electric 16 supplier under this subparagraph (H) shall be 68% 17 multiplied by 25% multiplied by 14.5% multiplied 18 by the amount of metered electricity 19 (megawatt-hours) delivered by the alternative 20 retail electric supplier to Illinois retail 21 customers during the delivery year ending May 31, 22 2016. 23 For delivery years beginning June 1, 2019 and 24 each year thereafter, the maximum amount of 25 renewable energy credits to be supplied by an 26 alternative retail electric supplier under this SB1353 - 63 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 64 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 64 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 64 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 subparagraph (H) shall be 68% multiplied by 50% 2 multiplied by 16% multiplied by the amount of 3 metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by 4 the alternative retail electric supplier to 5 Illinois retail customers during the delivery year 6 ending May 31, 2016, provided that the 16% value 7 shall increase by 1.5% each delivery year 8 thereafter to 25% by the delivery year beginning 9 June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value shall 10 apply to each delivery year. 11 For each delivery year, the total amount of 12 renewable energy credits supplied by all alternative 13 retail electric suppliers under this subparagraph (H) 14 shall not exceed 9% of the Illinois target renewable 15 energy credit quantity. The Illinois target renewable 16 energy credit quantity for the delivery year beginning 17 June 1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of 18 metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered in the 19 delivery year immediately preceding that delivery 20 year, provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5% 21 each delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery 22 year beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% 23 value shall apply to each delivery year. 24 If the requirements set forth in items (i) through 25 (iii) of this subparagraph (H) are met, the charges 26 that would otherwise be applicable to the retail SB1353 - 64 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 65 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 65 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 65 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 customers of the alternative retail electric supplier 2 under paragraph (6) of this subsection (c) for the 3 applicable delivery year shall be reduced by the ratio 4 of the quantity of renewable energy credits supplied 5 by the alternative retail electric supplier compared 6 to that supplier's target renewable energy credit 7 quantity. The supplier's target renewable energy 8 credit quantity for the delivery year beginning June 9 1, 2018 is 14.5% multiplied by the total amount of 10 metered electricity (megawatt-hours) delivered by the 11 alternative retail supplier in that delivery year, 12 provided that the 14.5% shall increase by 1.5% each 13 delivery year thereafter to 25% by the delivery year 14 beginning June 1, 2025, and thereafter the 25% value 15 shall apply to each delivery year. 16 On or before April 1 of each year, the Agency shall 17 annually publish a report on its website that 18 identifies the aggregate amount of renewable energy 19 credits supplied by alternative retail electric 20 suppliers under this subparagraph (H). 21 (I) The Agency shall design its long-term renewable 22 energy procurement plan to maximize the State's interest 23 in the health, safety, and welfare of its residents, 24 including but not limited to minimizing sulfur dioxide, 25 nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and other pollution 26 that adversely affects public health in this State, SB1353 - 65 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 66 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 66 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 66 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 increasing fuel and resource diversity in this State, 2 enhancing the reliability and resiliency of the 3 electricity distribution system in this State, meeting 4 goals to limit carbon dioxide emissions under federal or 5 State law, and contributing to a cleaner and healthier 6 environment for the citizens of this State. In order to 7 further these legislative purposes, renewable energy 8 credits shall be eligible to be counted toward the 9 renewable energy requirements of this subsection (c) if 10 they are generated from facilities located in this State. 11 The Agency may qualify renewable energy credits from 12 facilities located in states adjacent to Illinois or 13 renewable energy credits associated with the electricity 14 generated by a utility-scale wind energy facility or 15 utility-scale photovoltaic facility and transmitted by a 16 qualifying direct current project described in subsection 17 (b-5) of Section 8-406 of the Public Utilities Act to a 18 delivery point on the electric transmission grid located 19 in this State or a state adjacent to Illinois, if the 20 generator demonstrates and the Agency determines that the 21 operation of such facility or facilities will help promote 22 the State's interest in the health, safety, and welfare of 23 its residents based on the public interest criteria 24 described above. For the purposes of this Section, 25 renewable resources that are delivered via a high voltage 26 direct current converter station located in Illinois shall SB1353 - 66 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 67 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 67 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 67 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 be deemed generated in Illinois at the time and location 2 the energy is converted to alternating current by the high 3 voltage direct current converter station if the high 4 voltage direct current transmission line: (i) after the 5 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General 6 Assembly, was constructed with a project labor agreement; 7 (ii) is capable of transmitting electricity at 525kv; 8 (iii) has an Illinois converter station located and 9 interconnected in the region of the PJM Interconnection, 10 LLC; (iv) does not operate as a public utility; and (v) if 11 the high voltage direct current transmission line was 12 energized after June 1, 2023. To ensure that the public 13 interest criteria are applied to the procurement and given 14 full effect, the Agency's long-term procurement plan shall 15 describe in detail how each public interest factor shall 16 be considered and weighted for facilities located in 17 states adjacent to Illinois. 18 (J) In order to promote the competitive development of 19 renewable energy resources in furtherance of the State's 20 interest in the health, safety, and welfare of its 21 residents, renewable energy credits shall not be eligible 22 to be counted toward the renewable energy requirements of 23 this subsection (c) if they are sourced from a generating 24 unit whose costs were being recovered through rates 25 regulated by this State or any other state or states on or 26 after January 1, 2017. Each contract executed to purchase SB1353 - 67 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 68 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 68 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 68 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 renewable energy credits under this subsection (c) shall 2 provide for the contract's termination if the costs of the 3 generating unit supplying the renewable energy credits 4 subsequently begin to be recovered through rates regulated 5 by this State or any other state or states; and each 6 contract shall further provide that, in that event, the 7 supplier of the credits must return 110% of all payments 8 received under the contract. Amounts returned under the 9 requirements of this subparagraph (J) shall be retained by 10 the utility and all of these amounts shall be used for the 11 procurement of additional renewable energy credits from 12 new wind or new photovoltaic resources as defined in this 13 subsection (c). The long-term plan shall provide that 14 these renewable energy credits shall be procured in the 15 next procurement event. 16 Notwithstanding the limitations of this subparagraph 17 (J), renewable energy credits sourced from generating 18 units that are constructed, purchased, owned, or leased by 19 an electric utility as part of an approved project, 20 program, or pilot under Section 1-56 of this Act shall be 21 eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy 22 requirements of this subsection (c), regardless of how the 23 costs of these units are recovered. As long as a 24 generating unit or an identifiable portion of a generating 25 unit has not had and does not have its costs recovered 26 through rates regulated by this State or any other state, SB1353 - 68 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 69 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 69 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 69 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 HVDC renewable energy credits associated with that 2 generating unit or identifiable portion thereof shall be 3 eligible to be counted toward the renewable energy 4 requirements of this subsection (c). 5 (K) The long-term renewable resources procurement plan 6 developed by the Agency in accordance with subparagraph 7 (A) of this paragraph (1) shall include an Adjustable 8 Block program for the procurement of renewable energy 9 credits from new photovoltaic projects that are 10 distributed renewable energy generation devices or new 11 photovoltaic community renewable generation projects. The 12 Adjustable Block program shall be generally designed to 13 provide for the steady, predictable, and sustainable 14 growth of new solar photovoltaic development in Illinois. 15 To this end, the Adjustable Block program shall provide a 16 transparent annual schedule of prices and quantities to 17 enable the photovoltaic market to scale up and for 18 renewable energy credit prices to adjust at a predictable 19 rate over time. The prices set by the Adjustable Block 20 program can be reflected as a set value or as the product 21 of a formula. 22 The Adjustable Block program shall include for each 23 category of eligible projects for each delivery year: a 24 single block of nameplate capacity, a price for renewable 25 energy credits within that block, and the terms and 26 conditions for securing a spot on a waitlist once the SB1353 - 69 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 70 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 70 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 70 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 block is fully committed or reserved. Except as outlined 2 below, the waitlist of projects in a given year will carry 3 over to apply to the subsequent year when another block is 4 opened. Only projects energized on or after June 1, 2017 5 shall be eligible for the Adjustable Block program. For 6 each category for each delivery year the Agency shall 7 determine the amount of generation capacity in each block, 8 and the purchase price for each block, provided that the 9 purchase price provided and the total amount of generation 10 in all blocks for all categories shall be sufficient to 11 meet the goals in this subsection (c). The Agency shall 12 strive to issue a single block sized to provide for 13 stability and market growth. The Agency shall establish 14 program eligibility requirements that ensure that projects 15 that enter the program are sufficiently mature to indicate 16 a demonstrable path to completion. The Agency may 17 periodically review its prior decisions establishing the 18 amount of generation capacity in each block, and the 19 purchase price for each block, and may propose, on an 20 expedited basis, changes to these previously set values, 21 including but not limited to redistributing these amounts 22 and the available funds as necessary and appropriate, 23 subject to Commission approval as part of the periodic 24 plan revision process described in Section 16-111.5 of the 25 Public Utilities Act. The Agency may define different 26 block sizes, purchase prices, or other distinct terms and SB1353 - 70 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 71 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 71 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 71 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 conditions for projects located in different utility 2 service territories if the Agency deems it necessary to 3 meet the goals in this subsection (c). 4 The Adjustable Block program shall include the 5 following categories in at least the following amounts: 6 (i) At least 20% from distributed renewable energy 7 generation devices with a nameplate capacity of no 8 more than 25 kilowatts. 9 (ii) At least 20% from distributed renewable 10 energy generation devices with a nameplate capacity of 11 more than 25 kilowatts and no more than 5,000 12 kilowatts. The Agency may create sub-categories within 13 this category to account for the differences between 14 projects for small commercial customers, large 15 commercial customers, and public or non-profit 16 customers. 17 (iii) At least 30% from photovoltaic community 18 renewable generation projects. Capacity for this 19 category for the first 2 delivery years after the 20 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd 21 General Assembly shall be allocated to waitlist 22 projects as provided in paragraph (3) of item (iv) of 23 subparagraph (G). Starting in the third delivery year 24 after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 25 102nd General Assembly or earlier if the Agency 26 determines there is additional capacity needed for to SB1353 - 71 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 72 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 72 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 72 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 meet previous delivery year requirements, the 2 following shall apply: 3 (1) the Agency shall select projects on a 4 first-come, first-serve basis, however the Agency 5 may suggest additional methods to prioritize 6 projects that are submitted at the same time; 7 (2) projects shall have subscriptions of 25 kW 8 or less for at least 50% of the facility's 9 nameplate capacity and the Agency shall price the 10 renewable energy credits with that as a factor; 11 (3) projects shall not be colocated with one 12 or more other community renewable generation 13 projects, as defined in the Agency's first revised 14 long-term renewable resources procurement plan 15 approved by the Commission on February 18, 2020, 16 such that the aggregate nameplate capacity exceeds 17 5,000 kilowatts; and 18 (4) projects greater than 2 MW may not apply 19 until after the approval of the Agency's revised 20 Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan 21 after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 22 the 102nd General Assembly. 23 (iv) At least 15% from distributed renewable 24 generation devices or photovoltaic community renewable 25 generation projects installed at public schools. The 26 Agency may create subcategories within this category SB1353 - 72 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 73 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 73 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 73 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 to account for the differences between project size or 2 location. Projects located within environmental 3 justice communities or within Organizational Units 4 that fall within Tier 1 or Tier 2 shall be given 5 priority. Each of the Agency's periodic updates to its 6 long-term renewable resources procurement plan to 7 incorporate the procurement described in this 8 subparagraph (iv) shall also include the proposed 9 quantities or blocks, pricing, and contract terms 10 applicable to the procurement as indicated herein. In 11 each such update and procurement, the Agency shall set 12 the renewable energy credit price and establish 13 payment terms for the renewable energy credits 14 procured pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) that make 15 it feasible and affordable for public schools to 16 install photovoltaic distributed renewable energy 17 devices on their premises, including, but not limited 18 to, those public schools subject to the prioritization 19 provisions of this subparagraph. For the purposes of 20 this item (iv): 21 "Environmental Justice Community" shall have the 22 same meaning set forth in the Agency's long-term 23 renewable resources procurement plan; 24 "Organization Unit", "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" shall 25 have the meanings set for in Section 18-8.15 of the 26 School Code; SB1353 - 73 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 74 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 74 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 74 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 "Public schools" shall have the meaning set forth 2 in Section 1-3 of the School Code. 3 (v) At least 5% from community-driven community 4 solar projects intended to provide more direct and 5 tangible connection and benefits to the communities 6 which they serve or in which they operate and, 7 additionally, to increase the variety of community 8 solar locations, models, and options in Illinois. As 9 part of its long-term renewable resources procurement 10 plan, the Agency shall develop selection criteria for 11 projects participating in this category. Nothing in 12 this Section shall preclude the Agency from creating a 13 selection process that maximizes community ownership 14 and community benefits in selecting projects to 15 receive renewable energy credits. Selection criteria 16 shall include: 17 (1) community ownership or community 18 wealth-building; 19 (2) additional direct and indirect community 20 benefit, beyond project participation as a 21 subscriber, including, but not limited to, 22 economic, environmental, social, cultural, and 23 physical benefits; 24 (3) meaningful involvement in project 25 organization and development by community members 26 or nonprofit organizations or public entities SB1353 - 74 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 75 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 75 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 75 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 located in or serving the community; 2 (4) engagement in project operations and 3 management by nonprofit organizations, public 4 entities, or community members; and 5 (5) whether a project is developed in response 6 to a site-specific RFP developed by community 7 members or a nonprofit organization or public 8 entity located in or serving the community. 9 Selection criteria may also prioritize projects 10 that: 11 (1) are developed in collaboration with or to 12 provide complementary opportunities for the Clean 13 Jobs Workforce Network Program, the Illinois 14 Climate Works Preapprenticeship Program, the 15 Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, 16 the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program, or 17 the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator 18 Program; 19 (2) increase the diversity of locations of 20 community solar projects in Illinois, including by 21 locating in urban areas and population centers; 22 (3) are located in Equity Investment Eligible 23 Communities; 24 (4) are not greenfield projects; 25 (5) serve only local subscribers; 26 (6) have a nameplate capacity that does not SB1353 - 75 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 76 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 76 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 76 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 exceed 500 kW; 2 (7) are developed by an equity eligible 3 contractor; or 4 (8) otherwise meaningfully advance the goals 5 of providing more direct and tangible connection 6 and benefits to the communities which they serve 7 or in which they operate and increasing the 8 variety of community solar locations, models, and 9 options in Illinois. 10 For the purposes of this item (v): 11 "Community" means a social unit in which people 12 come together regularly to effect change; a social 13 unit in which participants are marked by a cooperative 14 spirit, a common purpose, or shared interests or 15 characteristics; or a space understood by its 16 residents to be delineated through geographic 17 boundaries or landmarks. 18 "Community benefit" means a range of services and 19 activities that provide affirmative, economic, 20 environmental, social, cultural, or physical value to 21 a community; or a mechanism that enables economic 22 development, high-quality employment, and education 23 opportunities for local workers and residents, or 24 formal monitoring and oversight structures such that 25 community members may ensure that those services and 26 activities respond to local knowledge and needs. SB1353 - 76 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 77 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 77 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 77 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 "Community ownership" means an arrangement in 2 which an electric generating facility is, or over time 3 will be, in significant part, owned collectively by 4 members of the community to which an electric 5 generating facility provides benefits; members of that 6 community participate in decisions regarding the 7 governance, operation, maintenance, and upgrades of 8 and to that facility; and members of that community 9 benefit from regular use of that facility. 10 Terms and guidance within these criteria that are 11 not defined in this item (v) shall be defined by the 12 Agency, with stakeholder input, during the development 13 of the Agency's long-term renewable resources 14 procurement plan. The Agency shall develop regular 15 opportunities for projects to submit applications for 16 projects under this category, and develop selection 17 criteria that gives preference to projects that better 18 meet individual criteria as well as projects that 19 address a higher number of criteria. 20 (vi) At least 10% from distributed renewable 21 energy generation devices, which includes distributed 22 renewable energy devices with a nameplate capacity 23 under 5,000 kilowatts or photovoltaic community 24 renewable generation projects, from applicants that 25 are equity eligible contractors. The Agency may create 26 subcategories within this category to account for the SB1353 - 77 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 78 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 78 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 78 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 differences between project size and type. The Agency 2 shall propose to increase the percentage in this item 3 (vi) over time to 40% based on factors, including, but 4 not limited to, the number of equity eligible 5 contractors and capacity used in this item (vi) in 6 previous delivery years. 7 The Agency shall propose a payment structure for 8 contracts executed pursuant to this paragraph under 9 which, upon a demonstration of qualification or need, 10 applicant firms are advanced capital disbursed after 11 contract execution but before the contracted project's 12 energization. The amount or percentage of capital 13 advanced prior to project energization shall be 14 sufficient to both cover any increase in development 15 costs resulting from prevailing wage requirements or 16 project-labor agreements, and designed to overcome 17 barriers in access to capital faced by equity eligible 18 contractors. The amount or percentage of advanced 19 capital may vary by subcategory within this category 20 and by an applicant's demonstration of need, with such 21 levels to be established through the Long-Term 22 Renewable Resources Procurement Plan authorized under 23 subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of 24 this Section. 25 Contracts developed featuring capital advanced 26 prior to a project's energization shall feature SB1353 - 78 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 79 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 79 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 79 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 provisions to ensure both the successful development 2 of applicant projects and the delivery of the 3 renewable energy credits for the full term of the 4 contract, including ongoing collateral requirements 5 and other provisions deemed necessary by the Agency, 6 and may include energization timelines longer than for 7 comparable project types. The percentage or amount of 8 capital advanced prior to project energization shall 9 not operate to increase the overall contract value, 10 however contracts executed under this subparagraph may 11 feature renewable energy credit prices higher than 12 those offered to similar projects participating in 13 other categories. Capital advanced prior to 14 energization shall serve to reduce the ratable 15 payments made after energization under items (ii) and 16 (iii) of subparagraph (L) or payments made for each 17 renewable energy credit delivery under item (iv) of 18 subparagraph (L). 19 (vii) The remaining capacity shall be allocated by 20 the Agency in order to respond to market demand. The 21 Agency shall allocate any discretionary capacity prior 22 to the beginning of each delivery year. 23 To the extent there is uncontracted capacity from any 24 block in any of categories (i) through (vi) at the end of a 25 delivery year, the Agency shall redistribute that capacity 26 to one or more other categories giving priority to SB1353 - 79 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 80 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 80 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 80 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 categories with projects on a waitlist. The redistributed 2 capacity shall be added to the annual capacity in the 3 subsequent delivery year, and the price for renewable 4 energy credits shall be the price for the new delivery 5 year. Redistributed capacity shall not be considered 6 redistributed when determining whether the goals in this 7 subsection (K) have been met. 8 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, as the 9 Agency increases the capacity in item (vi) to 40% over 10 time, the Agency may reduce the capacity of items (i) 11 through (v) proportionate to the capacity of the 12 categories of projects in item (vi), to achieve a balance 13 of project types. 14 The Adjustable Block program shall be designed to 15 ensure that renewable energy credits are procured from 16 projects in diverse locations and are not concentrated in 17 a few regional areas. 