Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Members to Host Webinar on the Right to Self Generate Solar Energy

Contact: Hannah Flath, hannahlee.flath@sierraclub.org, 860-634-0225 

In partnership with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, Prairie Rivers Network, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Sierra Club Illinois, Vote Solar, Faith in Place, the Climate Economy Education, Inc., Macedonia Development Corporation, Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA), Illinois Renewable Energy Association (IREA), Sustainable Springfield, Inc., and Greater Highland Area Concerned Citizens are hosting a conversation on Tuesday, February 8 about increasing access to solar energy for electric customers in municipal and rural electric cooperative territory. 

WHO: 

• John Delurey, Vote Solar
• MIchelle Knox, WindSolarUSA, Inc. 
• MeLena Hessel, Environmental Law & Policy Center 

WHAT: Town Hall about increasing access to solar energy for electric customers in municipal and rural electric cooperative territories and their right to self generate solar energy. 

WHERE: Virtual on Zoom — register at https://bit.ly/selfgeneratesolar (REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

WHEN: Tuesday, February 8, 2022 | 6:00 PM

Signed into law by Governor JB Pritzker in September of 2021, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) sets Illinois on a path to a 100% clean energy future by 2050. This law says that electric customers have the “right to self generate” their electricity. However, questions remain regarding barriers to this right to self generate electricity for customers of municipal-run and rural electric cooperatives. Various policies at munipal-run and rural electric cooperatives limit customers’ right to self generate electricity, such as out-of-pocket infrastructure costs, real-time and short-term reconciliation, monthly solar fees, prohibition of Power Purchase Agreements, and excessive insurance requirements. Join us to explore these barriers and learn how these companies can adopt policies that recognize the benefits of solar energy, allow customers to connect their systems to the grid, and fairly compensate them for the electricity they generate.