Governor JB Pritzker
Governor JB Pritzker has signed law protecting Illinois residents' rights to clean energy and access to solar energy. A revision of the Homeowners Energy Policy Act, HB 644, will guarantee homeowners' right to install solar systems in their home without major redesign requirements, while improving the deadline for approval by a Homeowners Association (HOA).
This bill will allow greater use of customer-side power generation, such as rooftop solar panels, by recognizing the right of all Illinois residents to generate and store their own clean electricity. Rooftop solar enables people to generate their own electricity on their own property and store it in a battery to make it resilient even in the event of grid failures.
Regulations have hampered the increased interest in solar energy, but this new law ensures that every resident can benefit equitably and equitably from the clean energy future of Illinois.
“The benefits of this legislation extend well beyond any single roof,” said Colleen Smith, associate director of the Illinois Environmental Council. “We can make significant strides in reducing carbon emissions and meeting our climate goals by getting everyone involved.