The Illinois Shines program officially opened its 2025-26 Program Year this week, bringing 800 MW of new solar capacity to the table across six project categories. The program, formally known as the Adjustable Block Program, is managed by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) and plays a key role in accelerating solar development across the state. It also places a strong emphasis on equity, consumer protection and workforce inclusion.
This year’s program launch marks the seventh year of Illinois Shines, which has seen steady growth since its inception in 2019. “The IPA is incredibly excited to announce the start of the seventh year of Illinois Shines, one of our flagship solar incentive programs. Solar energy in Illinois has meaningfully grown year-over-year since the Program’s inception in 2019, and this year is no exception,” said Jim Rouland, Planning and Procurement Bureau Chief at the IPA. “With the Program’s equity initiatives continuing to blossom, the Agency is proud to celebrate another year of supporting new renewable energy that benefits all Illinoisians.”
The 2025-26 Program Year builds on the progress of previous cycles by strengthening equity-driven initiatives and streamlining access for solar developers and customers alike. These include continued implementation of the Consumer Protection Initiatives outlined in the 2024 Long-Term Plan, further development of the Mentorship Program, and added resources for public schools looking to transition to solar energy.
A central component of Illinois Shines is the Minimum Equity Standard (MES), part of the Equity Accountability System (EAS) created in response to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Under the MES, solar vendors and project participants are required to ensure that at least 14 percent of their workforce is composed of Equity Eligible Persons (EEPs). According to the IPA’s recent assessment, compliance has been strong, with 78 percent of program participants meeting or exceeding that threshold.
Another area of notable growth is the Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) category, which grew to 114 participating vendors during the 2024-25 cycle. Since launching in 2022, the EEC category now accounts for 11 percent of the program’s vendor network. The IPA has expressed its continued commitment to providing support for EEC Approved Vendors, Designees and Subcontractors as this category expands.
The Mentorship Program, aimed at small businesses and minority-, woman-, veteran- and disability-owned companies, continues to evolve as well. Originally piloted in 2023 and fully launched last year, the program will now expand to multiple sessions in 2025-26, increasing the number of mentee cohorts supported throughout the year.
“Entering our fourth year of partnership with the IPA, it’s inspiring to see the Agency’s vision for Illinois Shines continually expand to meet stakeholder needs,” said Patrice Flynn, Senior Director of Distributed Energy Resources at Energy Solutions. “As the Program Administrator, we are proud to continue strengthening consumer protections through new initiatives and to support current and new solar vendors through the mentorship program, as we help further the IPA’s mission to make the benefits of renewable energy accessible for all Illinois residents and businesses.”
Public education is another focus for this year. Illinois Shines will debut new tools and outreach efforts aimed at helping public schools explore and adopt solar energy. The program will offer on-demand webinars for schools that have completed the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment, provide tailored one-on-one workshops for districts seeking individualized guidance and promote newly published case studies that highlight successful school solar projects.
With its strong equity framework, mentorship pathways, and resources for schools and small businesses, Illinois Shines continues to be a national model for inclusive solar program design. As noted by Solar Power World, the 2025-26 program year reaffirms the state’s commitment to expanding clean energy access while ensuring that the benefits reach all corners of Illinois.