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IL SB4020

IL SB4020
DISTRICT ENERGY STORAGE


summary

Introduced
02/06/2026
In Committee
02/06/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

104th General Assembly

Bill Summary

Creates the District Energy and Thermal Energy Storage Parity Act. Provides that the Illinois Commerce Commission, in consultation with Environmental Protection Agency, shall establish an optional certification process for Qualified District Energy Infrastructure. Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to support certain projects. Provides that, within 180 days after the effective date of the Act, the Commission shall initiate a docketed proceeding to develop standardized thermal service agreement templates, suitable for developer financing and underwriting, and minimum requirements for customer rate stabilization options. Provides that a developer shall obtain a District Energy Feasibility Assessment from a qualified preparer for certain projects. Sets forth requirements for the content of the District Energy Feasibility Assessment. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department to develop and make available to units of local government a municipal alignment toolkit to facilitate the development and expansion of district energy systems. Requires the Department to establish and administer a district energy expansion program to support the development expansion, modernization, and decarbonization of district energy systems in the State. Amends the Illinois Finance Authority Act. Provides that the Authority may provide loans, credit enhancements, interest rate buydowns, loan loss reserves, or other financial assistance for the development, construction, expansion, or operation of the Qualified Energy Infrastructure and Dispatchable Thermal Energy Storage. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act. Creates the Thermal Energy Storage Credit procurement program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy evaluation in State procurements. Amends the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning exemptions. Amends the Property Tax Code. Defines "commercial energy storage system". Amends the Public Utilities Act. Sets forth provisions concerning district energy enabling measures and heat recovery incentives. Makes other changes.

AI Summary

This bill, the District Energy and Thermal Energy Storage Parity Act, aims to modernize Illinois's energy infrastructure by promoting district energy systems and thermal energy storage. It establishes an optional certification process for "Qualified District Energy Infrastructure" and creates a grant program to support related projects. The Illinois Commerce Commission will develop standardized thermal service agreements and customer rate stabilization options, while requiring developers to conduct feasibility assessments for certain projects. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will provide local governments with a toolkit to aid in district energy development and administer a program to support the expansion, modernization, and decarbonization of these systems. The Illinois Finance Authority is empowered to offer financial assistance for qualified energy infrastructure and dispatchable thermal energy storage. Additionally, the bill creates a Thermal Energy Storage Credit procurement program through the Illinois Power Agency and mandates the evaluation of district energy in State procurements. It also modifies tax laws to provide exemptions for certain energy storage property and defines "commercial energy storage system" for property tax purposes. Finally, it requires utilities to establish or expand rebate programs for district energy enabling measures and heat recovery incentives.

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Referred to Assignments (on 02/06/2026)

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