Illinois § 15-10

§ 15-10.

Definitions. As used in this Act: "Alternative energy improvement" means the installation or upgrade of electrical wiring, outlets, or charging stations to charge a motor vehicle that is fully or partially powered by electricity; photovoltaic, energy storage, or thermal resource; or any combination thereof. "Disadvantaged worker" means an individual who is defined as: (1) being homeless; (2) being a custodial single parent; (3) being a recipient of public assistance; (4) lacking a high school diploma or high school equivalency; (5) having a criminal record or other involvement in the criminal justice system; (6) suffering from chronic unemployment; (7) being previously in the child welfare system; or (8) being a veteran. "Energy efficiency improvement" means equipment, devices, or materials intended to decrease energy consumption or promote a more efficient use of electricity, natural gas, propane, or other forms of energy on property, including, but not limited to: (1) insulation in walls, roofs, floors, foundations, or heating and cooling distribution systems; (2) storm windows and doors, multi-glazed windows and doors, heat-absorbing or heat-reflective glazed and coated window and door systems, and additional glazing, reductions in glass area, and other window and door system modifications that reduce energy consumption; (3) automated energy control systems; (4) high efficiency heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning and distribution system modifications or replacements; (5) caulking, weather-stripping, and air sealing; (6) replacement or modification of lighting fixtures to reduce the energy use of the lighting system; (7) energy controls or recovery systems; (8) day lighting systems; (9) any energy efficiency project, as defined in Section 825-65 of the Illinois Finance Authority Act; and (10) any other installation or modification of equipment, devices, or materials approved as a utility cost-saving measure by the governing body. "Energy project" means the installation or modification of an alternative energy improvement, energy efficiency improvement, or water use improvement, or the acquisition, installation, or improvement of a renewable energy system that is affixed to a stabilized existing property, including new construction. "Environmental justice communities" means the proposed definition of that term based on existing methodologies and findings used by the Illinois Power Agency and its Administrator in its Illinois Solar for All Program. "Equity investment eligible community" or "eligible community" are synonymous and mean the geographic areas throughout Illinois which would most benefit from equitable investments by the State designed to combat discrimination and foster sustainable economic growth. Specifically, eligible communities shall be defined as the following areas: (1) R3 Areas as established pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, where residents have historically been excluded from economic opportunities, including opportunities in the energy sector; and (2) Environmental justice communities, as defined by the Illinois Power Agency pursuant to the Illinois Power Agency Act, where residents have historically been subject to disproportionate burdens of pollution, including pollution from the energy sector. "Equity investment eligible person" or "eligible person" are synonymous and mean the persons who would most benefit from equitable investments by the State designed to combat discrimination and foster sustainable economic growth. Specifically, "eligible person" means the following people: (1) a person whose primary residence is in an equity investment eligible community; (2) a person who is a graduate of or currently enrolled in the foster care system; or (3) a person who was formerly incarcerated. "Governing body" means the county board or board of county commissioners of a county, the city council of a municipality, or the board of trustees of a village. "Local Employment Plan" means a bidding option that public agencies may include in requests for proposals to incentivize bidders to voluntarily plan to retain and create high-skilled local manufacturing jobs; invest in preapprenticeship, apprenticeship, and training opportunities; and develop family-sustaining career pathways into clean energy industries for disadvantaged workers in a specified local area. The Local Employment Plan only applies to work that is not financed with federal money. "Local unit of government" means a county, municipality, or village. "Natural climate solutions" means conservation, restoration, or improved land management actions that increase carbon storage or avoid greenhouse gas emissions on natural and working lands. "Nature-based approaches for climate adaptation" means actions that preserve, enhance, or expand functions provided by nature that increase capacity to manage adverse conditions created or exacerbated by climate change. "Nature-based approaches for climate adaptation" includes, but is not limited to, the restoration of native ecosystems, especially floodplains; installation of bioswales, rain gardens, and other green stormwater infrastructure; and practices that increase soil health and reduce urban heat island effects. "Public agency" means the State of Illinois or any of its government bodies and subdivisions, including the various counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, educational service regions, special road districts, public water supply districts, drainage districts, levee districts, sewer districts, housing authorities, and transit agencies. "Renewable energy resource" includes energy and its associated renewable energy credit or renewable energy credits from wind energy, solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, photovoltaic cells and panels, biodiesel, anaerobic digestion, and hydropower that does not involve new construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams. For purposes of this Act, landfill gas produced in the State is considered a renewable energy resource. "Renewable energy resource" does not include the incineration or burning of any solid material. "Renewable energy system" means a fixture, product, device, or interacting group of fixtures, products, or devices on the customer's side of the meter that use one or more renewable energy resources to generate electricity, and specifically includes any renewable energy project, as defined in Section 825-65 of the Illinois Finance Authority Act. "U.S. Employment Plan" means a bidding option that public agencies may include in requests for proposals to incentivize bidders to voluntarily plan to retain and create high-skilled U.S. manufacturing jobs; invest in preapprenticeship, apprenticeship, and training opportunities; and develop family-sustaining career pathways into clean energy industries for disadvantaged workers throughout the U.S. The U.S. Employment Plan only applies to work financed with federal Money. "Water use improvement" means any fixture, product, system, device, or interacting group thereof for or serving any property that has the effect of conserving water resources through improved water management, efficiency, or thermal resource. (Source: P.A. 102-662, eff. 9-15-21.)