New Program Year Underway!
Hitting the Ground Running for New Program Year
Illinois Solar for All’s (ILSFA) 2022-2023 program year has begun! The Program Administrator is excited to share the following updates to kick off the new program year.
Key Dates for Project Submission and Selection
With program updates based on the Illinois Power Agency’s (IPA) 2022 Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan (the 2022 Plan), the Program Administrator is excited to see the start of Program Year 5 and receive project applications for another round of funding.
Important dates to keep in mind:
- December 2, 2022: Rolling submission window opens for Illinois Solar for All: Residential Solar (Small and Large). Projects can be submitted on a first-come, first-served basis until May 31, 2023, or until the annual sub-program budget is exhausted, whichever comes first.
- January 13, 2023: The Program Administrator will announce if the Project Selection Protocol is necessary for the Illinois Solar for All: Non-Profit and Public Facilities sub-program project submissions.
- January 20, 2023: Project selection for Non-Profit and Public Facilities projects will be executed.
- January 30, 2023: Initial project submission window opens for Illinois Solar for All: Community Solar projects.
- April 11, 2023: Project selection for Community Solar projects will be announced.
View the full 2022-2023 program calendar.
Solar companies approved by ILSFA can learn more about the requirements and Project Selection protocols.
Prospective participants can learn more about program eligibility and options to participate.
Stakeholder Engagement Opportunities
The ILSFA Program Administrator is proud to offer two opportunities for stakeholder engagement. These opportunities will help the Program Administrator to gain diverse perspectives on current and future program improvements.
Consumer Protection Working Group
At its November 4 meeting, the IPA’s expanded Consumer Protection Working Group discussed consumer protection topics related to Illinois Solar for All and Illinois Shines that were raised in the 2022 Long-Term Plan. The group will meet again on December 2. The meetings are open to the public and are not based on previous attendance.
The group creates opportunities to provide diverse insights, increase engagement, and generate robust discussions on consumer protection issues. The group will think proactively about implementing best practices, empowering participants, and shaping program improvements.
ILSFA Advisory Committee
The IPA and ILSFA Program Administrator extended the application deadline for volunteers interested in participating in the Advisory Committee to November 30. The Advisory Committee will discuss and inform ongoing program development and improvements.
The Sunny Awards Recognize ILSFA Projects
Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) is one of the finalists for The Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar in the program category. In addition, an ILSFA community solar project in Urbana, developed by Nexamp, is a finalist in the project category.
The Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar (The Sunny Awards) is a $100,000 prize competition organized by the U.S. Department of Energy. The competition acknowledges community solar projects and programs that employ or create best practices to expand equitable access to community solar benefits.
We are excited and proud for Illinois to be a national leader in supporting income-eligible solar development.
Winners will be announced in early 2023.
ILSFA Participants Share Their Savings Stories
The ILSFA website has a new feature: the Testimonials webpage is a one-stop shop to read about and watch ILSFA participants share their experiences. These testimonials from participants showcase how it’s easy to participate in ILSFA and how they save money on electricity bills.
Furthermore, the Testimonials webpage features a new video produced in collaboration with Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI), an ILSFA Grassroots Educator. This is the first ILSFA video produced in Spanish.
The video highlights a landlord and her tenants’ experience with ILSFA. Alejandra Flores, the landlord, expressed her excitement about saving “more than half” on her electricity bills. Flores’ tenants mentioned that the solar project helped them because Flores did not increase their rent due to high electricity bills.
2022-2023 Grassroots Education Campaigns Selected
In October, the Program Administrator selected thirteen campaigns to conduct Grassroots Education during ILSFA’s fifth program year. These educational campaigns are conducting outreach across the state, focusing their work on environmental justice communities and income-eligible communities.
Grassroots Educators are trusted members of their communities who educate Illinois residents about ILSFA and help communities learn how they can benefit from solar energy. You might hear from Grassroots Educators at community events, local association meetings, and other gatherings where neighbors discuss local issues.
The Program Administrator regularly selects local organizations through a competitive application process to serve as Grassroots Educators across Illinois. Learn more about ILSFA Grassroots Education organizations.
What People Are Saying About ILSFA
The Chicago Tribune reports that community solar is expanding in Illinois, and ILSFA plays a role by connecting income-eligible residents to community solar subscriptions.
In Energy News Network, Arthur Burton, a Chicago entrepreneur, mentions that trainees from his workforce development program worked on a 93 kW rooftop solar project in Pontiac. This ILSFA project is projected to save the residents and owner of Pontiac Towers approximately $3,000 monthly on electricity bills.