HB5297 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 26045 AMQ 35489 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5297

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Steven Reick

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 3855/1-135 new

Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with the Illinois Power Agency, to develop standards and guidelines to prohibit any State ratepayers' funds from being used by the Agency under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan for the procurement of solar panels containing polysilicon or metallurgical-grade silicon which is manufactured or produced in the Xingjian region of China in quantities that exceed the standard for action under the Tariff Act of 1930. Provides that the Agency shall require all applicants for projects under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan that are eligible to receive State ratepayers' funds to certify to the Agency that none of the materials used in the applicant's solar panels are sourced from the Xingjian region of China. Provides that the Commission, in consultation with the Agency, shall conduct an audit of all existing contracts it has awarded under all Agency-administered solar programs to determine whether any project uses any solar panels or materials that are prohibited under the federal Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Provides that the audit shall be completed by June 1, 2023, and a complete report on the findings of the audit shall be made available to the General Assembly and the Governor's Office and shall be posted on the Agency's website.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Power Agency Act is amended by adding Section 1-135 as follows:

(20 ILCS 3855/1-135 new)

Sec. 1-135. Prohibition on procurement of solar panels from foreign entities.

(a) No later than 180 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, the Commission, in consultation with the Agency, shall develop standards and guidelines to prohibit any State ratepayers' funds, as collected under Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, from being used by the Agency under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan for the procurement of solar panels or any similar products containing polysilicon or metallurgical-grade silicon which is manufactured or produced in the Xingjian region of China in quantities that exceed the standard under the Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. 1307.

(b) The Agency shall require all applicants for projects under the Agency's long-term renewable resources procurement plan that are eligible to receive State ratepayers' funds, as collected under Section 16-108 of the Public Utilities Act, to certify to the Agency that none of the materials used in the applicant's solar panels are sourced, manufactured, or assembled in the Xingjian region of China. This subsection shall also apply to any existing contracts renewed by the Agency.

(c) The Commission, in consultation with the Agency, shall conduct an audit of all existing contracts it has awarded under all Agency-administered solar programs to determine whether any project uses any solar panels or materials that are prohibited under the federal Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. This audit shall be completed by June 1, 2023, and a complete report on the findings of the audit shall be made available to the General Assembly and the Governor's Office and shall be posted on the Agency's website.

(d) It shall be the policy of the State and the Agency to prohibit the use of any solar panels, including any materials or minerals used in solar panels, in the State that are banned from United States import under the federal Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.