Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB2144

LRB104 10164 AAS 20236 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2144

Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Bill Cunningham

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Transparent, Inclusive, and Competitively Neutral Energy Policy Act. Sets forth findings. Provides that the energy procurement process shall be transparent, inclusive, and competitively neutral and shall provide due consideration to the unique advantages of each developer from all segments of the energy sector and recognize that more inclusive procurements result in greater competition among developers and lower costs for consumers.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning renewable energy.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Transparent, Inclusive, and Competitively Neutral Energy Policy Act.

Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that:

(1) Illinois is emerging as a national leader in clean energy policy, which is exemplified by the enactment and implementation of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (Public Act 102-662).

(2) To address the significant increase in electricity demand in the State and to attract additional investment, Illinois must significantly expand its clean energy generation capacity.

(3) Each incremental addition of clean energy generation provides measurable value in combating climate change.

(4) Illinois consumers are best served by broad and robust competition in the procurement processes that are critical to achieving the State's clean energy goals.

(5) Transparent, inclusive, and competitively neutral procurement processes will help produce cost-effective outcomes for Illinois consumers while encouraging investment from potential developers to support the further development of clean energy resources.

(6) In pursuit of clean energy goals, the State recognizes the importance of attracting new developers and resources, as well as the value of retaining existing developers that have already invested in the communities, workers, and infrastructure of Illinois.

(7) Competitive procurements that enable projects to compete on a level playing field help deliver the highest-value clean energy solutions at the lowest cost to consumers.

(8) Restricting competition among clean energy resources inappropriately transfers technology, market, and operational risks from developers to taxpayers and consumers.

(9) Transparent, inclusive, and competitively neutral procurement processes, which provide all qualified participants with equal access to information, help: (i) ensure that decisions are properly documented; (ii) foster trust among bidders, investors, and the public; (iii) enhance the credibility of the procurement process; and (iv) strengthen confidence in the results of the procurement process.

(10) Prompt action is essential to ensure Illinois remains on track to achieve its climate objectives and to implement measures that reduce energy costs for consumers.

(11) It is the policy of the State to adopt a transparent, inclusive, and competitively neutral approach to decarbonizing the State's electricity sector and to procure the most cost-effective clean energy resources.

Section 10. Procurement process. For procurements on or after the effective date of this Act, the procurement process shall be transparent, inclusive, and competitively neutral and shall do the following:

(1) provide due consideration to the unique advantages of each developer from all segments of the energy sector; and

(2) recognize that more inclusive procurements result in greater competition among developers and lower costs for consumers.