18 (L) Notwithstanding provisions for advancing capital 19 prior to project energization found in item (vi) of 20 subparagraph (K), the procurement of photovoltaic 21 renewable energy credits under items (i) through (vi) of 22 subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) shall otherwise be 23 subject to the following contract and payment terms: 24 (i) (Blank). 25 (ii) For those renewable energy credits that 26 qualify and are procured under item (i) of SB1353 - 80 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 81 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 81 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 81 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any 2 similar category projects that are procured under item 3 (vi) of subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) that 4 qualify and are procured under item (vi), the contract 5 length shall be 15 years. The renewable energy credit 6 delivery contract value shall be paid in full, based 7 on the estimated generation during the first 15 years 8 of operation, by the contracting utilities at the time 9 that the facility producing the renewable energy 10 credits is interconnected at the distribution system 11 level of the utility and verified as energized and 12 compliant by the Program Administrator. The electric 13 utility shall receive and retire all renewable energy 14 credits generated by the project for the first 15 15 years of operation. Renewable energy credits generated 16 by the project thereafter shall not be transferred 17 under the renewable energy credit delivery contract 18 with the counterparty electric utility. 19 (iii) For those renewable energy credits that 20 qualify and are procured under item (ii) and (v) of 21 subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) and any like 22 projects similar category that qualify and are 23 procured under item (vi), the contract length shall be 24 15 years. 15% of the renewable energy credit delivery 25 contract value, based on the estimated generation 26 during the first 15 years of operation, shall be paid SB1353 - 81 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 82 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 82 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 82 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 by the contracting utilities at the time that the 2 facility producing the renewable energy credits is 3 interconnected at the distribution system level of the 4 utility and verified as energized and compliant by the 5 Program Administrator. The remaining portion shall be 6 paid ratably over the subsequent 6-year period. The 7 electric utility shall receive and retire all 8 renewable energy credits generated by the project for 9 the first 15 years of operation. Renewable energy 10 credits generated by the project thereafter shall not 11 be transferred under the renewable energy credit 12 delivery contract with the counterparty electric 13 utility. 14 (iv) For those renewable energy credits that 15 qualify and are procured under items (iii) and (iv) of 16 subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1), and any like 17 projects that qualify and are procured under item 18 (vi), the renewable energy credit delivery contract 19 length shall be 20 years and shall be paid over the 20 delivery term, not to exceed during each delivery year 21 the contract price multiplied by the estimated annual 22 renewable energy credit generation amount. If 23 generation of renewable energy credits during a 24 delivery year exceeds the estimated annual generation 25 amount, the excess renewable energy credits shall be 26 carried forward to future delivery years and shall not SB1353 - 82 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 83 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 83 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 83 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 expire during the delivery term. If generation of 2 renewable energy credits during a delivery year, 3 including carried forward excess renewable energy 4 credits, if any, is less than the estimated annual 5 generation amount, payments during such delivery year 6 will not exceed the quantity generated plus the 7 quantity carried forward multiplied by the contract 8 price. The electric utility shall receive all 9 renewable energy credits generated by the project 10 during the first 20 years of operation and retire all 11 renewable energy credits paid for under this item (iv) 12 and return at the end of the delivery term all 13 renewable energy credits that were not paid for. 14 Renewable energy credits generated by the project 15 thereafter shall not be transferred under the 16 renewable energy credit delivery contract with the 17 counterparty electric utility. Notwithstanding the 18 preceding, for those projects participating under item 19 (iii) of subparagraph (K), the contract price for a 20 delivery year shall be based on subscription levels as 21 measured on the higher of the first business day of the 22 delivery year or the first business day 6 months after 23 the first business day of the delivery year. 24 Subscription of 90% of nameplate capacity or greater 25 shall be deemed to be fully subscribed for the 26 purposes of this item (iv). For projects receiving a SB1353 - 83 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 84 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 84 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 84 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 20-year delivery contract, REC prices shall be 2 adjusted downward for consistency with the incentive 3 levels previously determined to be necessary to 4 support projects under 15-year delivery contracts, 5 taking into consideration any additional new 6 requirements placed on the projects, including, but 7 not limited to, labor standards. 8 (v) Each contract shall include provisions to 9 ensure the delivery of the estimated quantity of 10 renewable energy credits and ongoing collateral 11 requirements and other provisions deemed appropriate 12 by the Agency. 13 (vi) The utility shall be the counterparty to the 14 contracts executed under this subparagraph (L) that 15 are approved by the Commission under the process 16 described in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities 17 Act. No contract shall be executed for an amount that 18 is less than one renewable energy credit per year. 19 (vii) If, at any time, approved applications for 20 the Adjustable Block program exceed funds collected by 21 the electric utility or would cause the Agency to 22 exceed the limitation described in subparagraph (E) of 23 this paragraph (1) on the amount of renewable energy 24 resources that may be procured, then the Agency may 25 consider future uncommitted funds to be reserved for 26 these contracts on a first-come, first-served basis. SB1353 - 84 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 85 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 85 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 85 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (viii) Nothing in this Section shall require the 2 utility to advance any payment or pay any amounts that 3 exceed the actual amount of revenues anticipated to be 4 collected by the utility under paragraph (6) of this 5 subsection (c) and subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of 6 the Public Utilities Act inclusive of eligible funds 7 collected in prior years and alternative compliance 8 payments for use by the utility, and contracts 9 executed under this Section shall expressly 10 incorporate this limitation. 11 (ix) Notwithstanding other requirements of this 12 subparagraph (L), no modification shall be required to 13 Adjustable Block program contracts if they were 14 already executed prior to the establishment, approval, 15 and implementation of new contract forms as a result 16 of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly. 17 (x) Contracts may be assignable, but only to 18 entities first deemed by the Agency to have met 19 program terms and requirements applicable to direct 20 program participation. In developing contracts for the 21 delivery of renewable energy credits, the Agency shall 22 be permitted to establish fees applicable to each 23 contract assignment. 24 (M) The Agency shall be authorized to retain one or 25 more experts or expert consulting firms to develop, 26 administer, implement, operate, and evaluate the SB1353 - 85 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 86 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 86 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 86 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Adjustable Block program described in subparagraph (K) of 2 this paragraph (1), and the Agency shall retain the 3 consultant or consultants in the same manner, to the 4 extent practicable, as the Agency retains others to 5 administer provisions of this Act, including, but not 6 limited to, the procurement administrator. The selection 7 of experts and expert consulting firms and the procurement 8 process described in this subparagraph (M) are exempt from 9 the requirements of Section 20-10 of the Illinois 10 Procurement Code, under Section 20-10 of that Code. The 11 Agency shall strive to minimize administrative expenses in 12 the implementation of the Adjustable Block program. 13 The Program Administrator may charge application fees 14 to participating firms to cover the cost of program 15 administration. Any application fee amounts shall 16 initially be determined through the long-term renewable 17 resources procurement plan, and modifications to any 18 application fee that deviate more than 25% from the 19 Commission's approved value must be approved by the 20 Commission as a long-term plan revision under Section 21 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. The Agency shall 22 consider stakeholder feedback when making adjustments to 23 application fees and shall notify stakeholders in advance 24 of any planned changes. 25 In addition to covering the costs of program 26 administration, the Agency, in conjunction with its SB1353 - 86 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 87 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 87 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 87 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Program Administrator, may also use the proceeds of such 2 fees charged to participating firms to support public 3 education and ongoing regional and national coordination 4 with nonprofit organizations, public bodies, and others 5 engaged in the implementation of renewable energy 6 incentive programs or similar initiatives. This work may 7 include developing papers and reports, hosting regional 8 and national conferences, and other work deemed necessary 9 by the Agency to position the State of Illinois as a 10 national leader in renewable energy incentive program 11 development and administration. 12 The Agency and its consultant or consultants shall 13 monitor block activity, share program activity with 14 stakeholders and conduct quarterly meetings to discuss 15 program activity and market conditions. If necessary, the 16 Agency may make prospective administrative adjustments to 17 the Adjustable Block program design, such as making 18 adjustments to purchase prices as necessary to achieve the 19 goals of this subsection (c). Program modifications to any 20 block price that do not deviate from the Commission's 21 approved value by more than 10% shall take effect 22 immediately and are not subject to Commission review and 23 approval. Program modifications to any block price that 24 deviate more than 10% from the Commission's approved value 25 must be approved by the Commission as a long-term plan 26 amendment under Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities SB1353 - 87 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 88 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 88 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 88 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Act. The Agency shall consider stakeholder feedback when 2 making adjustments to the Adjustable Block design and 3 shall notify stakeholders in advance of any planned 4 changes. 5 The Agency and its program administrators for both the 6 Adjustable Block program and the Illinois Solar for All 7 Program, consistent with the requirements of this 8 subsection (c) and subsection (b) of Section 1-56 of this 9 Act, shall propose the Adjustable Block program terms, 10 conditions, and requirements, including the prices to be 11 paid for renewable energy credits, where applicable, and 12 requirements applicable to participating entities and 13 project applications, through the development, review, and 14 approval of the Agency's long-term renewable resources 15 procurement plan described in this subsection (c) and 16 paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the 17 Public Utilities Act. Terms, conditions, and requirements 18 for program participation shall include the following: 19 (i) The Agency shall establish a registration 20 process for entities seeking to qualify for 21 program-administered incentive funding and establish 22 baseline qualifications for vendor approval. The 23 Agency must maintain a list of approved entities on 24 each program's website, and may revoke a vendor's 25 ability to receive program-administered incentive 26 funding status upon a determination that the vendor SB1353 - 88 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 89 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 89 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 89 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 failed to comply with contract terms, the law, or 2 other program requirements. 3 (ii) The Agency shall establish program 4 requirements and minimum contract terms to ensure 5 projects are properly installed and produce their 6 expected amounts of energy. Program requirements may 7 include on-site inspections and photo documentation of 8 projects under construction. The Agency may require 9 repairs, alterations, or additions to remedy any 10 material deficiencies discovered. Vendors who have a 11 disproportionately high number of deficient systems 12 may lose their eligibility to continue to receive 13 State-administered incentive funding through Agency 14 programs and procurements. 15 (iii) To discourage deceptive marketing or other 16 bad faith business practices, the Agency may require 17 direct program participants, including agents 18 operating on their behalf, to provide standardized 19 disclosures to a customer prior to that customer's 20 execution of a contract for the development of a 21 distributed generation system or a subscription to a 22 community solar project. 23 (iv) The Agency shall establish one or multiple 24 Consumer Complaints Centers to accept complaints 25 regarding businesses that participate in, or otherwise 26 benefit from, State-administered incentive funding SB1353 - 89 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 90 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 90 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 90 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 through Agency-administered programs. The Agency shall 2 maintain a public database of complaints with any 3 confidential or particularly sensitive information 4 redacted from public entries. 5 (v) Through a filing in the proceeding for the 6 approval of its long-term renewable energy resources 7 procurement plan, the Agency shall provide an annual 8 written report to the Illinois Commerce Commission 9 documenting the frequency and nature of complaints and 10 any enforcement actions taken in response to those 11 complaints. 12 (vi) The Agency shall schedule regular meetings 13 with representatives of the Office of the Attorney 14 General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, consumer 15 protection groups, and other interested stakeholders 16 to share relevant information about consumer 17 protection, project compliance, and complaints 18 received. 19 (vii) To the extent that complaints received 20 implicate the jurisdiction of the Office of the 21 Attorney General, the Illinois Commerce Commission, or 22 local, State, or federal law enforcement, the Agency 23 shall also refer complaints to those entities as 24 appropriate. 25 (N) The Agency shall establish the terms, conditions, 26 and program requirements for photovoltaic community SB1353 - 90 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 91 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 91 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 91 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 renewable generation projects with a goal to expand access 2 to a broader group of energy consumers, to ensure robust 3 participation opportunities for residential and small 4 commercial customers and those who cannot install 5 renewable energy on their own properties. Subject to 6 reasonable limitations, any plan approved by the 7 Commission shall allow subscriptions to community 8 renewable generation projects to be portable and 9 transferable. For purposes of this subparagraph (N), 10 "portable" means that subscriptions may be retained by the 11 subscriber even if the subscriber relocates or changes its 12 address within the same utility service territory; and 13 "transferable" means that a subscriber may assign or sell 14 subscriptions to another person within the same utility 15 service territory. 16 Through the development of its long-term renewable 17 resources procurement plan, the Agency may consider 18 whether community renewable generation projects utilizing 19 technologies other than photovoltaics should be supported 20 through State-administered incentive funding, and may 21 issue requests for information to gauge market demand. 22 Electric utilities shall provide a monetary credit to 23 a subscriber's subsequent bill for service for the 24 proportional output of a community renewable generation 25 project attributable to that subscriber as specified in 26 Section 16-107.5 of the Public Utilities Act. SB1353 - 91 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 92 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 92 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 92 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 The Agency shall purchase renewable energy credits 2 from subscribed shares of photovoltaic community renewable 3 generation projects through the Adjustable Block program 4 described in subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1) or 5 through the Illinois Solar for All Program described in 6 Section 1-56 of this Act. The electric utility shall 7 purchase any unsubscribed energy from community renewable 8 generation projects that are Qualifying Facilities ("QF") 9 under the electric utility's tariff for purchasing the 10 output from QFs under Public Utilities Regulatory Policies 11 Act of 1978. 12 The owners of and any subscribers to a community 13 renewable generation project shall not be considered 14 public utilities or alternative retail electricity 15 suppliers under the Public Utilities Act solely as a 16 result of their interest in or subscription to a community 17 renewable generation project and shall not be required to 18 become an alternative retail electric supplier by 19 participating in a community renewable generation project 20 with a public utility. 21 (O) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 2018, the 22 long-term renewable resources procurement plan required by 23 this subsection (c) shall provide for the Agency to 24 procure contracts to continue offering the Illinois Solar 25 for All Program described in subsection (b) of Section 26 1-56 of this Act, and the contracts approved by the SB1353 - 92 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 93 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 93 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 93 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Commission shall be executed by the utilities that are 2 subject to this subsection (c). The long-term renewable 3 resources procurement plan shall allocate up to 4 $50,000,000 per delivery year to fund the programs, and 5 the plan shall determine the amount of funding to be 6 apportioned to the programs identified in subsection (b) 7 of Section 1-56 of this Act; provided that for the 8 delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2022, and 9 June 1, 2023, the long-term renewable resources 10 procurement plan may average the annual budgets over a 11 3-year period to account for program ramp-up. For the 12 delivery years beginning June 1, 2021, June 1, 2024, June 13 1, 2027, and June 1, 2030 and additional $10,000,000 shall 14 be provided to the Department of Commerce and Economic 15 Opportunity to implement the workforce development 16 programs and reporting as outlined in Section 16-108.12 of 17 the Public Utilities Act. In making the determinations 18 required under this subparagraph (O), the Commission shall 19 consider the experience and performance under the programs 20 and any evaluation reports. The Commission shall also 21 provide for an independent evaluation of those programs on 22 a periodic basis that are funded under this subparagraph 23 (O). 24 (P) All programs and procurements under this 25 subsection (c) shall be designed to encourage 26 participating projects to use a diverse and equitable SB1353 - 93 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 94 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 94 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 94 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 workforce and a diverse set of contractors, including 2 minority-owned businesses, disadvantaged businesses, 3 trade unions, graduates of any workforce training programs 4 administered under this Act, and small businesses. 5 The Agency shall develop a method to optimize 6 procurement of renewable energy credits from proposed 7 utility-scale projects that are located in communities 8 eligible to receive Energy Transition Community Grants 9 pursuant to Section 10-20 of the Energy Community 10 Reinvestment Act. If this requirement conflicts with other 11 provisions of law or the Agency determines that full 12 compliance with the requirements of this subparagraph (P) 13 would be unreasonably costly or administratively 14 impractical, the Agency is to propose alternative 15 approaches to achieve development of renewable energy 16 resources in communities eligible to receive Energy 17 Transition Community Grants pursuant to Section 10-20 of 18 the Energy Community Reinvestment Act or seek an exemption 19 from this requirement from the Commission. 20 (Q) Each facility listed in subitems (i) through (ix) 21 (viii) of item (1) of this subparagraph (Q) for which a 22 renewable energy credit delivery contract is signed after 23 the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd 24 General Assembly is subject to the following requirements 25 through the Agency's long-term renewable resources 26 procurement plan: SB1353 - 94 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 95 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 95 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 95 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (1) Each facility shall be subject to the 2 prevailing wage requirements included in the 3 Prevailing Wage Act. The Agency shall require 4 verification that all construction performed on the 5 facility by the renewable energy credit delivery 6 contract holder, its contractors, or its 7 subcontractors relating to construction of the 8 facility is performed by construction employees 9 receiving an amount for that work equal to or greater 10 than the general prevailing rate, as that term is 11 defined in Section 3 of the Prevailing Wage Act. For 12 purposes of this item (1), "house of worship" means 13 property that is both (1) used exclusively by a 14 religious society or body of persons as a place for 15 religious exercise or religious worship and (2) 16 recognized as exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 17 15-40 of the Property Tax Code. This item (1) shall 18 apply to any the following: 19 (i) all new utility-scale wind projects; 20 (ii) all new utility-scale photovoltaic 21 projects; 22 (iii) all new brownfield photovoltaic 23 projects; 24 (iv) all new photovoltaic community renewable 25 energy facilities that qualify for item (iii) of 26 subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); SB1353 - 95 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 96 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 96 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 96 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (v) all new community driven community 2 photovoltaic projects that qualify for item (v) of 3 subparagraph (K) of this paragraph (1); 4 (vi) all new photovoltaic distributed 5 renewable energy generation devices on schools 6 that qualify for item (iv) of subparagraph (K) of 7 this paragraph (1); 8 (vii) all new photovoltaic distributed 9 renewable energy generation devices that (1) 10 qualify for item (i) of subparagraph (K) of this 11 paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve 12 single-family or multi-family residential 13 buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where 14 the aggregate capacity including collocated 15 projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts; 16 (viii) all new photovoltaic distributed 17 renewable energy generation devices that (1) 18 qualify for item (ii) of subparagraph (K) of this 19 paragraph (1); (2) are not projects that serve 20 single-family or multi-family residential 21 buildings; and (3) are not houses of worship where 22 the aggregate capacity including collocated 23 projects would not exceed 100 kilowatts; and . 24 (ix) all new, newly modernized, or retooled 25 hydropower facilities. 