Description

The State of Illinois Renewable Energy Resources Program (RERP) promotes the development of smale scale distributed wind and solar systems in Illinois. This program is funded by the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund – the state’s public benefits fund – and is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

The Department is no longer accepting applications for the FY 2015 Solar and Wind Rebate Program. The anticipated opening of the FY 2016 program is late this Summer. See website for highlights of the FY 2015 program.
 

The program is open to customers of investor-owned and municipal utilities, as well as electric cooperatives, which impose the Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge. A list of participating utilities is available on the program website. Eligible applicants include individuals, businesses, associations, public and private schools, colleges and universities, public sector entities, and nonprofit organizations. Rebates are available to applicants that contribute a minimum of 25% of the total project cost (applicant investment or in coordination with financial partners). Applicants may utilize funds from other incentive programs as well, so long as the total incentive from additional programs plus the RERP rebate does not exceed 75% of the project cost (this includes the Federal Individual Tax Credit).

Solar and Wind Equipment Requirements

Photovoltaic (PV) systems must have a rated design capacity of at least 1 kilowatt (kW) and either be listed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or have successfully completed at least one year of field testing. Solar-thermal systems must have a rated design capacity of at least 0.5 therms or 50,000 Btus per day and be approved by the Solar Rating Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable organization. Solar pool-heating systems are eligible for funding only if the pool is open to the general public on a regular basis. With respect to expansions to existing solar-energy systems, only those costs directly related to new panels (equipment and installation) are eligible for funding. Costs associated with new pumps, storage or any other balance-of-system components for expansion projects -– except for new panels –- are ineligible.

Wind energy systems must have a rated nameplate capacity ranging from 1 to 100 kilowatts. Eligible systems must be mounted on a tower of at least 60 feet in height on a land parcel of 1 acre or more. Applicants must also submit documentation verifying that the wind resource at the project site is suitable for wind generation (see the application for details). DCEO may consider urban turbines or other innovative design systems. All systems must be installed by a licensed, bonded and insured professional. For homeowners that choose to self-install systems, only the equipment costs will be eligible for the rebate. Systems certified by the Small Wind Certification Council (SWCC) are recommended. Systems not certified by SWCC will qualify for smaller rebates.