HB0644 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 13470 LNS 18817 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0644

Introduced 2/8/2021, by Rep. Daniel Didech

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

765 ILCS 165/10
765 ILCS 165/20
765 ILCS 165/30
765 ILCS 165/45

Amends the Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act. Changes the definition of "solar storage mechanism" to include batteries. Provides that the entity may determine the specific configuration of the elements of a solar energy system on a given roof face, provided that it may not prohibit elements of the system from being installed on any roof face and that any such determination may not reduce the production of the solar energy system by more than 10% (rather than specific location where a solar energy system may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 degrees east or west of due south provided that the determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar energy system). Provides that within 60 (rather than 120) days after a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association receives a request for a policy statement or an application from an association member, the association shall adopt an energy policy statement. Provides that whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a solar energy system, the application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate approving entity of the association within 60 (rather than 90) days of (rather than after) the submission of the application. Provides that the Act shall not apply to any building that is greater than 60 (rather than 30) feet high.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

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

Section 5. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 20, 30, and 45 as follows:

(765 ILCS 165/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Solar energy" means radiant energy received from the sun at wave lengths suitable for heat transfer, photosynthetic use, or photovoltaic use.

"Solar collector" means:

(1) an assembly, structure, or design, including passive elements, used for gathering, concentrating, or absorbing direct and indirect solar energy, specially designed for holding a substantial amount of useful thermal energy and to transfer that energy to a gas, solid, or liquid or to use that energy directly; or

(2) a mechanism that absorbs solar energy and converts it into electricity; or

(3) a mechanism or process used for gathering solar energy through wind or thermal gradients; or

(4) a component used to transfer thermal energy to a gas, solid, or liquid, or to convert it into electricity.

"Solar storage mechanism" means equipment or elements (such as piping and transfer mechanisms, containers, heat exchangers, batteries, or controls thereof, and gases, solids, liquids, or combinations thereof) that are utilized for storing solar energy, gathered by a solar collector, for subsequent use.

"Solar energy system" means:

(1) a complete assembly, structure, or design of solar collector, or a solar storage mechanism, which uses solar energy for generating electricity or for heating or cooling gases, solids, liquids, or other materials; and

(2) the design, materials, or elements of a system and its maintenance, operation, and labor components, and the necessary components, if any, of supplemental conventional energy systems designed or constructed to interface with a solar energy system.

(Source: P.A. 96-1436, eff. 1-1-11.)

(765 ILCS 165/20)

Sec. 20. Deed restrictions; covenants. No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting a solar energy system from being installed on a building erected on a lot or parcel covered by the deed restrictions, covenants, or binding agreements, if the building is subject to a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association. A property owner may not be denied permission to install a solar energy system by any entity granted the power or right in any deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property. However, for purposes of this Act, the entity may determine the specific configuration of the elements of a solar energy system on a given roof face, provided that it may not prohibit elements of the system from being installed on any roof face and that any such determination may not reduce the production of the solar energy system by more than 10%. For the purposes of this Section, "production" means the estimated annual electrical production of the solar energy system specific location where a solar energy system may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 degrees east or west of due south provided that the determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar energy system. Within 60 120 days after a homeowners' association, common interest community association, or condominium unit owners' association receives a request for a policy statement or an application from an association member, the association shall adopt an energy policy statement regarding: (i) the location, design, and architectural requirements of solar energy systems; and (ii) whether a wind energy collection, rain water collection, or composting system is allowed, and, if so, the location, design, and architectural requirements of those systems. An association shall disclose, upon request, its energy policy statement and shall include the statement in its homeowners' common interest community, or condominium unit owners' association declaration.

(Source: P.A. 96-1436, eff. 1-1-11; 97-105, eff. 1-1-12.)

(765 ILCS 165/30)

Sec. 30. Application for approval. Whenever approval is required for the installation or use of a solar energy system, the application for approval shall be processed by the appropriate approving entity of the association within 60 90 days of after the submission of the application. However, if an application is submitted before an energy policy statement is adopted by an association, the 60-day 90 day period shall not begin to run until the date that the policy is adopted.

(Source: P.A. 96-1436, eff. 1-1-11.)

(765 ILCS 165/45)

Sec. 45. Inapplicability. This Act shall not apply to any building which is greater than 60 30 feet in height.

(Source: P.A. 96-1436, eff. 1-1-11.)