26 (2) Renewable energy credits procured from new SB1353 - 96 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 97 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 97 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 97 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar 2 projects, and new brownfield solar projects pursuant 3 to Agency procurement events occurring after the 4 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd 5 General Assembly must be from facilities built by 6 general contractors that must enter into a project 7 labor agreement, as defined by this Act, prior to 8 construction. The project labor agreement shall be 9 filed with the Director in accordance with procedures 10 established by the Agency through its long-term 11 renewable resources procurement plan. Any information 12 submitted to the Agency in this item (2) shall be 13 considered commercially sensitive information. At a 14 minimum, the project labor agreement must provide the 15 names, addresses, and occupations of the owner of the 16 plant and the individuals representing the labor 17 organization employees participating in the project 18 labor agreement consistent with the Project Labor 19 Agreements Act. The agreement must also specify the 20 terms and conditions as defined by this Act. 21 (3) It is the intent of this Section to ensure that 22 economic development occurs across Illinois 23 communities, that emerging businesses may grow, and 24 that there is improved access to the clean energy 25 economy by persons who have greater economic burdens 26 to success. The Agency shall take into consideration SB1353 - 97 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 98 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 98 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 98 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 the unique cost of compliance of this subparagraph (Q) 2 that might be borne by equity eligible contractors, 3 shall include such costs when determining the price of 4 renewable energy credits in the Adjustable Block 5 program, and shall take such costs into consideration 6 in a nondiscriminatory manner when comparing bids for 7 competitive procurements. The Agency shall consider 8 costs associated with compliance whether in the 9 development, financing, or construction of projects. 10 The Agency shall periodically review the assumptions 11 in these costs and may adjust prices, in compliance 12 with subparagraph (M) of this paragraph (1). 13 (R) In its long-term renewable resources procurement 14 plan, the Agency shall establish a self-direct renewable 15 portfolio standard compliance program for eligible 16 self-direct customers that purchase renewable energy 17 credits from utility-scale wind and solar projects through 18 long-term agreements for purchase of renewable energy 19 credits as described in this Section. Such long-term 20 agreements may include the purchase of energy or other 21 products on a physical or financial basis and may involve 22 an alternative retail electric supplier as defined in 23 Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act. This program 24 shall take effect in the delivery year commencing June 1, 25 2023. 26 (1) For the purposes of this subparagraph: SB1353 - 98 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 99 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 99 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 99 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 "Eligible self-direct customer" means any retail 2 customers of an electric utility that serves 3,000,000 3 or more retail customers in the State and whose total 4 highest 30-minute demand was more than 10,000 5 kilowatts, or any retail customers of an electric 6 utility that serves less than 3,000,000 retail 7 customers but more than 500,000 retail customers in 8 the State and whose total highest 15-minute demand was 9 more than 10,000 kilowatts. 10 "Retail customer" has the meaning set forth in 11 Section 16-102 of the Public Utilities Act and 12 multiple retail customer accounts under the same 13 corporate parent may aggregate their account demands 14 to meet the 10,000 kilowatt threshold. The criteria 15 for determining whether this subparagraph is 16 applicable to a retail customer shall be based on the 17 12 consecutive billing periods prior to the start of 18 the year in which the application is filed. 19 (2) For renewable energy credits to count toward 20 the self-direct renewable portfolio standard 21 compliance program, they must: 22 (i) qualify as renewable energy credits as 23 defined in Section 1-10 of this Act; 24 (ii) be sourced from one or more renewable 25 energy generating facilities that comply with the 26 geographic requirements as set forth in SB1353 - 99 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 100 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 100 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 100 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 subparagraph (I) of paragraph (1) of subsection 2 (c) as interpreted through the Agency's long-term 3 renewable resources procurement plan, or, where 4 applicable, the geographic requirements that 5 governed utility-scale renewable energy credits at 6 the time the eligible self-direct customer entered 7 into the applicable renewable energy credit 8 purchase agreement; 9 (iii) be procured through long-term contracts 10 with term lengths of at least 10 years either 11 directly with the renewable energy generating 12 facility or through a bundled power purchase 13 agreement, a virtual power purchase agreement, an 14 agreement between the renewable generating 15 facility, an alternative retail electric supplier, 16 and the customer, or such other structure as is 17 permissible under this subparagraph (R); 18 (iv) be equivalent in volume to at least 40% 19 of the eligible self-direct customer's usage, 20 determined annually by the eligible self-direct 21 customer's usage during the previous delivery 22 year, measured to the nearest megawatt-hour; 23 (v) be retired by or on behalf of the large 24 energy customer; 25 (vi) be sourced from new utility-scale wind 26 projects or new utility-scale solar projects; and SB1353 - 100 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 101 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 101 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 101 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (vii) if the contracts for renewable energy 2 credits are entered into after the effective date 3 of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General 4 Assembly, the new utility-scale wind projects or 5 new utility-scale solar projects must comply with 6 the requirements established in subparagraphs (P) 7 and (Q) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) 8 and subsection (c-10). 9 (3) The self-direct renewable portfolio standard 10 compliance program shall be designed to allow eligible 11 self-direct customers to procure new renewable energy 12 credits from new utility-scale wind projects or new 13 utility-scale photovoltaic projects. The Agency shall 14 annually determine the amount of utility-scale 15 renewable energy credits it will include each year 16 from the self-direct renewable portfolio standard 17 compliance program, subject to receiving qualifying 18 applications. In making this determination, the Agency 19 shall evaluate publicly available analyses and studies 20 of the potential market size for utility-scale 21 renewable energy long-term purchase agreements by 22 commercial and industrial energy customers and make 23 that report publicly available. If demand for 24 participation in the self-direct renewable portfolio 25 standard compliance program exceeds availability, the 26 Agency shall ensure participation is evenly split SB1353 - 101 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 102 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 102 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 102 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 between commercial and industrial users to the extent 2 there is sufficient demand from both customer classes. 3 Each renewable energy credit procured pursuant to this 4 subparagraph (R) by a self-direct customer shall 5 reduce the total volume of renewable energy credits 6 the Agency is otherwise required to procure from new 7 utility-scale projects pursuant to subparagraph (C) of 8 paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) on behalf of 9 contracting utilities where the eligible self-direct 10 customer is located. The self-direct customer shall 11 file an annual compliance report with the Agency 12 pursuant to terms established by the Agency through 13 its long-term renewable resources procurement plan to 14 be eligible for participation in this program. 15 Customers must provide the Agency with their most 16 recent electricity billing statements or other 17 information deemed necessary by the Agency to 18 demonstrate they are an eligible self-direct customer. 19 (4) The Commission shall approve a reduction in 20 the volumetric charges collected pursuant to Section 21 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act for approved 22 eligible self-direct customers equivalent to the 23 anticipated cost of renewable energy credit deliveries 24 under contracts for new utility-scale wind and new 25 utility-scale solar entered for each delivery year 26 after the large energy customer begins retiring SB1353 - 102 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 103 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 103 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 103 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 eligible new utility scale renewable energy credits 2 for self-compliance. The self-direct credit amount 3 shall be determined annually and is equal to the 4 estimated portion of the cost authorized by 5 subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection 6 (c) that supported the annual procurement of 7 utility-scale renewable energy credits in the prior 8 delivery year using a methodology described in the 9 long-term renewable resources procurement plan, 10 expressed on a per kilowatthour basis, and does not 11 include (i) costs associated with any contracts 12 entered into before the delivery year in which the 13 customer files the initial compliance report to be 14 eligible for participation in the self-direct program, 15 and (ii) costs associated with procuring renewable 16 energy credits through existing and future contracts 17 through the Adjustable Block Program, subsection (c-5) 18 of this Section 1-75, and the Solar for All Program. 19 The Agency shall assist the Commission in determining 20 the current and future costs. The Agency must 21 determine the self-direct credit amount for new and 22 existing eligible self-direct customers and submit 23 this to the Commission in an annual compliance filing. 24 The Commission must approve the self-direct credit 25 amount by June 1, 2023 and June 1 of each delivery year 26 thereafter. SB1353 - 103 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 104 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 104 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 104 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (5) Customers described in this subparagraph (R) 2 shall apply, on a form developed by the Agency, to the 3 Agency to be designated as a self-direct eligible 4 customer. Once the Agency determines that a 5 self-direct customer is eligible for participation in 6 the program, the self-direct customer will remain 7 eligible until the end of the term of the contract. 8 Thereafter, application may be made not less than 12 9 months before the filing date of the long-term 10 renewable resources procurement plan described in this 11 Act. At a minimum, such application shall contain the 12 following: 13 (i) the customer's certification that, at the 14 time of the customer's application, the customer 15 qualifies to be a self-direct eligible customer, 16 including documents demonstrating that 17 qualification; 18 (ii) the customer's certification that the 19 customer has entered into or will enter into by 20 the beginning of the applicable procurement year, 21 one or more bilateral contracts for new wind 22 projects or new photovoltaic projects, including 23 supporting documentation; 24 (iii) certification that the contract or 25 contracts for new renewable energy resources are 26 long-term contracts with term lengths of at least SB1353 - 104 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 105 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 105 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 105 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 10 years, including supporting documentation; 2 (iv) certification of the quantities of 3 renewable energy credits that the customer will 4 purchase each year under such contract or 5 contracts, including supporting documentation; 6 (v) proof that the contract is sufficient to 7 produce renewable energy credits to be equivalent 8 in volume to at least 40% of the large energy 9 customer's usage from the previous delivery year, 10 measured to the nearest megawatt-hour; and 11 (vi) certification that the customer intends 12 to maintain the contract for the duration of the 13 length of the contract. 14 (6) If a customer receives the self-direct credit 15 but fails to properly procure and retire renewable 16 energy credits as required under this subparagraph 17 (R), the Commission, on petition from the Agency and 18 after notice and hearing, may direct such customer's 19 utility to recover the cost of the wrongfully received 20 self-direct credits plus interest through an adder to 21 charges assessed pursuant to Section 16-108 of the 22 Public Utilities Act. Self-direct customers who 23 knowingly fail to properly procure and retire 24 renewable energy credits and do not notify the Agency 25 are ineligible for continued participation in the 26 self-direct renewable portfolio standard compliance SB1353 - 105 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 106 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 106 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 106 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 program. 2 (2) (Blank). 3 (3) (Blank). 4 (4) The electric utility shall retire all renewable 5 energy credits used to comply with the standard. 6 (5) Beginning with the 2010 delivery year and ending 7 June 1, 2017, an electric utility subject to this 8 subsection (c) shall apply the lesser of the maximum 9 alternative compliance payment rate or the most recent 10 estimated alternative compliance payment rate for its 11 service territory for the corresponding compliance period, 12 established pursuant to subsection (d) of Section 16-115D 13 of the Public Utilities Act to its retail customers that 14 take service pursuant to the electric utility's hourly 15 pricing tariff or tariffs. The electric utility shall 16 retain all amounts collected as a result of the 17 application of the alternative compliance payment rate or 18 rates to such customers, and, beginning in 2011, the 19 utility shall include in the information provided under 20 item (1) of subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the 21 Public Utilities Act the amounts collected under the 22 alternative compliance payment rate or rates for the prior 23 year ending May 31. Notwithstanding any limitation on the 24 procurement of renewable energy resources imposed by item 25 (2) of this subsection (c), the Agency shall increase its 26 spending on the purchase of renewable energy resources to SB1353 - 106 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 107 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 107 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 107 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 be procured by the electric utility for the next plan year 2 by an amount equal to the amounts collected by the utility 3 under the alternative compliance payment rate or rates in 4 the prior year ending May 31. 5 (6) The electric utility shall be entitled to recover 6 all of its costs associated with the procurement of 7 renewable energy credits under plans approved under this 8 Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. 9 These costs shall include associated reasonable expenses 10 for implementing the procurement programs, including, but 11 not limited to, the costs of administering and evaluating 12 the Adjustable Block program, through an automatic 13 adjustment clause tariff in accordance with subsection (k) 14 of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act. 15 (7) Renewable energy credits procured from new 16 photovoltaic projects or new distributed renewable energy 17 generation devices under this Section after June 1, 2017 18 (the effective date of Public Act 99-906) must be procured 19 from devices installed by a qualified person in compliance 20 with the requirements of Section 16-128A of the Public 21 Utilities Act and any rules or regulations adopted 22 thereunder. 23 In meeting the renewable energy requirements of this 24 subsection (c), to the extent feasible and consistent with 25 State and federal law, the renewable energy credit 26 procurements, Adjustable Block solar program, and SB1353 - 107 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 108 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 108 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 108 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 community renewable generation program shall provide 2 employment opportunities for all segments of the 3 population and workforce, including minority-owned and 4 female-owned business enterprises, and shall not, 5 consistent with State and federal law, discriminate based 6 on race or socioeconomic status. 7 (c-5) Procurement of renewable energy credits from new 8 renewable energy facilities installed at or adjacent to the 9 sites of electric generating facilities that burn or burned 10 coal as their primary fuel source. 11 (1) In addition to the procurement of renewable energy 12 credits pursuant to long-term renewable resources 13 procurement plans in accordance with subsection (c) of 14 this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities 15 Act, the Agency shall conduct procurement events in 16 accordance with this subsection (c-5) for the procurement 17 by electric utilities that served more than 300,000 retail 18 customers in this State as of January 1, 2019 of renewable 19 energy credits from new renewable energy facilities to be 20 installed at or adjacent to the sites of electric 21 generating facilities that, as of January 1, 2016, burned 22 coal as their primary fuel source and meet the other 23 criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). For purposes 24 of this subsection (c-5), "new renewable energy facility" 25 means a new utility-scale solar project as defined in this 26 Section 1-75. The renewable energy credits procured SB1353 - 108 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 109 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 109 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 109 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 pursuant to this subsection (c-5) may be included or 2 counted for purposes of compliance with the amounts of 3 renewable energy credits required to be procured pursuant 4 to subsection (c) of this Section to the extent that there 5 are otherwise shortfalls in compliance with such 6 requirements. The procurement of renewable energy credits 7 by electric utilities pursuant to this subsection (c-5) 8 shall be funded solely by revenues collected from the Coal 9 to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge provided for 10 in this subsection (c-5) and subsection (i-5) of Section 11 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, shall not be funded by 12 revenues collected through any of the other funding 13 mechanisms provided for in subsection (c) of this Section, 14 and shall not be subject to the limitation imposed by 15 subsection (c) on charges to retail customers for costs to 16 procure renewable energy resources pursuant to subsection 17 (c), and shall not be subject to any other requirements or 18 limitations of subsection (c). 19 (2) The Agency shall conduct 2 procurement events to 20 select owners of electric generating facilities meeting 21 the eligibility criteria specified in this subsection 22 (c-5) to enter into long-term contracts to sell renewable 23 energy credits to electric utilities serving more than 24 300,000 retail customers in this State as of January 1, 25 2019. The first procurement event shall be conducted no 26 later than March 31, 2022, unless the Agency elects to SB1353 - 109 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 110 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 110 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 110 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 delay it, until no later than May 1, 2022, due to its 2 overall volume of work, and shall be to select owners of 3 electric generating facilities located in this State and 4 south of federal Interstate Highway 80 that meet the 5 eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). 6 The second procurement event shall be conducted no sooner 7 than September 30, 2022 and no later than October 31, 2022 8 and shall be to select owners of electric generating 9 facilities located anywhere in this State that meet the 10 eligibility criteria specified in this subsection (c-5). 11 The Agency shall establish and announce a time period, 12 which shall begin no later than 30 days prior to the 13 scheduled date for the procurement event, during which 14 applicants may submit applications to be selected as 15 suppliers of renewable energy credits pursuant to this 16 subsection (c-5). The eligibility criteria for selection 17 as a supplier of renewable energy credits pursuant to this 18 subsection (c-5) shall be as follows: 19 (A) The applicant owns an electric generating 20 facility located in this State that: (i) as of January 21 1, 2016, burned coal as its primary fuel to generate 22 electricity; and (ii) has, or had prior to retirement, 23 an electric generating capacity of at least 150 24 megawatts. The electric generating facility can be 25 either: (i) retired as of the date of the procurement 26 event; or (ii) still operating as of the date of the SB1353 - 110 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 111 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 111 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 111 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 procurement event. 2 (B) The applicant is not (i) an electric 3 cooperative as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public 4 Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in 5 subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public 6 Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of or 7 an entity owned by entities described in (i) or (ii); 8 and the coal-fueled electric generating facility was 9 at one time owned, in whole or in part, by a public 10 utility as defined in Section 3-105 of the Public 11 Utilities Act. 12 (C) If participating in the first procurement 13 event, the applicant proposes and commits to construct 14 and operate, at the site, and if necessary for 15 sufficient space on property adjacent to the existing 16 property, at which the electric generating facility 17 identified in paragraph (A) is located: (i) a new 18 renewable energy facility of at least 20 megawatts but 19 no more than 100 megawatts of electric generating 20 capacity, and (ii) an energy storage facility having a 21 storage capacity equal to at least 2 megawatts and at 22 most 10 megawatts. If participating in the second 23 procurement event, the applicant proposes and commits 24 to construct and operate, at the site, and if 25 necessary for sufficient space on property adjacent to 26 the existing property, at which the electric SB1353 - 111 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 112 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 112 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 112 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 generating facility identified in paragraph (A) is 2 located: (i) a new renewable energy facility of at 3 least 5 megawatts but no more than 20 megawatts of 4 electric generating capacity, and (ii) an energy 5 storage facility having a storage capacity equal to at 6 least 0.5 megawatts and at most one megawatt. 7 (D) The applicant agrees that the new renewable 8 energy facility and the energy storage facility will 9 be constructed or installed by a qualified entity or 10 entities in compliance with the requirements of 11 subsection (g) of Section 16-128A of the Public 12 Utilities Act and any rules adopted thereunder. 13 (E) The applicant agrees that personnel operating 14 the new renewable energy facility and the energy 15 storage facility will have the requisite skills, 16 knowledge, training, experience, and competence, which 17 may be demonstrated by completion or current 18 participation and ultimate completion by employees of 19 an accredited or otherwise recognized apprenticeship 20 program for the employee's particular craft, trade, or 21 skill, including through training and education 22 courses and opportunities offered by the owner to 23 employees of the coal-fueled electric generating 24 facility or by previous employment experience 25 performing the employee's particular work skill or 26 function. SB1353 - 112 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 113 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 113 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 113 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (F) The applicant commits that not less than the 2 prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the 3 Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the applicant's 4 employees engaged in construction activities 5 associated with the new renewable energy facility and 6 the new energy storage facility and to the employees 7 of applicant's contractors engaged in construction 8 activities associated with the new renewable energy 9 facility and the new energy storage facility, and 10 that, on or before the commercial operation date of 11 the new renewable energy facility, the applicant shall 12 file a report with the Agency certifying that the 13 requirements of this subparagraph (F) have been met. 14 (G) The applicant commits that if selected, it 15 will negotiate a project labor agreement for the 16 construction of the new renewable energy facility and 17 associated energy storage facility that includes 18 provisions requiring the parties to the agreement to 19 work together to establish diversity threshold 20 requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet 21 diversity targets, improve diversity at the applicable 22 job site, create diverse apprenticeship opportunities, 23 and create opportunities to employ former coal-fired 24 power plant workers. 25 (H) The applicant commits to enter into a contract 26 or contracts for the applicable duration to provide SB1353 - 113 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 114 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 114 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 114 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 specified numbers of renewable energy credits each 2 year from the new renewable energy facility to 3 electric utilities that served more than 300,000 4 retail customers in this State as of January 1, 2019, 5 at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit. The 6 price per renewable energy credit shall be fixed at 7 $30 for the applicable duration and the renewable 8 energy credits shall not be indexed renewable energy 9 credits as provided for in item (v) of subparagraph 10 (G) of paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of Section 1-75 11 of this Act. The applicable duration of each contract 12 shall be 20 years, unless the applicant is physically 13 interconnected to the PJM Interconnection, LLC 14 transmission grid and had a generating capacity of at 15 least 1,200 megawatts as of January 1, 2021, in which 16 case the applicable duration of the contract shall be 17 15 years. 