103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5176

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Daniel Didech

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Solar-Ready Buildings Act. Requires all building permits issued 90 days after the effective date of this Act in a new, large multifamily residential building or a large multifamily residential building being renovated by a developer converting the property to an association to be built to accommodate the installation of a solar energy system on the roof. Requires all building permits issued 24 months after the effective date of this Act to accommodate the installation of a solar energy system on their roofs in new construction single-family residence or small multifamily residence that qualifies as an affordable housing development under the same project ownership and is located on a campus to be built to accommodate the installation of a solar energy system on their roofs. Requires that unless provided otherwise in this Act, all new residential and commercial buildings shall be built to accommodate the installation of an on-site solar energy system with preference for rooftop solar energy systems. Authorities shall develop and adopt amendments to their respective building codes within one year from the effective date of this Act to establish this requirement. Makes specific requirements for a solar energy system to produce electricity. Makes exemptions for developers in certain situations. Any person who fails to comply with or otherwise violates this Act is liable for a civil administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each violation, or twice the estimated additional cost that would have been incurred by constructing a building to meet the requirements of this Act, whichever is greater. Applies to new buildings constructed after the effective date of this Act.


LRB103 38338 JRC 68473 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5176LRB103 38338 JRC 68473 b

1    AN ACT concerning energy.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Solar-Ready Buildings Act.
 
6    Section 5. Legislative intent. Solar energy is an
7important tool to enable consumers to reduce their energy
8costs, fight the climate crisis, tackle air pollution, and
9provide safe energy while facilitating energy production where
10it is consumed, thereby lessening the burden on aging electric
11transmission lines and reducing energy loss over long
12distances. The State should encourage urgent and widespread
13adoption of solar energy.
 
14    Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
15    "Affordable housing development" means (i) any housing
16that is subsidized by the federal or State government or (ii)
17any housing in which at least 20% of the dwelling units are
18subject to covenants or restrictions that require that the
19dwelling units to be sold or rented at prices that preserve
20them as affordable housing for a period of at least 10 years.
21    "Association" has the meaning as used in the Condominium
22Property Act or the Common Interest Community Association Act,

 

 

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1as applicable.
2    "Authorities" means the office in a unit of local
3government or county government that is responsible for
4allowing, regulating, enforcing, and updating building codes.
5    "Developer" means any person or company that constructs
6residential or commercial buildings.
7    "Effective solar area" means the portion of a building
8roof on which the output of a solar energy system, taking into
9account shading from existing permanent natural or man-made
10barriers external to the building (including, but not limited
11to, trees, hills, and adjacent structures), would be
12equivalent to 70% or greater of the output of an unshaded solar
13energy system on an annual basis.
14    "Large commercial building" means a commercial building
15with 10,000 or more square feet of gross floor area.
16    "Large multifamily residence" means a single residential
17building that accommodates 5 families or more. "New" means
18newly constructed.
19    "New building" means any newly constructed residential or
20commercial building that requires a building permit to
21proceed.
22    "Single-family residence" means a detached single-family
23residence on a single lot.
24    "Small multifamily residence" means a single residential
25building that accommodates 2 to 4 families.
26    "Solar energy system" means any solar photovoltaic system

 

 

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1that is installed on-site and uses solar energy to provide all
2or a portion of the electrical needs of a residential or
3commercial building.
4    "Solar hot water heater" means any system that uses solar
5energy to heat water for use in a residential or commercial
6building.
7    "Substitute renewable energy system" means a renewable
8energy generating source that is not a solar photovoltaic
9system, is installed on-site, and provides all or a portion of
10the electrical needs of a residential or commercial building.
 
11    Section 15. Building permit requirements for a solar
12energy system.
13    (a) Beginning 90 days after the effective date of this
14Act, all building permits issued shall require a new, large
15multifamily residential building or a large multifamily
16residential building being renovated by a developer converting
17the property to an association to be built to accommodate the
18installation of a solar energy system on the roof.
19    (b) Beginning 24 months after the effective date of this
20Act, all building permits issued shall require a new
21construction single-family residence or small multifamily
22residence that qualifies as an affordable housing development
23under the same project ownership and is located on a campus to
24be built to accommodate the installation of a solar energy
25system on the roof.
 

