summary
Introduced
10/28/2025
10/28/2025
In Committee
10/28/2025
10/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Environmental Protection Act. Provides that, notwithstanding any provision of the Act, any rule adopted under the Act, or any term or condition in any permit issued under the Act, each natural gas-fired peaker power plant in the State may, to the extent allowed by federal law, be operated on up to a continuous basis beginning on the effective date of the amendatory Act and until 30 days after the date upon which the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency first posts on its website a notice that it has determined, based on data supplied to it annually by the Illinois Power Agency, that at least 21,000 MWe of new utility-scale renewable power generation capacity has been brought online in the State. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency to adopt any rules and to amend any existing permits as necessary to implement the provisions added by the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Illinois Environmental Protection Act to provide temporary flexibility for natural gas-fired peaker power plants, which are electricity-generating facilities designed to produce power during periods of high electrical demand. Specifically, the bill allows these power plants to operate on an essentially continuous basis from the bill's effective date until 30 days after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determines that at least 21,000 megawatts (MWe) of new utility-scale renewable energy generation has been brought online in the state. The bill defines a natural gas-fired peaker power plant as a natural gas-fired combustion turbine with a nameplate capacity over 25 MWe that was previously used primarily for meeting peak electrical demand. New utility-scale renewable power generation is defined as including wind, solar, and brownfield photovoltaic projects that come online after January 1, 2024. The bill directs the Illinois EPA to adopt necessary rules and amend existing permits to implement these provisions, with the legislation taking effect immediately upon becoming law. The primary purpose appears to be ensuring electrical grid reliability while transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Chris Balkema (on 10/29/2025)
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