Illinois Commerce Commission Approves 1.55 GW of Renewable Energy Projects

On June 24, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved the results of the IPA's Summer 2026 Indexed REC procurement event for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from utility-scale solar, utility-scale wind, and hydropower projects. Following the ICC approval, contracts were awarded to support the development of 1.55 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy generation projects in Illinois: one hydropower project (10.26 MW), three new utility-scale wind projects (800 MW), and four new utility-scale solar projects (740 MW). Seven of the eight winning projects are proposed to be located at least 50% within an Energy Transition Community Grant Area or in or adjacent to a Hydropower Preference Community.

The Agency's procurement administrator, NERA Economic Consulting, issued the Summer 2026 Utility-Scale Wind/Hydropower, Utility-Scale Solar and Brownfield Photovoltaic RFP on behalf of the IPA to procure 2,500,000 RECs to be delivered annually from new utility-scale wind projects, new hydropower projects at an existing dam, or modernized or retooled hydropower projects at an existing dam; 1,300,000 RECs to be delivered annually from new utility-scale solar projects; and 266,271 RECs to be delivered annually from new brownfield site photovoltaic projects. A total of 2,495,349 annual RECs were procured in the Utility-Scale Wind/Hydropower category, while 1,598,797 annual RECs were procured in the Utility-Scale Solar category. No brownfield photovoltaic RECs were procured in this event.

These results mark another positive step in Illinois' renewable energy development and diversification, including the first hydropower project to be awarded a contract in an Indexed REC procurement event, and continued growth in utility-scale renewable energy development. This procurement moves Illinois closer to meeting its Renewable Portfolio Standard goals and a reliable, affordable, and sustainable clean energy future.

For more information, please refer to the ICC's Final Order.