 

 

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1    Section 20. Solar energy system requirements.
2    (a) Certain categories of new buildings, as specified in
3this Section, shall be required to have a solar energy system.
4The authorities shall develop and adopt amendments to their
5respective building codes within one year from the effective
6date of this Act, in consultation with the corresponding
7building regulations and standards, to establish this
8requirement.
9    (b) Single-family residences shall have a solar energy
10system producing sufficient electricity on an annual basis to
11meet at least 80% of the estimated average annual electricity
12use of buildings of a similar size.
13    (c) Multifamily residences and large commercial buildings
14up to 10 stories in height shall have a solar energy system of
15a minimum generating capacity established by the Illinois
16Environmental Protection Agency, which may be based on the
17size of the roof, building type and occupancy, estimated
18average annual electricity use of similar buildings, or other
19factors.
20    (d) The Agency may require other categories of new
21buildings to have a solar energy system and set requirements
22for the minimum generating capacity of the solar energy
23system.
24    (e) Authorities may reduce the required minimum generating
25capacity of solar energy systems for single-family residences

 

 

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1by up to 25% if installed in conjunction with a battery storage
2system with a minimum capacity of 7.5 kilowatt-hours per
3dwelling unit.
4    (f) The Agency shall estimate the average annual
5electricity use for the categories of buildings described in
6this Section and revise its determination at least every 3
7years taking into account changes in electricity use because
8of energy-efficiency improvements, electric vehicle charging,
9electric heating and cooling technologies, building
10electrification, and other factors.
 
11    Section 25. Exemptions.
12    (a) Developers may seek an exemption from authorities from
13the requirements of Sections 15 and 20 of this Act upon a
14sufficient showing that the effective solar area is less than
1580 contiguous square feet. Developers may seek a reduction in
16the required generating capacity of a solar energy system upon
17a sufficient showing that the effective solar area is 80
18contiguous square feet or greater, but is insufficient to
19allow for the installation of a solar energy system meeting
20the minimum requirements established by the Agency.
21    (b) Developers may seek an exemption from authorities from
22the requirements of Sections 15 and 20 of this Act upon a
23sufficient showing that a substitute renewable energy system
24will be installed at the time of construction, generating an
25equal or greater amount of electricity on an annual basis as

 

 

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1the minimum required solar installation under Section 20 of
2this Act. Developers may seek a reduction in the required
3generating capacity of a solar energy system upon a sufficient
4showing that a substitute renewable energy system will be
5installed at the time of construction, generating sufficient
6electricity on an annual basis to offset the reduction in
7electricity produced by the solar energy system.
8    (c) Developers may seek an exemption from the inspector of
9buildings or building commissioner from the requirements of
10Sections 15 and 20 of this Act, or a reduction in the required
11generating capacity of a solar energy system, upon a
12sufficient showing that a solar hot water heater will be
13installed at the time of construction. Such exemption or
14reduction shall only be granted to the extent that the
15installation of a solar hot water heater reduces the portion
16of the effective solar area available for a solar energy
17system.
18    (d) The Agency may allow exemptions from the requirements
19of this Act for affordable housing developments after
20consulting with affordable housing developers and operators,
21community development corporations, organizations that
22represent affordable housing residents, and other
23stakeholders.
24    (e) The authorities shall promulgate regulations within
25one year of the effective date of this Act that clearly define
26the process for seeking an exemption.

 

 

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1    (f) The provisions of a building code adopted under this
2Act shall allow for the installation of a green roof in
3conjunction with a rooftop solar energy system.
 
4    Section 30. Future building codes.
5    (a) All future editions and amended versions of the
6building codes across the State, as adopted by the authorities
7shall include provisions meeting the requirements of Sections
815, 20, and 25 of this Act.
9    (b) The authorities, with the consent of the Agency, may
10from time to time revise the regulations promulgated under
11Sections 15, 20, and 25 of this Act, in accordance with changes
12in technology and building practices.
 
13    Section 35. Eligibility for other energy incentives.
14Compliance with the provisions of this Act shall not impair a
15building's eligibility for any incentives, rebates, credits,
16or other programs to encourage development of renewable energy
17sources.
 
18    Section 40. Compliance with this Act. A building permit
19for a new building may not be granted without showing that the
20building will comply with the requirements of this Act.
 
21    Section 45. Violations. Any person who fails to comply
22with or otherwise violates this Act is liable for a civil

 

 

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1administrative penalty not to exceed $10,000 for each
2violation, or twice the estimated additional cost that would
3have been incurred by constructing a building to meet the
4requirements of this Act, whichever is greater.
 
5    Section 50. Applicability. This Act applies to new
6buildings constructed after the effective date of this Act.