18 (I) The applicant's application is certified by an 19 officer of the applicant and by an officer of the 20 applicant's ultimate parent company, if any. 21 (3) An applicant may submit applications to contract 22 to supply renewable energy credits from more than one new 23 renewable energy facility to be constructed at or adjacent 24 to one or more qualifying electric generating facilities 25 owned by the applicant. The Agency may select new 26 renewable energy facilities to be located at or adjacent SB1353 - 114 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 115 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 115 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 115 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 to the sites of more than one qualifying electric 2 generation facility owned by an applicant to contract with 3 electric utilities to supply renewable energy credits from 4 such facilities. 5 (4) The Agency shall assess fees to each applicant to 6 recover the Agency's costs incurred in receiving and 7 evaluating applications, conducting the procurement event, 8 developing contracts for sale, delivery and purchase of 9 renewable energy credits, and monitoring the 10 administration of such contracts, as provided for in this 11 subsection (c-5), including fees paid to a procurement 12 administrator retained by the Agency for one or more of 13 these purposes. 14 (5) The Agency shall select the applicants and the new 15 renewable energy facilities to contract with electric 16 utilities to supply renewable energy credits in accordance 17 with this subsection (c-5). In the first procurement 18 event, the Agency shall select applicants and new 19 renewable energy facilities to supply renewable energy 20 credits, at a price of $30 per renewable energy credit, 21 aggregating to no less than 400,000 renewable energy 22 credits per year for the applicable duration, assuming 23 sufficient qualifying applications to supply, in the 24 aggregate, at least that amount of renewable energy 25 credits per year; and not more than 580,000 renewable 26 energy credits per year for the applicable duration. In SB1353 - 115 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 116 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 116 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 116 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 the second procurement event, the Agency shall select 2 applicants and new renewable energy facilities to supply 3 renewable energy credits, at a price of $30 per renewable 4 energy credit, aggregating to no more than 625,000 5 renewable energy credits per year less the amount of 6 renewable energy credits each year contracted for as a 7 result of the first procurement event, for the applicable 8 durations. The number of renewable energy credits to be 9 procured as specified in this paragraph (5) shall not be 10 reduced based on renewable energy credits procured in the 11 self-direct renewable energy credit compliance program 12 established pursuant to subparagraph (R) of paragraph (1) 13 of subsection (c) of Section 1-75. 14 (6) The obligation to purchase renewable energy 15 credits from the applicants and their new renewable energy 16 facilities selected by the Agency shall be allocated to 17 the electric utilities based on their respective 18 percentages of kilowatthours delivered to delivery 19 services customers to the aggregate kilowatthour 20 deliveries by the electric utilities to delivery services 21 customers for the year ended December 31, 2021. In order 22 to achieve these allocation percentages between or among 23 the electric utilities, the Agency shall require each 24 applicant that is selected in the procurement event to 25 enter into a contract with each electric utility for the 26 sale and purchase of renewable energy credits from each SB1353 - 116 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 117 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 117 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 117 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 new renewable energy facility to be constructed and 2 operated by the applicant, with the sale and purchase 3 obligations under the contracts to aggregate to the total 4 number of renewable energy credits per year to be supplied 5 by the applicant from the new renewable energy facility. 6 (7) The Agency shall submit its proposed selection of 7 applicants, new renewable energy facilities to be 8 constructed, and renewable energy credit amounts for each 9 procurement event to the Commission for approval. The 10 Commission shall, within 2 business days after receipt of 11 the Agency's proposed selections, approve the proposed 12 selections if it determines that the applicants and the 13 new renewable energy facilities to be constructed meet the 14 selection criteria set forth in this subsection (c-5) and 15 that the Agency seeks approval for contracts of applicable 16 durations aggregating to no more than the maximum amount 17 of renewable energy credits per year authorized by this 18 subsection (c-5) for the procurement event, at a price of 19 $30 per renewable energy credit. 20 (8) The Agency, in conjunction with its procurement 21 administrator if one is retained, the electric utilities, 22 and potential applicants for contracts to produce and 23 supply renewable energy credits pursuant to this 24 subsection (c-5), shall develop a standard form contract 25 for the sale, delivery and purchase of renewable energy 26 credits pursuant to this subsection (c-5). Each contract SB1353 - 117 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 118 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 118 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 118 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 resulting from the first procurement event shall allow for 2 a commercial operation date for the new renewable energy 3 facility of either June 1, 2023 or June 1, 2024, with such 4 dates subject to adjustment as provided in this paragraph. 5 Each contract resulting from the second procurement event 6 shall provide for a commercial operation date on June 1 7 next occurring up to 48 months after execution of the 8 contract. Each contract shall provide that the owner shall 9 receive payments for renewable energy credits for the 10 applicable durations beginning with the commercial 11 operation date of the new renewable energy facility. The 12 form contract shall provide for adjustments to the 13 commercial operation and payment start dates as needed due 14 to any delays in completing the procurement and 15 contracting processes, in finalizing interconnection 16 agreements and installing interconnection facilities, and 17 in obtaining other necessary governmental permits and 18 approvals. The form contract shall be, to the maximum 19 extent possible, consistent with standard electric 20 industry contracts for sale, delivery, and purchase of 21 renewable energy credits while taking into account the 22 specific requirements of this subsection (c-5). The form 23 contract shall provide for over-delivery and 24 under-delivery of renewable energy credits within 25 reasonable ranges during each 12-month period and penalty, 26 default, and enforcement provisions for failure of the SB1353 - 118 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 119 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 119 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 119 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 selling party to deliver renewable energy credits as 2 specified in the contract and to comply with the 3 requirements of this subsection (c-5). The standard form 4 contract shall specify that all renewable energy credits 5 delivered to the electric utility pursuant to the contract 6 shall be retired. The Agency shall make the proposed 7 contracts available for a reasonable period for comment by 8 potential applicants, and shall publish the final form 9 contract at least 30 days before the date of the first 10 procurement event. 11 (9) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative 12 Charge. 13 (A) By no later than July 1, 2022, each electric 14 utility that served more than 300,000 retail customers 15 in this State as of January 1, 2019 shall file a tariff 16 with the Commission for the billing and collection of 17 a Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge 18 in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section 16-108 19 of the Public Utilities Act, with such tariff to be 20 effective, following review and approval or 21 modification by the Commission, beginning January 1, 22 2023. The tariff shall provide for the calculation and 23 setting of the electric utility's Coal to Solar and 24 Energy Storage Initiative Charge to collect revenues 25 estimated to be sufficient, in the aggregate, (i) to 26 enable the electric utility to pay for the renewable SB1353 - 119 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 120 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 120 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 120 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 energy credits it has contracted to purchase in the 2 delivery year beginning June 1, 2023 and each delivery 3 year thereafter from new renewable energy facilities 4 located at the sites of qualifying electric generating 5 facilities, and (ii) to fund the grant payments to be 6 made in each delivery year by the Department of 7 Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or any successor 8 department or agency, which shall be referred to in 9 this subsection (c-5) as the Department, pursuant to 10 paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5). The electric 11 utility's tariff shall provide for the billing and 12 collection of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage 13 Initiative Charge on each kilowatthour of electricity 14 delivered to its delivery services customers within 15 its service territory and shall provide for an annual 16 reconciliation of revenues collected with actual 17 costs, in accordance with subsection (i-5) of Section 18 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act. 19 (B) Each electric utility shall remit on a monthly 20 basis to the State Treasurer, for deposit in the Coal 21 to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund provided 22 for in this subsection (c-5), the electric utility's 23 collections of the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage 24 Initiative Charge in the amount estimated to be needed 25 by the Department for grant payments pursuant to grant 26 contracts entered into by the Department pursuant to SB1353 - 120 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 121 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 121 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 121 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 paragraph (10) of this subsection (c-5). 2 (10) Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Fund. 3 (A) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage 4 Initiative Fund is established as a special fund in 5 the State treasury. The Coal to Solar and Energy 6 Storage Initiative Fund is authorized to receive, by 7 statutory deposit, that portion specified in item (B) 8 of paragraph (9) of this subsection (c-5) of moneys 9 collected by electric utilities through imposition of 10 the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage Initiative Charge 11 required by this subsection (c-5). The Coal to Solar 12 and Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be 13 administered by the Department to provide grants to 14 support the installation and operation of energy 15 storage facilities at the sites of qualifying electric 16 generating facilities meeting the criteria specified 17 in this paragraph (10). 18 (B) The Coal to Solar and Energy Storage 19 Initiative Fund shall not be subject to sweeps, 20 administrative charges, or chargebacks, including, but 21 not limited to, those authorized under Section 8h of 22 the State Finance Act, that would in any way result in 23 the transfer of those funds from the Coal to Solar and 24 Energy Storage Initiative Fund to any other fund of 25 this State or in having any such funds utilized for any 26 purpose other than the express purposes set forth in SB1353 - 121 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 122 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 122 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 122 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 this paragraph (10). 2 (C) The Department shall utilize up to 3 $280,500,000 in the Coal to Solar and Energy Storage 4 Initiative Fund for grants, assuming sufficient 5 qualifying applicants, to support installation of 6 energy storage facilities at the sites of up to 3 7 qualifying electric generating facilities located in 8 the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc., 9 region in Illinois and the sites of up to 2 qualifying 10 electric generating facilities located in the PJM 11 Interconnection, LLC region in Illinois that meet the 12 criteria set forth in this subparagraph (C). The 13 criteria for receipt of a grant pursuant to this 14 subparagraph (C) are as follows: 15 (1) the electric generating facility at the 16 site has, or had prior to retirement, an electric 17 generating capacity of at least 150 megawatts; 18 (2) the electric generating facility burns (or 19 burned prior to retirement) coal as its primary 20 source of fuel; 21 (3) if the electric generating facility is 22 retired, it was retired subsequent to January 1, 23 2016; 24 (4) the owner of the electric generating 25 facility has not been selected by the Agency 26 pursuant to this subsection (c-5) of this Section SB1353 - 122 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 123 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 123 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 123 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 to enter into a contract to sell renewable energy 2 credits to one or more electric utilities from a 3 new renewable energy facility located or to be 4 located at or adjacent to the site at which the 5 electric generating facility is located; 6 (5) the electric generating facility located 7 at the site was at one time owned, in whole or in 8 part, by a public utility as defined in Section 9 3-105 of the Public Utilities Act; 10 (6) the electric generating facility at the 11 site is not owned by (i) an electric cooperative 12 as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public 13 Utilities Act, or (ii) an entity described in 14 subsection (b)(1) of Section 3-105 of the Public 15 Utilities Act, or an association or consortium of 16 or an entity owned by entities described in items 17 (i) or (ii); 18 (7) the proposed energy storage facility at 19 the site will have energy storage capacity of at 20 least 37 megawatts; 21 (8) the owner commits to place the energy 22 storage facility into commercial operation on 23 either June 1, 2023, June 1, 2024, or June 1, 2025, 24 with such date subject to adjustment as needed due 25 to any delays in completing the grant contracting 26 process, in finalizing interconnection agreements SB1353 - 123 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 124 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 124 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 124 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 and in installing interconnection facilities, and 2 in obtaining necessary governmental permits and 3 approvals; 4 (9) the owner agrees that the new energy 5 storage facility will be constructed or installed 6 by a qualified entity or entities consistent with 7 the requirements of subsection (g) of Section 8 16-128A of the Public Utilities Act and any rules 9 adopted under that Section; 10 (10) the owner agrees that personnel operating 11 the energy storage facility will have the 12 requisite skills, knowledge, training, experience, 13 and competence, which may be demonstrated by 14 completion or current participation and ultimate 15 completion by employees of an accredited or 16 otherwise recognized apprenticeship program for 17 the employee's particular craft, trade, or skill, 18 including through training and education courses 19 and opportunities offered by the owner to 20 employees of the coal-fueled electric generating 21 facility or by previous employment experience 22 performing the employee's particular work skill or 23 function; 24 (11) the owner commits that not less than the 25 prevailing wage, as determined pursuant to the 26 Prevailing Wage Act, will be paid to the owner's SB1353 - 124 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 125 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 125 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 125 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 employees engaged in construction activities 2 associated with the new energy storage facility 3 and to the employees of the owner's contractors 4 engaged in construction activities associated with 5 the new energy storage facility, and that, on or 6 before the commercial operation date of the new 7 energy storage facility, the owner shall file a 8 report with the Department certifying that the 9 requirements of this subparagraph (11) have been 10 met; and 11 (12) the owner commits that if selected to 12 receive a grant, it will negotiate a project labor 13 agreement for the construction of the new energy 14 storage facility that includes provisions 15 requiring the parties to the agreement to work 16 together to establish diversity threshold 17 requirements and to ensure best efforts to meet 18 diversity targets, improve diversity at the 19 applicable job site, create diverse apprenticeship 20 opportunities, and create opportunities to employ 21 former coal-fired power plant workers. 22 The Department shall accept applications for this 23 grant program until March 31, 2022 and shall announce 24 the award of grants no later than June 1, 2022. The 25 Department shall make the grant payments to a 26 recipient in equal annual amounts for 10 years SB1353 - 125 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 126 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 126 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 126 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 following the date the energy storage facility is 2 placed into commercial operation. The annual grant 3 payments to a qualifying energy storage facility shall 4 be $110,000 per megawatt of energy storage capacity, 5 with total annual grant payments pursuant to this 6 subparagraph (C) for qualifying energy storage 7 facilities not to exceed $28,050,000 in any year. 8 (D) Grants of funding for energy storage 9 facilities pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this 10 paragraph (10), from the Coal to Solar and Energy 11 Storage Initiative Fund, shall be memorialized in 12 grant contracts between the Department and the 13 recipient. The grant contracts shall specify the date 14 or dates in each year on which the annual grant 15 payments shall be paid. 16 (E) All disbursements from the Coal to Solar and 17 Energy Storage Initiative Fund shall be made only upon 18 warrants of the Comptroller drawn upon the Treasurer 19 as custodian of the Fund upon vouchers signed by the 20 Director of the Department or by the person or persons 21 designated by the Director of the Department for that 22 purpose. The Comptroller is authorized to draw the 23 warrants upon vouchers so signed. The Treasurer shall 24 accept all written warrants so signed and shall be 25 released from liability for all payments made on those 26 warrants. SB1353 - 126 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 127 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 127 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 127 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (11) Diversity, equity, and inclusion plans. 2 (A) Each applicant selected in a procurement event 3 to contract to supply renewable energy credits in 4 accordance with this subsection (c-5) and each owner 5 selected by the Department to receive a grant or 6 grants to support the construction and operation of a 7 new energy storage facility or facilities in 8 accordance with this subsection (c-5) shall, within 60 9 days following the Commission's approval of the 10 applicant to contract to supply renewable energy 11 credits or within 60 days following execution of a 12 grant contract with the Department, as applicable, 13 submit to the Commission a diversity, equity, and 14 inclusion plan setting forth the applicant's or 15 owner's numeric goals for the diversity composition of 16 its supplier entities for the new renewable energy 17 facility or new energy storage facility, as 18 applicable, which shall be referred to for purposes of 19 this paragraph (11) as the project, and the 20 applicant's or owner's action plan and schedule for 21 achieving those goals. 22 (B) For purposes of this paragraph (11), diversity 23 composition shall be based on the percentage, which 24 shall be a minimum of 25%, of eligible expenditures 25 for contract awards for materials and services (which 26 shall be defined in the plan) to business enterprises SB1353 - 127 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 128 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 128 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 128 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 owned by minority persons, women, or persons with 2 disabilities as defined in Section 2 of the Business 3 Enterprise for Minorities, Women, and Persons with 4 Disabilities Act, to LGBTQ business enterprises, to 5 veteran-owned business enterprises, and to business 6 enterprises located in environmental justice 7 communities. The diversity composition goals of the 8 plan may include eligible expenditures in areas for 9 vendor or supplier opportunities in addition to 10 development and construction of the project, and may 11 exclude from eligible expenditures materials and 12 services with limited market availability, limited 13 production and availability from suppliers in the 14 United States, such as solar panels and storage 15 batteries, and material and services that are subject 16 to critical energy infrastructure or cybersecurity 17 requirements or restrictions. The plan may provide 18 that the diversity composition goals may be met 19 through Tier 1 Direct or Tier 2 subcontracting 20 expenditures or a combination thereof for the project. 21 (C) The plan shall provide for, but not be limited 22 to: (i) internal initiatives, including multi-tier 23 initiatives, by the applicant or owner, or by its 24 engineering, procurement and construction contractor 25 if one is used for the project, which for purposes of 26 this paragraph (11) shall be referred to as the EPC SB1353 - 128 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 129 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 129 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 129 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 contractor, to enable diverse businesses to be 2 considered fairly for selection to provide materials 3 and services; (ii) requirements for the applicant or 4 owner or its EPC contractor to proactively solicit and 5 utilize diverse businesses to provide materials and 6 services; and (iii) requirements for the applicant or 7 owner or its EPC contractor to hire a diverse 8 workforce for the project. The plan shall include a 9 description of the applicant's or owner's diversity 10 recruiting efforts both for the project and for other 11 areas of the applicant's or owner's business 12 operations. The plan shall provide for the imposition 13 of financial penalties on the applicant's or owner's 14 EPC contractor for failure to exercise best efforts to 15 comply with and execute the EPC contractor's diversity 16 obligations under the plan. The plan may provide for 17 the applicant or owner to set aside a portion of the 18 work on the project to serve as an incubation program 19 for qualified businesses, as specified in the plan, 20 owned by minority persons, women, persons with 21 disabilities, LGBTQ persons, and veterans, and 22 businesses located in environmental justice 23 communities, seeking to enter the renewable energy 24 industry. 25 (D) The applicant or owner may submit a revised or 26 updated plan to the Commission from time to time as SB1353 - 129 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 130 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 130 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 130 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 circumstances warrant. The applicant or owner shall 2 file annual reports with the Commission detailing the 3 applicant's or owner's progress in implementing its 4 plan and achieving its goals and any modifications the 5 applicant or owner has made to its plan to better 6 achieve its diversity, equity and inclusion goals. The 7 applicant or owner shall file a final report on the 8 fifth June 1 following the commercial operation date 9 of the new renewable energy resource or new energy 10 storage facility, but the applicant or owner shall 11 thereafter continue to be subject to applicable 12 reporting requirements of Section 5-117 of the Public 13 Utilities Act. 14 (c-10) Equity accountability system. It is the purpose of 15 this subsection (c-10) to create an equity accountability 16 system, which includes the minimum equity standards for all 17 renewable energy procurements, the equity category of the 18 Adjustable Block Program, and the equity prioritization for 19 noncompetitive procurements, that is successful in advancing 20 priority access to the clean energy economy for businesses and 21 workers from communities that have been excluded from economic 22 opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to 23 disproportionate levels of pollution, and have 24 disproportionately experienced negative public health 25 outcomes. Further, it is the purpose of this subsection to 26 ensure that this equity accountability system is successful in SB1353 - 130 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 131 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 131 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 131 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 advancing equity across Illinois by providing access to the 2 clean energy economy for businesses and workers from 3 communities that have been historically excluded from economic 4 opportunities in the energy sector, have been subject to 5 disproportionate levels of pollution, and have 6 disproportionately experienced negative public health 7 outcomes. 