Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the state to receive all of its energy production from renewable energy sources by 2050.

Highlights:

• Alleges the clean energy sector is a growing area of the economy in the State of Illinois. The General Assembly further finds that State investment in the clean energy economy in Illinois can be a vehicle for expanding equitable access to public health, safety, a cleaner environment, quality jobs, and economic opportunity (Sec. 5-10).

• Requires the Energy Transition Workforce Commission to produce an Energy Transition Workforce Report regarding the anticipated impact of the energy transition and a comprehensive set of recommendations to address changes to the Illinois workforce from 2020 through 2050, or a later year. The report will contain the following elements, designed to be used for the programs created in this Act (Sec. 10-15.d):

• Information related to the impact on current workers;

• Information regarding the impact on communities and local governments; and

• Information on emerging industries and State economic development opportunities in regions that have historically been the site of fossil fuel power plants, nuclear power plants, or coal mining.

• Authorizes the Illinois Power Agency to consider whether community renewable generation projects utilizing technologies other than photovoltaics should be supported through State-administered incentive funding, and may issue requests for information to gauge market demand (Sec. 1-75.N).

• Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to r have access to the resources needed for the execution of the programs for workforce and contractor development, just transition investments and community support, and the implementation and administration of energy and justice efforts by the State (Sec. 605-1075.a).

• Establishes it is the policy of this State to promote cost-effective transmission system development that ensures reliability of the electric transmission system, lowers carbon emissions, minimizes long-term costs for consumers, and supports the electric policy goals of this State (Sec. 8-512.a).

• Requires the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment to include, but is not limited to, the following (Sec. 8-402.2-3):

• Each plan will be designed to offer within the utility's service territory to assist public schools, to increase the efficiency of their energy usage, to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their energy usage, and to move toward a goal of public schools being carbon-free in their energy usage by 2030;

• The Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment will be generally standardized, but may incorporate flexibility to reflect the circumstances of individual public schools and public school districts;

• The Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment will include, but not be limited to, comprehensive analyses of the following subjects:

• The top energy efficiency savings opportunities for the public school, by the energy saved;

• The total achievable solar energy potential on or nearby a public school's premises and able to provide power to a school;

• The infrastructure required to support the electrification of the facility's space heating and water heating needs;

• The infrastructure requirements to support the electrification of a school's transportation needs; and

• The investments required to achieve a WELL Certification or similar certification as determined through methods developed and updated by the International WELL Building Institute or similar or successor organizations.

Full Bill Text