Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB3399

Creates the Geothermal Homes and Business Act. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, the long-term renewable resources procurement plan developed by the Illinois Power Agency shall include a Geothermal Homes and Business Program for the procurement of geothermal renewable energy credits. Sets forth provisions concerning the geothermal heating and cooling system calculation methodology; Program block allocation; Program block pricing; approved vendors; contract terms; utility cost recovery; extenuating circumstances; administration of the Act by the Illinois Power Agency; and the prohibition of double claiming geothermal renewable energy credits. Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. In provisions concerning program establishment, provides that the Program shall function as a separate and distinct procurement program that does not draw from the allocation and funding of renewable energy credits from other sources. In provisions concerning program block allocation, provides that at least 33% (rather than 50%) of each annual block shall be reserved by systems that meet the Illinois Power Agency's definition of "residential". In provisions concerning project terms, provides that applicant firms shall have advanced capital disbursed before geothermal renewable energy credits are first generated (rather than after the geothermal heating and cooling system is operational but before geothermal renewable energy credits are first generated). In provisions concerning advanced capital, provides that the amount or percentage of capital advanced for residential systems (rather than for all systems) shall be at the discretion of the Agency by not less than 40% of the total contract. Provides that the amount or percentage of capital advanced for commercial, public, or environmental justice systems shall be at the discretion of the Agency. In provisions concerning contract terms, provides that each project shall be subject to the requirements of the Prevailing Wage Act. Provides that the Agency shall require verification that, for all construction for a project that was performed by a renewable energy credit delivery contract holder, its contractors, or its subcontractors, the construction employees received an amount for the work equal to or greater than the general prevailing rate. Provides that geothermal renewable energy credits for any single geothermal heating and cooling project that is 285 tons or larger and is procured after the effective date of the amendatory provisions shall be from a project built by general contractors that entered into a project labor agreement prior to construction. Provides that the project labor agreement shall be filed with the Director in accordance with procedures established by the Agency through its long-term renewable resources procurement plan. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Makes a change to the definition of "renewable energy resources". Amends the Public Utilities Act. In provisions concerning the recovery of costs associated with the provision of delivery and other services, provides that an electric utility shall be entitled to recover through tariffed charges all costs associated with the purchase of geothermal renewable energy credits pursuant to the Geothermal Homes and Businesses Act. In provisions concerning procurement, provides that, beginning with the delivery year commencing on June 1, 2026, an electric utility shall procure geothermal renewable energy credits in accordance with the applicable provisions set forth in the Geothermal Homes and Businesses Act. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

In provisions concerning the length of contracts under the Geothermal Homes and Businesses Program, provides that, for geothermal renewable energy credits that qualify and are procured under the Program, the length of a geothermal renewable energy credits delivery contract shall be 15 years (rather than 25 years). In provisions concerning the Illinois Power Agency administration of the Program, provides that the Agency may use any existing program administrator and applicable subcontractors to develop, administer, implement, operate, and evaluate the Program (rather than the Agency shall be authorized to retain one or more experts or expert consulting firms to develop, administer, implement, operate, and evaluate the Program and the Agency shall retain the consultant or consultants in the same manner, to the extent practicable, as the Agency retains others to administer provisions of this Act, including, but not limited to, the procurement administrator). Adds provisions concerning the cost recovery of generating units.

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