8 (1) Minimum equity standards. The Agency shall create 9 programs with the purpose of increasing access to and 10 development of equity eligible contractors, who are prime 11 contractors and subcontractors, across all of the programs 12 it manages. All applications for renewable energy credit 13 procurements shall comply with specific minimum equity 14 commitments. Starting in the delivery year immediately 15 following the next long-term renewable resources 16 procurement plan, at least 10% of the project workforce 17 for each entity participating in a procurement program 18 outlined in this subsection (c-10) must be done by equity 19 eligible persons or equity eligible contractors. The 20 Agency shall increase the minimum percentage each delivery 21 year thereafter by increments that ensure a statewide 22 average of 30% of the project workforce for each entity 23 participating in a procurement program is done by equity 24 eligible persons or equity eligible contractors by 2030. 25 The Agency shall propose a schedule of percentage 26 increases to the minimum equity standards in its draft SB1353 - 131 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 132 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 132 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 132 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 revised renewable energy resources procurement plan 2 submitted to the Commission for approval pursuant to 3 paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of Section 16-111.5 of the 4 Public Utilities Act. In determining these annual 5 increases, the Agency shall have the discretion to 6 establish different minimum equity standards for different 7 types of procurements and different regions of the State 8 if the Agency finds that doing so will further the 9 purposes of this subsection (c-10). The proposed schedule 10 of annual increases shall be revisited and updated on an 11 annual basis. Revisions shall be developed with 12 stakeholder input, including from equity eligible persons, 13 equity eligible contractors, clean energy industry 14 representatives, and community-based organizations that 15 work with such persons and contractors. 16 (A) At the start of each delivery year, the Agency 17 shall require a compliance plan from each entity 18 participating in a procurement program of subsection 19 (c) of this Section that demonstrates how they will 20 achieve compliance with the minimum equity standard 21 percentage for work completed in that delivery year. 22 If an entity applies for its approved vendor or 23 designee status between delivery years, the Agency 24 shall require a compliance plan at the time of 25 application. 26 (B) Halfway through each delivery year, the Agency SB1353 - 132 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 133 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 133 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 133 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 shall require each entity participating in a 2 procurement program to confirm that it will achieve 3 compliance in that delivery year, when applicable. The 4 Agency may offer corrective action plans to entities 5 that are not on track to achieve compliance. 6 (C) At the end of each delivery year, each entity 7 participating and completing work in that delivery 8 year in a procurement program of subsection (c) shall 9 submit a report to the Agency that demonstrates how it 10 achieved compliance with the minimum equity standards 11 percentage for that delivery year. 12 (D) The Agency shall prohibit participation in 13 procurement programs by an approved vendor or 14 designee, as applicable, or entities with which an 15 approved vendor or designee, as applicable, shares a 16 common parent company if an approved vendor or 17 designee, as applicable, failed to meet the minimum 18 equity standards for the prior delivery year. Waivers 19 approved for lack of equity eligible persons or equity 20 eligible contractors in a geographic area of a project 21 shall not count against the approved vendor or 22 designee. The Agency shall offer a corrective action 23 plan for any such entities to assist them in obtaining 24 compliance and shall allow continued access to 25 procurement programs upon an approved vendor or 26 designee demonstrating compliance. SB1353 - 133 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 134 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 134 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 134 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (E) The Agency shall pursue efficiencies achieved 2 by combining with other approved vendor or designee 3 reporting. 4 (2) Equity accountability system within the Adjustable 5 Block program. The equity category described in item (vi) 6 of subparagraph (K) of subsection (c) is only available to 7 applicants that are equity eligible contractors. 8 (3) Equity accountability system within competitive 9 procurements. Through its long-term renewable resources 10 procurement plan, the Agency shall develop requirements 11 for ensuring that competitive procurement processes, 12 including utility-scale solar, utility-scale wind, and 13 brownfield site photovoltaic projects, advance the equity 14 goals of this subsection (c-10). Subject to Commission 15 approval, the Agency shall develop bid application 16 requirements and a bid evaluation methodology for ensuring 17 that utilization of equity eligible contractors, whether 18 as bidders or as participants on project development, is 19 optimized, including requiring that winning or successful 20 applicants for utility-scale projects are or will partner 21 with equity eligible contractors and giving preference to 22 bids through which a higher portion of contract value 23 flows to equity eligible contractors. To the extent 24 practicable, entities participating in competitive 25 procurements shall also be required to meet all the equity 26 accountability requirements for approved vendors and their SB1353 - 134 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 135 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 135 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 135 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 designees under this subsection (c-10). In developing 2 these requirements, the Agency shall also consider whether 3 equity goals can be further advanced through additional 4 measures. 5 (4) In the first revision to the long-term renewable 6 energy resources procurement plan and each revision 7 thereafter, the Agency shall include the following: 8 (A) The current status and number of equity 9 eligible contractors listed in the Energy Workforce 10 Equity Database designed in subsection (c-25), 11 including the number of equity eligible contractors 12 with current certifications as issued by the Agency. 13 (B) A mechanism for measuring, tracking, and 14 reporting project workforce at the approved vendor or 15 designee level, as applicable, which shall include a 16 measurement methodology and records to be made 17 available for audit by the Agency or the Program 18 Administrator. 19 (C) A program for approved vendors, designees, 20 eligible persons, and equity eligible contractors to 21 receive trainings, guidance, and other support from 22 the Agency or its designee regarding the equity 23 category outlined in item (vi) of subparagraph (K) of 24 paragraph (1) of subsection (c) and in meeting the 25 minimum equity standards of this subsection (c-10). 26 (D) A process for certifying equity eligible SB1353 - 135 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 136 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 136 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 136 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 contractors and equity eligible persons. The 2 certification process shall coordinate with the Energy 3 Workforce Equity Database set forth in subsection 4 (c-25). 5 (E) An application for waiver of the minimum 6 equity standards of this subsection, which the Agency 7 shall have the discretion to grant in rare 8 circumstances. The Agency may grant such a waiver 9 where the applicant provides evidence of significant 10 efforts toward meeting the minimum equity commitment, 11 including: use of the Energy Workforce Equity 12 Database; efforts to hire or contract with entities 13 that hire eligible persons; and efforts to establish 14 contracting relationships with eligible contractors. 15 The Agency shall support applicants in understanding 16 the Energy Workforce Equity Database and other 17 resources for pursuing compliance of the minimum 18 equity standards. Waivers shall be project-specific, 19 unless the Agency deems it necessary to grant a waiver 20 across a portfolio of projects, and in effect for no 21 longer than one year. Any waiver extension or 22 subsequent waiver request from an applicant shall be 23 subject to the requirements of this Section and shall 24 specify efforts made to reach compliance. When 25 considering whether to grant a waiver, and to what 26 extent, the Agency shall consider the degree to which SB1353 - 136 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 137 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 137 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 137 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 similarly situated applicants have been able to meet 2 these minimum equity commitments. For repeated waiver 3 requests for specific lack of eligible persons or 4 eligible contractors available, the Agency shall make 5 recommendations to target recruitment to add such 6 eligible persons or eligible contractors to the 7 database. 8 (5) The Agency shall collect information about work on 9 projects or portfolios of projects subject to these 10 minimum equity standards to ensure compliance with this 11 subsection (c-10). Reporting in furtherance of this 12 requirement may be combined with other annual reporting 13 requirements. Such reporting shall include proof of 14 certification of each equity eligible contractor or equity 15 eligible person during the applicable time period. 16 (6) The Agency shall keep confidential all information 17 and communication that provides private or personal 18 information. 19 (7) Modifications to the equity accountability system. 20 As part of the update of the long-term renewable resources 21 procurement plan to be initiated in 2023, or sooner if the 22 Agency deems necessary, the Agency shall determine the 23 extent to which the equity accountability system described 24 in this subsection (c-10) has advanced the goals of this 25 amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, including 26 through the inclusion of equity eligible persons and SB1353 - 137 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 138 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 138 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 138 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 equity eligible contractors in renewable energy credit 2 projects. If the Agency finds that the equity 3 accountability system has failed to meet those goals to 4 its fullest potential, the Agency may revise the following 5 criteria for future Agency procurements: (A) the 6 percentage of project workforce, or other appropriate 7 workforce measure, certified as equity eligible persons or 8 equity eligible contractors; (B) definitions for equity 9 investment eligible persons and equity investment eligible 10 community; and (C) such other modifications necessary to 11 advance the goals of this amendatory Act of the 102nd 12 General Assembly effectively. Such revised criteria may 13 also establish distinct equity accountability systems for 14 different types of procurements or different regions of 15 the State if the Agency finds that doing so will further 16 the purposes of such programs. Revisions shall be 17 developed with stakeholder input, including from equity 18 eligible persons, equity eligible contractors, and 19 community-based organizations that work with such persons 20 and contractors. 21 (c-15) Racial discrimination elimination powers and 22 process. 23 (1) Purpose. It is the purpose of this subsection to 24 empower the Agency and other State actors to remedy racial 25 discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy as 26 effectively and expediently as possible, including through SB1353 - 138 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 139 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 139 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 139 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 the use of race-conscious remedies, such as race-conscious 2 contracting and hiring goals, as consistent with State and 3 federal law. 4 (2) Racial disparity and discrimination review 5 process. 6 (A) Within one year after awarding contracts using 7 the equity actions processes established in this 8 Section, the Agency shall publish a report evaluating 9 the effectiveness of the equity actions point criteria 10 of this Section in increasing participation of equity 11 eligible persons and equity eligible contractors. The 12 report shall disaggregate participating workers and 13 contractors by race and ethnicity. The report shall be 14 forwarded to the Governor, the General Assembly, and 15 the Illinois Commerce Commission and be made available 16 to the public. 17 (B) As soon as is practicable thereafter, the 18 Agency, in consultation with the Department of 19 Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Department of 20 Labor, and other agencies that may be relevant, shall 21 commission and publish a disparity and availability 22 study that measures the presence and impact of 23 discrimination on minority businesses and workers in 24 Illinois' clean energy economy. The Agency may hire 25 consultants and experts to conduct the disparity and 26 availability study, with the retention of those SB1353 - 139 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 140 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 140 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 140 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 consultants and experts exempt from the requirements 2 of Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The 3 Illinois Power Agency shall forward a copy of its 4 findings and recommendations to the Governor, the 5 General Assembly, and the Illinois Commerce 6 Commission. If the disparity and availability study 7 establishes a strong basis in evidence that there is 8 discrimination in Illinois' clean energy economy, the 9 Agency, Department of Commerce and Economic 10 Opportunity, Department of Labor, Department of 11 Corrections, and other appropriate agencies shall take 12 appropriate remedial actions, including race-conscious 13 remedial actions as consistent with State and federal 14 law, to effectively remedy this discrimination. Such 15 remedies may include modification of the equity 16 accountability system as described in subsection 17 (c-10). 18 (c-20) Program data collection. 19 (1) Purpose. Data collection, data analysis, and 20 reporting are critical to ensure that the benefits of the 21 clean energy economy provided to Illinois residents and 22 businesses are equitably distributed across the State. The 23 Agency shall collect data from program applicants in order 24 to track and improve equitable distribution of benefits 25 across Illinois communities for all procurements the 26 Agency conducts. The Agency shall use this data to, among SB1353 - 140 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 141 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 141 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 141 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 other things, measure any potential impact of racial 2 discrimination on the distribution of benefits and provide 3 information necessary to correct any discrimination 4 through methods consistent with State and federal law. 5 (2) Agency collection of program data. The Agency 6 shall collect demographic and geographic data for each 7 entity awarded contracts under any Agency-administered 8 program. 9 (3) Required information to be collected. The Agency 10 shall collect the following information from applicants 11 and program participants where applicable: 12 (A) demographic information, including racial or 13 ethnic identity for real persons employed, contracted, 14 or subcontracted through the program and owners of 15 businesses or entities that apply to receive renewable 16 energy credits from the Agency; 17 (B) geographic location of the residency of real 18 persons employed, contracted, or subcontracted through 19 the program and geographic location of the 20 headquarters of the business or entity that applies to 21 receive renewable energy credits from the Agency; and 22 (C) any other information the Agency determines is 23 necessary for the purpose of achieving the purpose of 24 this subsection. 25 (4) Publication of collected information. The Agency 26 shall publish, at least annually, information on the SB1353 - 141 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 142 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 142 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 142 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 demographics of program participants on an aggregate 2 basis. 3 (5) Nothing in this subsection shall be interpreted to 4 limit the authority of the Agency, or other agency or 5 department of the State, to require or collect demographic 6 information from applicants of other State programs. 7 (c-25) Energy Workforce Equity Database. 8 (1) The Agency, in consultation with the Department of 9 Commerce and Economic Opportunity, shall create an Energy 10 Workforce Equity Database, and may contract with a third 11 party to do so ("database program administrator"). If the 12 Department decides to contract with a third party, that 13 third party shall be exempt from the requirements of 14 Section 20-10 of the Illinois Procurement Code. The Energy 15 Workforce Equity Database shall be a searchable database 16 of suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors for clean energy 17 industries that is: 18 (A) publicly accessible; 19 (B) easy for people to find and use; 20 (C) organized by company specialty or field; 21 (D) region-specific; and 22 (E) populated with information including, but not 23 limited to, contacts for suppliers, vendors, or 24 subcontractors who are minority and women-owned 25 business enterprise certified or who participate or 26 have participated in any of the programs described in SB1353 - 142 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 143 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 143 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 143 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 this Act. 2 (2) The Agency shall create an easily accessible, 3 public facing online tool using the database information 4 that includes, at a minimum, the following: 5 (A) a map of environmental justice and equity 6 investment eligible communities; 7 (B) job postings and recruiting opportunities; 8 (C) a means by which recruiting clean energy 9 companies can find and interact with current or former 10 participants of clean energy workforce training 11 programs; 12 (D) information on workforce training service 13 providers and training opportunities available to 14 prospective workers; 15 (E) renewable energy company diversity reporting; 16 (F) a list of equity eligible contractors with 17 their contact information, types of work performed, 18 and locations worked in; 19 (G) reporting on outcomes of the programs 20 described in the workforce programs of the Energy 21 Transition Act, including information such as, but not 22 limited to, retention rate, graduation rate, and 23 placement rates of trainees; and 24 (H) information about the Jobs and Environmental 25 Justice Grant Program, the Clean Energy Jobs and 26 Justice Fund, and other sources of capital. SB1353 - 143 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 144 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 144 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 144 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (3) The Agency shall ensure the database is regularly 2 updated to ensure information is current and shall 3 coordinate with the Department of Commerce and Economic 4 Opportunity to ensure that it includes information on 5 individuals and entities that are or have participated in 6 the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, Clean Energy 7 Contractor Incubator Program, Returning Residents Clean 8 Jobs Training Program, or Clean Energy Primes Contractor 9 Accelerator Program. 10 (c-30) Enforcement of minimum equity standards. All 11 entities seeking renewable energy credits must submit an 12 annual report to demonstrate compliance with each of the 13 equity commitments required under subsection (c-10). If the 14 Agency concludes the entity has not met or maintained its 15 minimum equity standards required under the applicable 16 subparagraphs under subsection (c-10), the Agency shall deny 17 the entity's ability to participate in procurement programs in 18 subsection (c), including by withholding approved vendor or 19 designee status. The Agency may require the entity to enter 20 into a corrective action plan. An entity that is not 21 recertified for failing to meet required equity actions in 22 subparagraph (c-10) may reapply once they have a corrective 23 action plan and achieve compliance with the minimum equity 24 standards. 25 (d) Clean coal portfolio standard. 26 (1) The procurement plans shall include electricity SB1353 - 144 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 145 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 145 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 145 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 generated using clean coal. Each utility shall enter into 2 one or more sourcing agreements with the initial clean 3 coal facility, as provided in paragraph (3) of this 4 subsection (d), covering electricity generated by the 5 initial clean coal facility representing at least 5% of 6 each utility's total supply to serve the load of eligible 7 retail customers in 2015 and each year thereafter, as 8 described in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), subject 9 to the limits specified in paragraph (2) of this 10 subsection (d). It is the goal of the State that by January 11 1, 2025, 25% of the electricity used in the State shall be 12 generated by cost-effective clean coal facilities. For 13 purposes of this subsection (d), "cost-effective" means 14 that the expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements 15 do not cause the limit stated in paragraph (2) of this 16 subsection (d) to be exceeded and do not exceed cost-based 17 benchmarks, which shall be developed to assess all 18 expenditures pursuant to such sourcing agreements covering 19 electricity generated by clean coal facilities, other than 20 the initial clean coal facility, by the procurement 21 administrator, in consultation with the Commission staff, 22 Agency staff, and the procurement monitor and shall be 23 subject to Commission review and approval. 24 A utility party to a sourcing agreement shall 25 immediately retire any emission credits that it receives 26 in connection with the electricity covered by such SB1353 - 145 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 146 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 146 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 146 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 agreement. 2 Utilities shall maintain adequate records documenting 3 the purchases under the sourcing agreement to comply with 4 this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting with the 5 load forecast that must be filed with the Agency by July 15 6 of each year, in accordance with subsection (d) of Section 7 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. 8 A utility shall be deemed to have complied with the 9 clean coal portfolio standard specified in this subsection 10 (d) if the utility enters into a sourcing agreement as 11 required by this subsection (d). 12 (2) For purposes of this subsection (d), the required 13 execution of sourcing agreements with the initial clean 14 coal facility for a particular year shall be measured as a 15 percentage of the actual amount of electricity 16 (megawatt-hours) supplied by the electric utility to 17 eligible retail customers in the planning year ending 18 immediately prior to the agreement's execution. For 19 purposes of this subsection (d), the amount paid per 20 kilowatthour means the total amount paid for electric 21 service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. For 22 purposes of this subsection (d), the total amount paid for 23 electric service includes without limitation amounts paid 24 for supply, transmission, distribution, surcharges and 25 add-on taxes. 26 Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection SB1353 - 146 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 147 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 147 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 147 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (d), the total amount paid under sourcing agreements with 2 clean coal facilities pursuant to the procurement plan for 3 any given year shall be reduced by an amount necessary to 4 limit the annual estimated average net increase due to the 5 costs of these resources included in the amounts paid by 6 eligible retail customers in connection with electric 7 service to: 8 (A) in 2010, no more than 0.5% of the amount paid 9 per kilowatthour by those customers during the year 10 ending May 31, 2009; 11 (B) in 2011, the greater of an additional 0.5% of 12 the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers 13 during the year ending May 31, 2010 or 1% of the amount 14 paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the 15 year ending May 31, 2009; 16 (C) in 2012, the greater of an additional 0.5% of 17 the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers 18 during the year ending May 31, 2011 or 1.5% of the 19 amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers during 20 the year ending May 31, 2009; 21 (D) in 2013, the greater of an additional 0.5% of 22 the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers 23 during the year ending May 31, 2012 or 2% of the amount 24 paid per kilowatthour by those customers during the 25 year ending May 31, 2009; and 26 (E) thereafter, the total amount paid under SB1353 - 147 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 148 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 148 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 148 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 sourcing agreements with clean coal facilities 2 pursuant to the procurement plan for any single year 3 shall be reduced by an amount necessary to limit the 4 estimated average net increase due to the cost of 5 these resources included in the amounts paid by 6 eligible retail customers in connection with electric 7 service to no more than the greater of (i) 2.015% of 8 the amount paid per kilowatthour by those customers 9 during the year ending May 31, 2009 or (ii) the 10 incremental amount per kilowatthour paid for these 11 resources in 2013. These requirements may be altered 12 only as provided by statute. 13 No later than June 30, 2015, the Commission shall 14 review the limitation on the total amount paid under 15 sourcing agreements, if any, with clean coal facilities 16 pursuant to this subsection (d) and report to the General 17 Assembly its findings as to whether that limitation unduly 18 constrains the amount of electricity generated by 19 cost-effective clean coal facilities that is covered by 20 sourcing agreements. 21 (3) Initial clean coal facility. In order to promote 22 development of clean coal facilities in Illinois, each 23 electric utility subject to this Section shall execute a 24 sourcing agreement to source electricity from a proposed 25 clean coal facility in Illinois (the "initial clean coal 26 facility") that will have a nameplate capacity of at least SB1353 - 148 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 149 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 149 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 149 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 500 MW when commercial operation commences, that has a 2 final Clean Air Act permit on June 1, 2009 (the effective 3 date of Public Act 95-1027), and that will meet the 4 definition of clean coal facility in Section 1-10 of this 5 Act when commercial operation commences. The sourcing 6 agreements with this initial clean coal facility shall be 7 subject to both approval of the initial clean coal 8 facility by the General Assembly and satisfaction of the 9 requirements of paragraph (4) of this subsection (d) and 10 shall be executed within 90 days after any such approval 11 by the General Assembly. The Agency and the Commission 12 shall have authority to inspect all books and records 13 associated with the initial clean coal facility during the 14 term of such a sourcing agreement. A utility's sourcing 15 agreement for electricity produced by the initial clean 16 coal facility shall include: 17 (A) a formula contractual price (the "contract 18 price") approved pursuant to paragraph (4) of this 19 subsection (d), which shall: 20 (i) be determined using a cost of service 21 methodology employing either a level or deferred 22 capital recovery component, based on a capital 23 structure consisting of 45% equity and 55% debt, 24 and a return on equity as may be approved by the 25 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which in any 26 case may not exceed the lower of 11.5% or the rate SB1353 - 149 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 150 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 150 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 150 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 of return approved by the General Assembly 2 pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection (d); 3 and 4 (ii) provide that all miscellaneous net 5 revenue, including but not limited to net revenue 6 from the sale of emission allowances, if any, 7 substitute natural gas, if any, grants or other 8 support provided by the State of Illinois or the 9 United States Government, firm transmission 10 rights, if any, by-products produced by the 11 facility, energy or capacity derived from the 12 facility and not covered by a sourcing agreement 13 pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) 14 or item (5) of subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of 15 the Public Utilities Act, whether generated from 16 the synthesis gas derived from coal, from SNG, or 17 from natural gas, shall be credited against the 18 revenue requirement for this initial clean coal 19 facility; 20 (B) power purchase provisions, which shall: 21 (i) provide that the utility party to such 22 sourcing agreement shall pay the contract price 23 for electricity delivered under such sourcing 24 agreement; 25 (ii) require delivery of electricity to the 26 regional transmission organization market of the SB1353 - 150 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 151 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 151 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 151 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 utility that is party to such sourcing agreement; 2 (iii) require the utility party to such 3 sourcing agreement to buy from the initial clean 4 coal facility in each hour an amount of energy 5 equal to all clean coal energy made available from 6 the initial clean coal facility during such hour 7 times a fraction, the numerator of which is such 8 utility's retail market sales of electricity 9 (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in the State 10 during the prior calendar month and the 11 denominator of which is the total retail market 12 sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours 13 sold) in the State by utilities during such prior 14 month and the sales of electricity (expressed in 15 kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative 16 retail electric suppliers during such prior month 17 that are subject to the requirements of this 18 subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d) 19 of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act, 20 provided that the amount purchased by the utility 21 in any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of 22 this subsection (d); and 23 (iv) be considered pre-existing contracts in 24 such utility's procurement plans for eligible 25 retail customers; 26 (C) contract for differences provisions, which SB1353 - 151 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 152 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 152 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 152 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 shall: 2 (i) require the utility party to such sourcing 3 agreement to contract with the initial clean coal 4 facility in each hour with respect to an amount of 5 energy equal to all clean coal energy made 6 available from the initial clean coal facility 7 during such hour times a fraction, the numerator 8 of which is such utility's retail market sales of 9 electricity (expressed in kilowatthours sold) in 10 the utility's service territory in the State 11 during the prior calendar month and the 12 denominator of which is the total retail market 13 sales of electricity (expressed in kilowatthours 14 sold) in the State by utilities during such prior 15 month and the sales of electricity (expressed in 16 kilowatthours sold) in the State by alternative 17 retail electric suppliers during such prior month 18 that are subject to the requirements of this 19 subsection (d) and paragraph (5) of subsection (d) 20 of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities Act, 21 provided that the amount paid by the utility in 22 any year will be limited by paragraph (2) of this 23 subsection (d); 24 (ii) provide that the utility's payment 25 obligation in respect of the quantity of 26 electricity determined pursuant to the preceding SB1353 - 152 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 153 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 153 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 153 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 clause (i) shall be limited to an amount equal to 2 (1) the difference between the contract price 3 determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) of 4 paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) and the 5 day-ahead price for electricity delivered to the 6 regional transmission organization market of the 7 utility that is party to such sourcing agreement 8 (or any successor delivery point at which such 9 utility's supply obligations are financially 10 settled on an hourly basis) (the "reference 11 price") on the day preceding the day on which the 12 electricity is delivered to the initial clean coal 13 facility busbar, multiplied by (2) the quantity of 14 electricity determined pursuant to the preceding 15 clause (i); and 16 (iii) not require the utility to take physical 17 delivery of the electricity produced by the 18 facility; 19 (D) general provisions, which shall: 20 (i) specify a term of no more than 30 years, 21 commencing on the commercial operation date of the 22 facility; 23 (ii) provide that utilities shall maintain 24 adequate records documenting purchases under the 25 sourcing agreements entered into to comply with 26 this subsection (d) and shall file an accounting SB1353 - 153 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 154 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 154 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 154 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 with the load forecast that must be filed with the 2 Agency by July 15 of each year, in accordance with 3 subsection (d) of Section 16-111.5 of the Public 4 Utilities Act; 5 (iii) provide that all costs associated with 6 the initial clean coal facility will be 7 periodically reported to the Federal Energy 8 Regulatory Commission and to purchasers in 9 accordance with applicable laws governing 10 cost-based wholesale power contracts; 11 (iv) permit the Illinois Power Agency to 12 assume ownership of the initial clean coal 13 facility, without monetary consideration and 14 otherwise on reasonable terms acceptable to the 15 Agency, if the Agency so requests no less than 3 16 years prior to the end of the stated contract 17 term; 18 (v) require the owner of the initial clean 19 coal facility to provide documentation to the 20 Commission each year, starting in the facility's 21 first year of commercial operation, accurately 22 reporting the quantity of carbon emissions from 23 the facility that have been captured and 24 sequestered and report any quantities of carbon 25 released from the site or sites at which carbon 26 emissions were sequestered in prior years, based SB1353 - 154 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 155 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 155 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 155 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 on continuous monitoring of such sites. If, in any 2 year after the first year of commercial operation, 3 the owner of the facility fails to demonstrate 4 that the initial clean coal facility captured and 5 sequestered at least 50% of the total carbon 6 emissions that the facility would otherwise emit 7 or that sequestration of emissions from prior 8 years has failed, resulting in the release of 9 carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the owner of 10 the facility must offset excess emissions. Any 11 such carbon offsets must be permanent, additional, 12 verifiable, real, located within the State of 13 Illinois, and legally and practicably enforceable. 14 The cost of such offsets for the facility that are 15 not recoverable shall not exceed $15 million in 16 any given year. No costs of any such purchases of 17 carbon offsets may be recovered from a utility or 18 its customers. All carbon offsets purchased for 19 this purpose and any carbon emission credits 20 associated with sequestration of carbon from the 21 facility must be permanently retired. The initial 22 clean coal facility shall not forfeit its 23 designation as a clean coal facility if the 24 facility fails to fully comply with the applicable 25 carbon sequestration requirements in any given 26 year, provided the requisite offsets are SB1353 - 155 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 156 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 156 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 156 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 purchased. However, the Attorney General, on 2 behalf of the People of the State of Illinois, may 3 specifically enforce the facility's sequestration 4 requirement and the other terms of this contract 5 provision. Compliance with the sequestration 6 requirements and offset purchase requirements 7 specified in paragraph (3) of this subsection (d) 8 shall be reviewed annually by an independent 9 expert retained by the owner of the initial clean 10 coal facility, with the advance written approval 11 of the Attorney General. The Commission may, in 12 the course of the review specified in item (vii), 13 reduce the allowable return on equity for the 14 facility if the facility willfully fails to comply 15 with the carbon capture and sequestration 16 requirements set forth in this item (v); 17 (vi) include limits on, and accordingly 18 provide for modification of, the amount the 19 utility is required to source under the sourcing 20 agreement consistent with paragraph (2) of this 21 subsection (d); 22 (vii) require Commission review: (1) to 23 determine the justness, reasonableness, and 24 prudence of the inputs to the formula referenced 25 in subparagraphs (A)(i) through (A)(iii) of 26 paragraph (3) of this subsection (d), prior to an SB1353 - 156 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 157 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 157 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 157 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 adjustment in those inputs including, without 2 limitation, the capital structure and return on 3 equity, fuel costs, and other operations and 4 maintenance costs and (2) to approve the costs to 5 be passed through to customers under the sourcing 6 agreement by which the utility satisfies its 7 statutory obligations. Commission review shall 8 occur no less than every 3 years, regardless of 9 whether any adjustments have been proposed, and 10 shall be completed within 9 months; 11 (viii) limit the utility's obligation to such 12 amount as the utility is allowed to recover 13 through tariffs filed with the Commission, 14 provided that neither the clean coal facility nor 15 the utility waives any right to assert federal 16 pre-emption or any other argument in response to a 17 purported disallowance of recovery costs; 18 (ix) limit the utility's or alternative retail 19 electric supplier's obligation to incur any 20 liability until such time as the facility is in 21 commercial operation and generating power and 22 energy and such power and energy is being 23 delivered to the facility busbar; 24 (x) provide that the owner or owners of the 25 initial clean coal facility, which is the 26 counterparty to such sourcing agreement, shall SB1353 - 157 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 158 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 158 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 158 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 have the right from time to time to elect whether 2 the obligations of the utility party thereto shall 3 be governed by the power purchase provisions or 4 the contract for differences provisions; 5 (xi) append documentation showing that the 6 formula rate and contract, insofar as they relate 7 to the power purchase provisions, have been 8 approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory 9 Commission pursuant to Section 205 of the Federal 10 Power Act; 11 (xii) provide that any changes to the terms of 12 the contract, insofar as such changes relate to 13 the power purchase provisions, are subject to 14 review under the public interest standard applied 15 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 16 pursuant to Sections 205 and 206 of the Federal 17 Power Act; and 18 (xiii) conform with customary lender 19 requirements in power purchase agreements used as 20 the basis for financing non-utility generators. 21 (4) Effective date of sourcing agreements with the 22 initial clean coal facility. Any proposed sourcing 23 agreement with the initial clean coal facility shall not 24 become effective unless the following reports are prepared 25 and submitted and authorizations and approvals obtained: 26 (i) Facility cost report. The owner of the initial SB1353 - 158 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 159 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 159 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 159 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 clean coal facility shall submit to the Commission, 2 the Agency, and the General Assembly a front-end 3 engineering and design study, a facility cost report, 4 method of financing (including but not limited to 5 structure and associated costs), and an operating and 6 maintenance cost quote for the facility (collectively 7 "facility cost report"), which shall be prepared in 8 accordance with the requirements of this paragraph (4) 9 of subsection (d) of this Section, and shall provide 10 the Commission and the Agency access to the work 11 papers, relied upon documents, and any other backup 12 documentation related to the facility cost report. 13 (ii) Commission report. Within 6 months following 14 receipt of the facility cost report, the Commission, 15 in consultation with the Agency, shall submit a report 16 to the General Assembly setting forth its analysis of 17 the facility cost report. Such report shall include, 18 but not be limited to, a comparison of the costs 19 associated with electricity generated by the initial 20 clean coal facility to the costs associated with 21 electricity generated by other types of generation 22 facilities, an analysis of the rate impacts on 23 residential and small business customers over the life 24 of the sourcing agreements, and an analysis of the 25 likelihood that the initial clean coal facility will 26 commence commercial operation by and be delivering SB1353 - 159 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 160 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 160 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 160 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 power to the facility's busbar by 2016. To assist in 2 the preparation of its report, the Commission, in 3 consultation with the Agency, may hire one or more 4 experts or consultants, the costs of which shall be 5 paid for by the owner of the initial clean coal 6 facility. The Commission and Agency may begin the 7 process of selecting such experts or consultants prior 8 to receipt of the facility cost report. 9 (iii) General Assembly approval. The proposed 10 sourcing agreements shall not take effect unless, 11 based on the facility cost report and the Commission's 12 report, the General Assembly enacts authorizing 13 legislation approving (A) the projected price, stated 14 in cents per kilowatthour, to be charged for 15 electricity generated by the initial clean coal 16 facility, (B) the projected impact on residential and 17 small business customers' bills over the life of the 18 sourcing agreements, and (C) the maximum allowable 19 return on equity for the project; and 20 (iv) Commission review. If the General Assembly 21 enacts authorizing legislation pursuant to 22 subparagraph (iii) approving a sourcing agreement, the 23 Commission shall, within 90 days of such enactment, 24 complete a review of such sourcing agreement. During 25 such time period, the Commission shall implement any 26 directive of the General Assembly, resolve any SB1353 - 160 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 161 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 161 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 161 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 disputes between the parties to the sourcing agreement 2 concerning the terms of such agreement, approve the 3 form of such agreement, and issue an order finding 4 that the sourcing agreement is prudent and reasonable. 5 The facility cost report shall be prepared as follows: 6 (A) The facility cost report shall be prepared by 7 duly licensed engineering and construction firms 8 detailing the estimated capital costs payable to one 9 or more contractors or suppliers for the engineering, 10 procurement and construction of the components 11 comprising the initial clean coal facility and the 12 estimated costs of operation and maintenance of the 13 facility. The facility cost report shall include: 14 (i) an estimate of the capital cost of the 15 core plant based on one or more front end 16 engineering and design studies for the 17 gasification island and related facilities. The 18 core plant shall include all civil, structural, 19 mechanical, electrical, control, and safety 20 systems. 21 (ii) an estimate of the capital cost of the 22 balance of the plant, including any capital costs 23 associated with sequestration of carbon dioxide 24 emissions and all interconnects and interfaces 25 required to operate the facility, such as 26 transmission of electricity, construction or SB1353 - 161 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 162 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 162 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 162 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 backfeed power supply, pipelines to transport 2 substitute natural gas or carbon dioxide, potable 3 water supply, natural gas supply, water supply, 4 water discharge, landfill, access roads, and coal 5 delivery. 6 The quoted construction costs shall be expressed 7 in nominal dollars as of the date that the quote is 8 prepared and shall include capitalized financing costs 9 during construction, taxes, insurance, and other 10 owner's costs, and an assumed escalation in materials 11 and labor beyond the date as of which the construction 12 cost quote is expressed. 13 (B) The front end engineering and design study for 14 the gasification island and the cost study for the 15 balance of plant shall include sufficient design work 16 to permit quantification of major categories of 17 materials, commodities and labor hours, and receipt of 18 quotes from vendors of major equipment required to 19 construct and operate the clean coal facility. 20 (C) The facility cost report shall also include an 21 operating and maintenance cost quote that will provide 22 the estimated cost of delivered fuel, personnel, 23 maintenance contracts, chemicals, catalysts, 24 consumables, spares, and other fixed and variable 25 operations and maintenance costs. The delivered fuel 26 cost estimate will be provided by a recognized third SB1353 - 162 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 163 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 163 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 163 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 party expert or experts in the fuel and transportation 2 industries. The balance of the operating and 3 maintenance cost quote, excluding delivered fuel 4 costs, will be developed based on the inputs provided 5 by duly licensed engineering and construction firms 6 performing the construction cost quote, potential 7 vendors under long-term service agreements and plant 8 operating agreements, or recognized third party plant 9 operator or operators. 10 The operating and maintenance cost quote 11 (including the cost of the front end engineering and 12 design study) shall be expressed in nominal dollars as 13 of the date that the quote is prepared and shall 14 include taxes, insurance, and other owner's costs, and 15 an assumed escalation in materials and labor beyond 16 the date as of which the operating and maintenance 17 cost quote is expressed. 18 (D) The facility cost report shall also include an 19 analysis of the initial clean coal facility's ability 20 to deliver power and energy into the applicable 21 regional transmission organization markets and an 22 analysis of the expected capacity factor for the 23 initial clean coal facility. 24 (E) Amounts paid to third parties unrelated to the 25 owner or owners of the initial clean coal facility to 26 prepare the core plant construction cost quote, SB1353 - 163 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 164 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 164 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 164 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 including the front end engineering and design study, 2 and the operating and maintenance cost quote will be 3 reimbursed through Coal Development Bonds. 4 (5) Re-powering and retrofitting coal-fired power 5 plants previously owned by Illinois utilities to qualify 6 as clean coal facilities. During the 2009 procurement 7 planning process and thereafter, the Agency and the 8 Commission shall consider sourcing agreements covering 9 electricity generated by power plants that were previously 10 owned by Illinois utilities and that have been or will be 11 converted into clean coal facilities, as defined by 12 Section 1-10 of this Act. Pursuant to such procurement 13 planning process, the owners of such facilities may 14 propose to the Agency sourcing agreements with utilities 15 and alternative retail electric suppliers required to 16 comply with subsection (d) of this Section and item (5) of 17 subsection (d) of Section 16-115 of the Public Utilities 18 Act, covering electricity generated by such facilities. In 19 the case of sourcing agreements that are power purchase 20 agreements, the contract price for electricity sales shall 21 be established on a cost of service basis. In the case of 22 sourcing agreements that are contracts for differences, 23 the contract price from which the reference price is 24 subtracted shall be established on a cost of service 25 basis. The Agency and the Commission may approve any such 26 utility sourcing agreements that do not exceed cost-based SB1353 - 164 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 165 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 165 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 165 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 benchmarks developed by the procurement administrator, in 2 consultation with the Commission staff, Agency staff and 3 the procurement monitor, subject to Commission review and 4 approval. The Commission shall have authority to inspect 5 all books and records associated with these clean coal 6 facilities during the term of any such contract. 7 (6) Costs incurred under this subsection (d) or 8 pursuant to a contract entered into under this subsection 9 (d) shall be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in 10 amount and the electric utility shall be entitled to full 11 cost recovery pursuant to the tariffs filed with the 12 Commission. 13 (d-5) Zero emission standard. 14 (1) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on 15 June 1, 2017, the Agency shall, for electric utilities 16 that serve at least 100,000 retail customers in this 17 State, procure contracts with zero emission facilities 18 that are reasonably capable of generating cost-effective 19 zero emission credits in an amount approximately equal to 20 16% of the actual amount of electricity delivered by each 21 electric utility to retail customers in the State during 22 calendar year 2014. For an electric utility serving fewer 23 than 100,000 retail customers in this State that 24 requested, under Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities 25 Act, that the Agency procure power and energy for all or a 26 portion of the utility's Illinois load for the delivery SB1353 - 165 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 166 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 166 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 166 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 year commencing June 1, 2016, the Agency shall procure 2 contracts with zero emission facilities that are 3 reasonably capable of generating cost-effective zero 4 emission credits in an amount approximately equal to 16% 5 of the portion of power and energy to be procured by the 6 Agency for the utility. The duration of the contracts 7 procured under this subsection (d-5) shall be for a term 8 of 10 years ending May 31, 2027. The quantity of zero 9 emission credits to be procured under the contracts shall 10 be all of the zero emission credits generated by the zero 11 emission facility in each delivery year; however, if the 12 zero emission facility is owned by more than one entity, 13 then the quantity of zero emission credits to be procured 14 under the contracts shall be the amount of zero emission 15 credits that are generated from the portion of the zero 16 emission facility that is owned by the winning supplier. 17 The 16% value identified in this paragraph (1) is the 18 average of the percentage targets in subparagraph (B) of 19 paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of this Section for the 5 20 delivery years beginning June 1, 2017. 21 The procurement process shall be subject to the 22 following provisions: 23 (A) Those zero emission facilities that intend to 24 participate in the procurement shall submit to the 25 Agency the following eligibility information for each 26 zero emission facility on or before the date SB1353 - 166 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 167 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 167 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 167 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 established by the Agency: 2 (i) the in-service date and remaining useful 3 life of the zero emission facility; 4 (ii) the amount of power generated annually 5 for each of the years 2005 through 2015, and the 6 projected zero emission credits to be generated 7 over the remaining useful life of the zero 8 emission facility, which shall be used to 9 determine the capability of each facility; 10 (iii) the annual zero emission facility cost 11 projections, expressed on a per megawatthour 12 basis, over the next 6 delivery years, which shall 13 include the following: operation and maintenance 14 expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which 15 shall be allocated using the methodology developed 16 by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations; 17 fuel expenditures; non-fuel capital expenditures; 18 spent fuel expenditures; a return on working 19 capital; the cost of operational and market risks 20 that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and 21 any other costs necessary for continued 22 operations, provided that "necessary" means, for 23 purposes of this item (iii), that the costs could 24 reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations 25 of the zero emission facility; and 26 (iv) a commitment to continue operating, for SB1353 - 167 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 168 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 168 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 168 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 the duration of the contract or contracts executed 2 under the procurement held under this subsection 3 (d-5), the zero emission facility that produces 4 the zero emission credits to be procured in the 5 procurement. 6 The information described in item (iii) of this 7 subparagraph (A) may be submitted on a confidential 8 basis and shall be treated and maintained by the 9 Agency, the procurement administrator, and the 10 Commission as confidential and proprietary and exempt 11 from disclosure under subparagraphs (a) and (g) of 12 paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of 13 Information Act. The Office of Attorney General shall 14 have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of, 15 such information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the 16 Attorney General Act. 17 (B) The price for each zero emission credit 18 procured under this subsection (d-5) for each delivery 19 year shall be in an amount that equals the Social Cost 20 of Carbon, expressed on a price per megawatthour 21 basis. However, to ensure that the procurement remains 22 affordable to retail customers in this State if 23 electricity prices increase, the price in an 24 applicable delivery year shall be reduced below the 25 Social Cost of Carbon by the amount ("Price 26 Adjustment") by which the market price index for the SB1353 - 168 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 169 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 169 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 169 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 applicable delivery year exceeds the baseline market 2 price index for the consecutive 12-month period ending 3 May 31, 2016. If the Price Adjustment is greater than 4 or equal to the Social Cost of Carbon in an applicable 5 delivery year, then no payments shall be due in that 6 delivery year. The components of this calculation are 7 defined as follows: 8 (i) Social Cost of Carbon: The Social Cost of 9 Carbon is $16.50 per megawatthour, which is based 10 on the U.S. Interagency Working Group on Social 11 Cost of Carbon's price in the August 2016 12 Technical Update using a 3% discount rate, 13 adjusted for inflation for each year of the 14 program. Beginning with the delivery year 15 commencing June 1, 2023, the price per 16 megawatthour shall increase by $1 per 17 megawatthour, and continue to increase by an 18 additional $1 per megawatthour each delivery year 19 thereafter. 20 (ii) Baseline market price index: The baseline 21 market price index for the consecutive 12-month 22 period ending May 31, 2016 is $31.40 per 23 megawatthour, which is based on the sum of (aa) 24 the average day-ahead energy price across all 25 hours of such 12-month period at the PJM 26 Interconnection LLC Northern Illinois Hub, (bb) SB1353 - 169 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 170 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 170 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 170 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 50% multiplied by the Base Residual Auction, or 2 its successor, capacity price for the rest of the 3 RTO zone group determined by PJM Interconnection 4 LLC, divided by 24 hours per day, and (cc) 50% 5 multiplied by the Planning Resource Auction, or 6 its successor, capacity price for Zone 4 7 determined by the Midcontinent Independent System 8 Operator, Inc., divided by 24 hours per day. 9 (iii) Market price index: The market price 10 index for a delivery year shall be the sum of 11 projected energy prices and projected capacity 12 prices determined as follows: 13 (aa) Projected energy prices: the 14 projected energy prices for the applicable 15 delivery year shall be calculated once for the 16 year using the forward market price for the 17 PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois 18 Hub. The forward market price shall be 19 calculated as follows: the energy forward 20 prices for each month of the applicable 21 delivery year averaged for each trade date 22 during the calendar year immediately preceding 23 that delivery year to produce a single energy 24 forward price for the delivery year. The 25 forward market price calculation shall use 26 data published by the Intercontinental SB1353 - 170 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 171 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 171 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 171 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Exchange, or its successor. 2 (bb) Projected capacity prices: 3 (I) For the delivery years commencing 4 June 1, 2017, June 1, 2018, and June 1, 5 2019, the projected capacity price shall 6 be equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied 7 by the Base Residual Auction, or its 8 successor, price for the rest of the RTO 9 zone group as determined by PJM 10 Interconnection LLC, divided by 24 hours 11 per day and, (2) 50% multiplied by the 12 resource auction price determined in the 13 resource auction administered by the 14 Midcontinent Independent System Operator, 15 Inc., in which the largest percentage of 16 load cleared for Local Resource Zone 4, 17 divided by 24 hours per day, and where 18 such price is determined by the 19 Midcontinent Independent System Operator, 20 Inc. 21 (II) For the delivery year commencing 22 June 1, 2020, and each year thereafter, 23 the projected capacity price shall be 24 equal to the sum of (1) 50% multiplied by 25 the Base Residual Auction, or its 26 successor, price for the ComEd zone as SB1353 - 171 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 172 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 172 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 172 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 determined by PJM Interconnection LLC, 2 divided by 24 hours per day, and (2) 50% 3 multiplied by the resource auction price 4 determined in the resource auction 5 administered by the Midcontinent 6 Independent System Operator, Inc., in 7 which the largest percentage of load 8 cleared for Local Resource Zone 4, divided 9 by 24 hours per day, and where such price 10 is determined by the Midcontinent 11 Independent System Operator, Inc. 12 For purposes of this subsection (d-5): 13 "Rest of the RTO" and "ComEd Zone" shall have 14 the meaning ascribed to them by PJM 15 Interconnection, LLC. 16 "RTO" means regional transmission 17 organization. 18 (C) No later than 45 days after June 1, 2017 (the 19 effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall 20 publish its proposed zero emission standard 21 procurement plan. The plan shall be consistent with 22 the provisions of this paragraph (1) and shall provide 23 that winning bids shall be selected based on public 24 interest criteria that include, but are not limited 25 to, minimizing carbon dioxide emissions that result 26 from electricity consumed in Illinois and minimizing SB1353 - 172 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 173 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 173 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 173 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter 2 emissions that adversely affect the citizens of this 3 State. In particular, the selection of winning bids 4 shall take into account the incremental environmental 5 benefits resulting from the procurement, such as any 6 existing environmental benefits that are preserved by 7 the procurements held under Public Act 99-906 and 8 would cease to exist if the procurements were not 9 held, including the preservation of zero emission 10 facilities. The plan shall also describe in detail how 11 each public interest factor shall be considered and 12 weighted in the bid selection process to ensure that 13 the public interest criteria are applied to the 14 procurement and given full effect. 15 For purposes of developing the plan, the Agency 16 shall consider any reports issued by a State agency, 17 board, or commission under House Resolution 1146 of 18 the 98th General Assembly and paragraph (4) of 19 subsection (d) of this Section, as well as publicly 20 available analyses and studies performed by or for 21 regional transmission organizations that serve the 22 State and their independent market monitors. 23 Upon publishing of the zero emission standard 24 procurement plan, copies of the plan shall be posted 25 and made publicly available on the Agency's website. 26 All interested parties shall have 10 days following SB1353 - 173 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 174 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 174 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 174 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 the date of posting to provide comment to the Agency on 2 the plan. All comments shall be posted to the Agency's 3 website. Following the end of the comment period, but 4 no more than 60 days later than June 1, 2017 (the 5 effective date of Public Act 99-906), the Agency shall 6 revise the plan as necessary based on the comments 7 received and file its zero emission standard 8 procurement plan with the Commission. 9 If the Commission determines that the plan will 10 result in the procurement of cost-effective zero 11 emission credits, then the Commission shall, after 12 notice and hearing, but no later than 45 days after the 13 Agency filed the plan, approve the plan or approve 14 with modification. For purposes of this subsection 15 (d-5), "cost effective" means the projected costs of 16 procuring zero emission credits from zero emission 17 facilities do not cause the limit stated in paragraph 18 (2) of this subsection to be exceeded. 19 (C-5) As part of the Commission's review and 20 acceptance or rejection of the procurement results, 21 the Commission shall, in its public notice of 22 successful bidders: 23 (i) identify how the winning bids satisfy the 24 public interest criteria described in subparagraph 25 (C) of this paragraph (1) of minimizing carbon 26 dioxide emissions that result from electricity SB1353 - 174 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 175 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 175 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 175 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur 2 dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter 3 emissions that adversely affect the citizens of 4 this State; 5 (ii) specifically address how the selection of 6 winning bids takes into account the incremental 7 environmental benefits resulting from the 8 procurement, including any existing environmental 9 benefits that are preserved by the procurements 10 held under Public Act 99-906 and would have ceased 11 to exist if the procurements had not been held, 12 such as the preservation of zero emission 13 facilities; 14 (iii) quantify the environmental benefit of 15 preserving the resources identified in item (ii) 16 of this subparagraph (C-5), including the 17 following: 18 (aa) the value of avoided greenhouse gas 19 emissions measured as the product of the zero 20 emission facilities' output over the contract 21 term multiplied by the U.S. Environmental 22 Protection Agency eGrid subregion carbon 23 dioxide emission rate and the U.S. Interagency 24 Working Group on Social Cost of Carbon's price 25 in the August 2016 Technical Update using a 3% 26 discount rate, adjusted for inflation for each SB1353 - 175 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 176 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 176 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 176 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 delivery year; and 2 (bb) the costs of replacement with other 3 zero carbon dioxide resources, including wind 4 and photovoltaic, based upon the simple 5 average of the following: 6 (I) the price, or if there is more 7 than one price, the average of the prices, 8 paid for renewable energy credits from new 9 utility-scale wind projects in the 10 procurement events specified in item (i) 11 of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) of 12 subsection (c) of this Section; and 13 (II) the price, or if there is more 14 than one price, the average of the prices, 15 paid for renewable energy credits from new 16 utility-scale solar projects and 17 brownfield site photovoltaic projects in 18 the procurement events specified in item 19 (ii) of subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) 20 of subsection (c) of this Section and, 21 after January 1, 2015, renewable energy 22 credits from photovoltaic distributed 23 generation projects in procurement events 24 held under subsection (c) of this Section. 25 Each utility shall enter into binding contractual 26 arrangements with the winning suppliers. SB1353 - 176 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 177 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 177 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 177 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 The procurement described in this subsection 2 (d-5), including, but not limited to, the execution of 3 all contracts procured, shall be completed no later 4 than May 10, 2017. Based on the effective date of 5 Public Act 99-906, the Agency and Commission may, as 6 appropriate, modify the various dates and timelines 7 under this subparagraph and subparagraphs (C) and (D) 8 of this paragraph (1). The procurement and plan 9 approval processes required by this subsection (d-5) 10 shall be conducted in conjunction with the procurement 11 and plan approval processes required by subsection (c) 12 of this Section and Section 16-111.5 of the Public 13 Utilities Act, to the extent practicable. 14 Notwithstanding whether a procurement event is 15 conducted under Section 16-111.5 of the Public 16 Utilities Act, the Agency shall immediately initiate a 17 procurement process on June 1, 2017 (the effective 18 date of Public Act 99-906). 19 (D) Following the procurement event described in 20 this paragraph (1) and consistent with subparagraph 21 (B) of this paragraph (1), the Agency shall calculate 22 the payments to be made under each contract for the 23 next delivery year based on the market price index for 24 that delivery year. The Agency shall publish the 25 payment calculations no later than May 25, 2017 and 26 every May 25 thereafter. SB1353 - 177 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 178 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 178 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 178 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (E) Notwithstanding the requirements of this 2 subsection (d-5), the contracts executed under this 3 subsection (d-5) shall provide that the zero emission 4 facility may, as applicable, suspend or terminate 5 performance under the contracts in the following 6 instances: 7 (i) A zero emission facility shall be excused 8 from its performance under the contract for any 9 cause beyond the control of the resource, 10 including, but not restricted to, acts of God, 11 flood, drought, earthquake, storm, fire, 12 lightning, epidemic, war, riot, civil disturbance 13 or disobedience, labor dispute, labor or material 14 shortage, sabotage, acts of public enemy, 15 explosions, orders, regulations or restrictions 16 imposed by governmental, military, or lawfully 17 established civilian authorities, which, in any of 18 the foregoing cases, by exercise of commercially 19 reasonable efforts the zero emission facility 20 could not reasonably have been expected to avoid, 21 and which, by the exercise of commercially 22 reasonable efforts, it has been unable to 23 overcome. In such event, the zero emission 24 facility shall be excused from performance for the 25 duration of the event, including, but not limited 26 to, delivery of zero emission credits, and no SB1353 - 178 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 179 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 179 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 179 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 payment shall be due to the zero emission facility 2 during the duration of the event. 3 (ii) A zero emission facility shall be 4 permitted to terminate the contract if legislation 5 is enacted into law by the General Assembly that 6 imposes or authorizes a new tax, special 7 assessment, or fee on the generation of 8 electricity, the ownership or leasehold of a 9 generating unit, or the privilege or occupation of 10 such generation, ownership, or leasehold of 11 generation units by a zero emission facility. 12 However, the provisions of this item (ii) do not 13 apply to any generally applicable tax, special 14 assessment or fee, or requirements imposed by 15 federal law. 16 (iii) A zero emission facility shall be 17 permitted to terminate the contract in the event 18 that the resource requires capital expenditures in 19 excess of $40,000,000 that were neither known nor 20 reasonably foreseeable at the time it executed the 21 contract and that a prudent owner or operator of 22 such resource would not undertake. 23 (iv) A zero emission facility shall be 24 permitted to terminate the contract in the event 25 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission terminates the 26 resource's license. SB1353 - 179 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 180 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 180 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 180 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (F) If the zero emission facility elects to 2 terminate a contract under subparagraph (E) of this 3 paragraph (1), then the Commission shall reopen the 4 docket in which the Commission approved the zero 5 emission standard procurement plan under subparagraph 6 (C) of this paragraph (1) and, after notice and 7 hearing, enter an order acknowledging the contract 8 termination election if such termination is consistent 9 with the provisions of this subsection (d-5). 10 (2) For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the amount 11 paid per kilowatthour means the total amount paid for 12 electric service expressed on a per kilowatthour basis. 13 For purposes of this subsection (d-5), the total amount 14 paid for electric service includes, without limitation, 15 amounts paid for supply, transmission, distribution, 16 surcharges, and add-on taxes. 17 Notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection 18 (d-5), the contracts executed under this subsection (d-5) 19 shall provide that the total of zero emission credits 20 procured under a procurement plan shall be subject to the 21 limitations of this paragraph (2). For each delivery year, 22 the contractual volume receiving payments in such year 23 shall be reduced for all retail customers based on the 24 amount necessary to limit the net increase that delivery 25 year to the costs of those credits included in the amounts 26 paid by eligible retail customers in connection with SB1353 - 180 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 181 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 181 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 181 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 electric service to no more than 1.65% of the amount paid 2 per kilowatthour by eligible retail customers during the 3 year ending May 31, 2009. The result of this computation 4 shall apply to and reduce the procurement for all retail 5 customers, and all those customers shall pay the same 6 single, uniform cents per kilowatthour charge under 7 subsection (k) of Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities 8 Act. To arrive at a maximum dollar amount of zero emission 9 credits to be paid for the particular delivery year, the 10 resulting per kilowatthour amount shall be applied to the 11 actual amount of kilowatthours of electricity delivered by 12 the electric utility in the delivery year immediately 13 prior to the procurement, to all retail customers in its 14 service territory. Unpaid contractual volume for any 15 delivery year shall be paid in any subsequent delivery 16 year in which such payments can be made without exceeding 17 the amount specified in this paragraph (2). The 18 calculations required by this paragraph (2) shall be made 19 only once for each procurement plan year. Once the 20 determination as to the amount of zero emission credits to 21 be paid is made based on the calculations set forth in this 22 paragraph (2), no subsequent rate impact determinations 23 shall be made and no adjustments to those contract amounts 24 shall be allowed. All costs incurred under those contracts 25 and in implementing this subsection (d-5) shall be 26 recovered by the electric utility as provided in this SB1353 - 181 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 182 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 182 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 182 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Section. 2 No later than June 30, 2019, the Commission shall 3 review the limitation on the amount of zero emission 4 credits procured under this subsection (d-5) and report to 5 the General Assembly its findings as to whether that 6 limitation unduly constrains the procurement of 7 cost-effective zero emission credits. 8 (3) Six years after the execution of a contract under 9 this subsection (d-5), the Agency shall determine whether 10 the actual zero emission credit payments received by the 11 supplier over the 6-year period exceed the Average ZEC 12 Payment. In addition, at the end of the term of a contract 13 executed under this subsection (d-5), or at the time, if 14 any, a zero emission facility's contract is terminated 15 under subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of this subsection 16 (d-5), then the Agency shall determine whether the actual 17 zero emission credit payments received by the supplier 18 over the term of the contract exceed the Average ZEC 19 Payment, after taking into account any amounts previously 20 credited back to the utility under this paragraph (3). If 21 the Agency determines that the actual zero emission credit 22 payments received by the supplier over the relevant period 23 exceed the Average ZEC Payment, then the supplier shall 24 credit the difference back to the utility. The amount of 25 the credit shall be remitted to the applicable electric 26 utility no later than 120 days after the Agency's SB1353 - 182 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 183 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 183 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 183 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 determination, which the utility shall reflect as a credit 2 on its retail customer bills as soon as practicable; 3 however, the credit remitted to the utility shall not 4 exceed the total amount of payments received by the 5 facility under its contract. 6 For purposes of this Section, the Average ZEC Payment 7 shall be calculated by multiplying the quantity of zero 8 emission credits delivered under the contract times the 9 average contract price. The average contract price shall 10 be determined by subtracting the amount calculated under 11 subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3) from the amount 12 calculated under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (3), 13 as follows: 14 (A) The average of the Social Cost of Carbon, as 15 defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this 16 subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract. 17 (B) The average of the market price indices, as 18 defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this 19 subsection (d-5), during the term of the contract, 20 minus the baseline market price index, as defined in 21 subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection 22 (d-5). 23 If the subtraction yields a negative number, then the 24 Average ZEC Payment shall be zero. 25 (4) Cost-effective zero emission credits procured from 26 zero emission facilities shall satisfy the applicable SB1353 - 183 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 184 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 184 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 184 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 definitions set forth in Section 1-10 of this Act. 2 (5) The electric utility shall retire all zero 3 emission credits used to comply with the requirements of 4 this subsection (d-5). 5 (6) Electric utilities shall be entitled to recover 6 all of the costs associated with the procurement of zero 7 emission credits through an automatic adjustment clause 8 tariff in accordance with subsection (k) and (m) of 9 Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, and the 10 contracts executed under this subsection (d-5) shall 11 provide that the utilities' payment obligations under such 12 contracts shall be reduced if an adjustment is required 13 under subsection (m) of Section 16-108 of the Public 14 Utilities Act. 15 (7) This subsection (d-5) shall become inoperative on 16 January 1, 2028. 17 (d-10) Nuclear Plant Assistance; carbon mitigation 18 credits. 19 (1) The General Assembly finds: 20 (A) The health, welfare, and prosperity of all 21 Illinois citizens require that the State of Illinois act 22 to avoid and not increase carbon emissions from electric 23 generation sources while continuing to ensure affordable, 24 stable, and reliable electricity to all citizens. 25 (B) Absent immediate action by the State to preserve 26 existing carbon-free energy resources, those resources may SB1353 - 184 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 185 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 185 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 185 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 retire, and the electric generation needs of Illinois' 2 retail customers may be met instead by facilities that 3 emit significant amounts of carbon pollution and other 4 harmful air pollutants at a high social and economic cost 5 until Illinois is able to develop other forms of clean 6 energy. 7 (C) The General Assembly finds that nuclear power 8 generation is necessary for the State's transition to 100% 9 clean energy, and ensuring continued operation of nuclear 10 plants advances environmental and public health interests 11 through providing carbon-free electricity while reducing 12 the air pollution profile of the Illinois energy 13 generation fleet. 14 (D) The clean energy attributes of nuclear generation 15 facilities support the State in its efforts to achieve 16 100% clean energy. 17 (E) The State currently invests in various forms of 18 clean energy, including, but not limited to, renewable 19 energy, energy efficiency, and low-emission vehicles, 20 among others. 21 (F) The Environmental Protection Agency commissioned 22 an independent audit which provided a detailed assessment 23 of the financial condition of the Illinois nuclear fleet 24 to evaluate its financial viability and whether the 25 environmental benefits of such resources were at risk. The 26 report identified the risk of losing the environmental SB1353 - 185 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 186 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 186 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 186 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 benefits of several specific nuclear units. The report 2 also identified that the LaSalle County Generating Station 3 will continue to operate through 2026 and therefore is not 4 eligible to participate in the carbon mitigation credit 5 program. 6 (G) Nuclear plants provide carbon-free energy, which 7 helps to avoid many health-related negative impacts for 8 Illinois residents. 9 (H) The procurement of carbon mitigation credits 10 representing the environmental benefits of carbon-free 11 generation will further the State's efforts at achieving 12 100% clean energy and decarbonizing the electricity sector 13 in a safe, reliable, and affordable manner. Further, the 14 procurement of carbon emission credits will enhance the 15 health and welfare of Illinois residents through decreased 16 reliance on more highly polluting generation. 17 (I) The General Assembly therefore finds it necessary 18 to establish carbon mitigation credits to ensure decreased 19 reliance on more carbon-intensive energy resources, for 20 transitioning to a fully decarbonized electricity sector, 21 and to help ensure health and welfare of the State's 22 residents. 23 (2) As used in this subsection: 24 "Baseline costs" means costs used to establish a customer 25 protection cap that have been evaluated through an independent 26 audit of a carbon-free energy resource conducted by the SB1353 - 186 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 187 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 187 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 187 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 Environmental Protection Agency that evaluated projected 2 annual costs for operation and maintenance expenses; fully 3 allocated overhead costs, which shall be allocated using the 4 methodology developed by the Institute for Nuclear Power 5 Operations; fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures; 6 spent fuel expenditures; a return on working capital; the cost 7 of operational and market risks that could be avoided by 8 ceasing operation; and any other costs necessary for continued 9 operations, provided that "necessary" means, for purposes of 10 this definition, that the costs could reasonably be avoided 11 only by ceasing operations of the carbon-free energy resource. 12 "Carbon mitigation credit" means a tradable credit that 13 represents the carbon emission reduction attributes of one 14 megawatt-hour of energy produced from a carbon-free energy 15 resource. 16 "Carbon-free energy resource" means a generation facility 17 that: (1) is fueled by nuclear power; and (2) is 18 interconnected to PJM Interconnection, LLC. 19 (3) Procurement. 20 (A) Beginning with the delivery year commencing on 21 June 1, 2022, the Agency shall, for electric utilities 22 serving at least 3,000,000 retail customers in the State, 23 seek to procure contracts for no more than approximately 24 54,500,000 cost-effective carbon mitigation credits from 25 carbon-free energy resources because such credits are 26 necessary to support current levels of carbon-free energy SB1353 - 187 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 188 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 188 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 188 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 generation and ensure the State meets its carbon dioxide 2 emissions reduction goals. The Agency shall not make a 3 partial award of a contract for carbon mitigation credits 4 covering a fractional amount of a carbon-free energy 5 resource's projected output. 6 (B) Each carbon-free energy resource that intends to 7 participate in a procurement shall be required to submit 8 to the Agency the following information for the resource 9 on or before the date established by the Agency: 10 (i) the in-service date and remaining useful life 11 of the carbon-free energy resource; 12 (ii) the amount of power generated annually for 13 each of the past 10 years, which shall be used to 14 determine the capability of each facility; 15 (iii) a commitment to be reflected in any contract 16 entered into pursuant to this subsection (d-10) to 17 continue operating the carbon-free energy resource at 18 a capacity factor of at least 88% annually on average 19 for the duration of the contract or contracts executed 20 under the procurement held under this subsection 21 (d-10), except in an instance described in 22 subparagraph (E) of paragraph (1) of subsection (d-5) 23 of this Section or made impracticable as a result of 24 compliance with law or regulation; 25 (iv) financial need and the risk of loss of the 26 environmental benefits of such resource, which shall SB1353 - 188 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 189 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 189 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 189 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 include the following information: 2 (I) the carbon-free energy resource's cost 3 projections, expressed on a per megawatt-hour 4 basis, over the next 5 delivery years, which shall 5 include the following: operation and maintenance 6 expenses; fully allocated overhead costs, which 7 shall be allocated using the methodology developed 8 by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations; 9 fuel expenditures; nonfuel capital expenditures; 10 spent fuel expenditures; a return on working 11 capital; the cost of operational and market risks 12 that could be avoided by ceasing operation; and 13 any other costs necessary for continued 14 operations, provided that "necessary" means, for 15 purposes of this subitem (I), that the costs could 16 reasonably be avoided only by ceasing operations 17 of the carbon-free energy resource; and 18 (II) the carbon-free energy resource's revenue 19 projections, including energy, capacity, ancillary 20 services, any other direct State support, known or 21 anticipated federal attribute credits, known or 22 anticipated tax credits, and any other direct 23 federal support. 24 The information described in this subparagraph (B) may 25 be submitted on a confidential basis and shall be treated 26 and maintained by the Agency, the procurement SB1353 - 189 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 190 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 190 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 190 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 administrator, and the Commission as confidential and 2 proprietary and exempt from disclosure under subparagraphs 3 (a) and (g) of paragraph (1) of Section 7 of the Freedom of 4 Information Act. The Office of the Attorney General shall 5 have access to, and maintain the confidentiality of, such 6 information pursuant to Section 6.5 of the Attorney 7 General Act. 8 (C) The Agency shall solicit bids for the contracts 9 described in this subsection (d-10) from carbon-free 10 energy resources that have satisfied the requirements of 11 subparagraph (B) of this paragraph (3). The contracts 12 procured pursuant to a procurement event shall reflect, 13 and be subject to, the following terms, requirements, and 14 limitations: 15 (i) Contracts are for delivery of carbon 16 mitigation credits, and are not energy or capacity 17 sales contracts requiring physical delivery. Pursuant 18 to item (iii), contract payments shall fully deduct 19 the value of any monetized federal production tax 20 credits, credits issued pursuant to a federal clean 21 energy standard, and other federal credits if 22 applicable. 23 (ii) Contracts for carbon mitigation credits shall 24 commence with the delivery year beginning on June 1, 25 2022 and shall be for a term of 5 delivery years 26 concluding on May 31, 2027. SB1353 - 190 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 191 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 191 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 191 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (iii) The price per carbon mitigation credit to be 2 paid under a contract for a given delivery year shall 3 be equal to an accepted bid price less the sum of: 4 (I) one of the following energy price indices, 5 selected by the bidder at the time of the bid for 6 the term of the contract: 7 (aa) the weighted-average hourly day-ahead 8 price for the applicable delivery year at the 9 busbar of all resources procured pursuant to 10 this subsection (d-10), weighted by actual 11 production from the resources; or 12 (bb) the projected energy price for the 13 PJM Interconnection, LLC Northern Illinois Hub 14 for the applicable delivery year determined 15 according to subitem (aa) of item (iii) of 16 subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of 17 subsection (d-5). 18 (II) the Base Residual Auction Capacity Price 19 for the ComEd zone as determined by PJM 20 Interconnection, LLC, divided by 24 hours per day, 21 for the applicable delivery year for the first 3 22 delivery years, and then any subsequent delivery 23 years unless the PJM Interconnection, LLC applies 24 the Minimum Offer Price Rule to participating 25 carbon-free energy resources because they supply 26 carbon mitigation credits pursuant to this Section SB1353 - 191 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 192 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 192 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 192 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 at which time, upon notice by the carbon-free 2 energy resource to the Commission and subject to 3 the Commission's confirmation, the value under 4 this subitem shall be zero, as further described 5 in the carbon mitigation credit procurement plan; 6 and 7 (III) any value of monetized federal tax 8 credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy 9 provided to the carbon-free energy resource from 10 any unit of government that is not already 11 reflected in energy prices. 12 If the price-per-megawatt-hour calculation 13 performed under item (iii) of this subparagraph (C) 14 for a given delivery year results in a net positive 15 value, then the electric utility counterparty to the 16 contract shall multiply such net value by the 17 applicable contract quantity and remit the amount to 18 the supplier. 19 To protect retail customers from retail rate 20 impacts that may arise upon the initiation of carbon 21 policy changes, if the price-per-megawatt-hour 22 calculation performed under item (iii) of this 23 subparagraph (C) for a given delivery year results in 24 a net negative value, then the supplier counterparty 25 to the contract shall multiply such net value by the 26 applicable contract quantity and remit such amount to SB1353 - 192 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 193 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 193 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 193 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 the electric utility counterparty. The electric 2 utility shall reflect such amounts remitted by 3 suppliers as a credit on its retail customer bills as 4 soon as practicable. 5 (iv) To ensure that retail customers in Northern 6 Illinois do not pay more for carbon mitigation credits 7 than the value such credits provide, and 8 notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection 9 (d-10), the Agency shall not accept bids for contracts 10 that exceed a customer protection cap equal to the 11 baseline costs of carbon-free energy resources. 12 The baseline costs for the applicable year shall 13 be the following: 14 (I) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 15 2022, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal 16 to $30.30 per megawatt-hour. 17 (II) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 18 2023, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal 19 to $32.50 per megawatt-hour. 20 (III) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 21 2024, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal 22 to $33.43 per megawatt-hour. 23 (IV) For the delivery year beginning June 1, 24 2025, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal 25 to $33.50 per megawatt-hour. 26 (V) For the delivery year beginning June 1, SB1353 - 193 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 194 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 194 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 194 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 2026, the baseline costs shall be an amount equal 2 to $34.50 per megawatt-hour. 3 An Environmental Protection Agency consultant 4 forecast, included in a report issued April 14, 2021, 5 projects that a carbon-free energy resource has the 6 opportunity to earn on average approximately $30.28 7 per megawatt-hour, for the sale of energy and capacity 8 during the time period between 2022 and 2027. 9 Therefore, the sale of carbon mitigation credits 10 provides the opportunity to receive an additional 11 amount per megawatt-hour in addition to the projected 12 prices for energy and capacity. 13 Although actual energy and capacity prices may 14 vary from year-to-year, the General Assembly finds 15 that this customer protection cap will help ensure 16 that the cost of carbon mitigation credits will be 17 less than its value, based upon the social cost of 18 carbon identified in the Technical Support Document 19 issued in February 2021 by the U.S. Interagency 20 Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases and 21 the PJM Interconnection, LLC carbon dioxide marginal 22 emission rate for 2020, and that a carbon-free energy 23 resource receiving payment for carbon mitigation 24 credits receives no more than necessary to keep those 25 units in operation. 26 (D) No later than 7 days after the effective date of SB1353 - 194 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 195 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 195 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 195 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the 2 Agency shall publish its proposed carbon mitigation credit 3 procurement plan. The Plan shall provide that winning bids 4 shall be selected by taking into consideration which 5 resources best match public interest criteria that 6 include, but are not limited to, minimizing carbon dioxide 7 emissions that result from electricity consumed in 8 Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, 9 and particulate matter emissions that adversely affect the 10 citizens of this State. The selection of winning bids 11 shall also take into account the incremental environmental 12 benefits resulting from the procurement or procurements, 13 such as any existing environmental benefits that are 14 preserved by a procurement held under this subsection 15 (d-10) and would cease to exist if the procurement were 16 not held, including the preservation of carbon-free energy 17 resources. For those bidders having the same public 18 interest criteria score, the relative ranking of such 19 bidders shall be determined by price. The Plan shall 20 describe in detail how each public interest factor shall 21 be considered and weighted in the bid selection process to 22 ensure that the public interest criteria are applied to 23 the procurement. The Plan shall, to the extent practical 24 and permissible by federal law, ensure that successful 25 bidders make commercially reasonable efforts to apply for 26 federal tax credits, direct payments, or similar subsidy SB1353 - 195 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 196 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 196 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 196 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 programs that support carbon-free generation and for which 2 the successful bidder is eligible. Upon publishing of the 3 carbon mitigation credit procurement plan, copies of the 4 plan shall be posted and made publicly available on the 5 Agency's website. All interested parties shall have 7 days 6 following the date of posting to provide comment to the 7 Agency on the plan. All comments shall be posted to the 8 Agency's website. Following the end of the comment period, 9 but no more than 19 days later than the effective date of 10 this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the 11 Agency shall revise the plan as necessary based on the 12 comments received and file its carbon mitigation credit 13 procurement plan with the Commission. 14 (E) If the Commission determines that the plan is 15 likely to result in the procurement of cost-effective 16 carbon mitigation credits, then the Commission shall, 17 after notice and hearing and opportunity for comment, but 18 no later than 42 days after the Agency filed the plan, 19 approve the plan or approve it with modification. For 20 purposes of this subsection (d-10), "cost-effective" means 21 carbon mitigation credits that are procured from 22 carbon-free energy resources at prices that are within the 23 limits specified in this paragraph (3). As part of the 24 Commission's review and acceptance or rejection of the 25 procurement results, the Commission shall, in its public 26 notice of successful bidders: SB1353 - 196 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 197 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 197 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 197 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (i) identify how the selected carbon-free energy 2 resources satisfy the public interest criteria 3 described in this paragraph (3) of minimizing carbon 4 dioxide emissions that result from electricity 5 consumed in Illinois and minimizing sulfur dioxide, 6 nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions that 7 adversely affect the citizens of this State; 8 (ii) specifically address how the selection of 9 carbon-free energy resources takes into account the 10 incremental environmental benefits resulting from the 11 procurement, including any existing environmental 12 benefits that are preserved by the procurements held 13 under this amendatory Act of the 102nd General 14 Assembly and would have ceased to exist if the 15 procurements had not been held, such as the 16 preservation of carbon-free energy resources; 17 (iii) quantify the environmental benefit of 18 preserving the carbon-free energy resources procured 19 pursuant to this subsection (d-10), including the 20 following: 21 (I) an assessment value of avoided greenhouse 22 gas emissions measured as the product of the 23 carbon-free energy resources' output over the 24 contract term, using generally accepted 25 methodologies for the valuation of avoided 26 emissions; and SB1353 - 197 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 198 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 198 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 198 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (II) an assessment of costs of replacement 2 with other carbon-free energy resources and 3 renewable energy resources, including wind and 4 photovoltaic generation, based upon an assessment 5 of the prices paid for renewable energy credits 6 through programs and procurements conducted 7 pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 1-75 of this 8 Act, and the additional storage necessary to 9 produce the same or similar capability of matching 10 customer usage patterns. 11 (F) The procurements described in this paragraph (3), 12 including, but not limited to, the execution of all 13 contracts procured, shall be completed no later than 14 December 3, 2021. The procurement and plan approval 15 processes required by this paragraph (3) shall be 16 conducted in conjunction with the procurement and plan 17 approval processes required by Section 16-111.5 of the 18 Public Utilities Act, to the extent practicable. However, 19 the Agency and Commission may, as appropriate, modify the 20 various dates and timelines under this subparagraph and 21 subparagraphs (D) and (E) of this paragraph (3) to meet 22 the December 3, 2021 contract execution deadline. 23 Following the completion of such procurements, and 24 consistent with this paragraph (3), the Agency shall 25 calculate the payments to be made under each contract in a 26 timely fashion. SB1353 - 198 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 199 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 199 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 199 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 (F-1) Costs incurred by the electric utility pursuant 2 to a contract authorized by this subsection (d-10) shall 3 be deemed prudently incurred and reasonable in amount, and 4 the electric utility shall be entitled to full cost 5 recovery pursuant to a tariff or tariffs filed with the 6 Commission. 7 (G) The counterparty electric utility shall retire all 8 carbon mitigation credits used to comply with the 9 requirements of this subsection (d-10). 10 (H) If a carbon-free energy resource is sold to 11 another owner, the rights, obligations, and commitments 12 under this subsection (d-10) shall continue to the 13 subsequent owner. 14 (I) This subsection (d-10) shall become inoperative on 15 January 1, 2028. 16 (e) The draft procurement plans are subject to public 17 comment, as required by Section 16-111.5 of the Public 18 Utilities Act. 19 (f) The Agency shall submit the final procurement plan to 20 the Commission. The Agency shall revise a procurement plan if 21 the Commission determines that it does not meet the standards 22 set forth in Section 16-111.5 of the Public Utilities Act. 23 (g) The Agency shall assess fees to each affected utility 24 to recover the costs incurred in preparation of the annual 25 procurement plan for the utility. 26 (h) The Agency shall assess fees to each bidder to recover SB1353 - 199 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353- 200 -LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 200 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b SB1353 - 200 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b 1 the costs incurred in connection with a competitive 2 procurement process. 3 (i) A renewable energy credit, carbon emission credit, 4 zero emission credit, or carbon mitigation credit can only be 5 used once to comply with a single portfolio or other standard 6 as set forth in subsection (c), subsection (d), or subsection 7 (d-5) of this Section, respectively. A renewable energy 8 credit, carbon emission credit, zero emission credit, or 9 carbon mitigation credit cannot be used to satisfy the 10 requirements of more than one standard. If more than one type 11 of credit is issued for the same megawatt hour of energy, only 12 one credit can be used to satisfy the requirements of a single 13 standard. After such use, the credit must be retired together 14 with any other credits issued for the same megawatt hour of 15 energy. 16 (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-113, eff. 1-1-20; 17 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.) SB1353 - 200 - LRB103 29447 AMQ 55839 b