ENTERPRISE ZONE-SOLAR & WIND

104th Regular Session Introduced by Li Arellano and 2 co-sponsors

Requires local written approval from the relevant municipality or county before DCEO can designate a new wind or utility-scale solar project as a High Impact Business.

Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Chris Balkema

SB 1648 — “Enterprise Zone — Solar & Wind” (summary)

Note: The documents provided appear to include text from multiple, different bills and jurisdictions (including Arizona and Hawaii). This summary focuses on the Illinois provisions titled “Enterprise Zone Act — High Impact Business” (SB 1648 as introduced by Sen. Sue Rezin), which match the bill title “ENTERPRISE ZONE‑SOLAR & WIND.” Verify the official enrolled text for final legal language.

Main purpose

Amend the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act to require local (municipal or county) written approval before the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) may designate a business that intends to establish a new wind power facility or a utility‑scale solar facility as a “High Impact Business.” The bill makes conforming updates to the Prevailing Wage Act. The change is designed to give local governments a direct role in approving enterprise‑zone/high‑impact designations for large renewable generation projects.

Key provisions

Adds a requirement to Section 5.5 of the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act: DCEO may designate a business proposing to build a new wind power facility or a utility‑scale solar facility as a “High Impact Business” only if the municipality (or county, for unincorporated areas) where the facility will be located provides written approval of that designation.

Makes conforming changes in the Prevailing Wage Act (to reflect the new local‑approval requirement where relevant).

The draft includes definitional language for wind facilities/devices (e.g., a “wind energy device” defined in the text as having a nameplate capacity of at least 0.5 megawatts), consistent with the enterprise‑scale focus of the amendment.

Effective immediately upon enactment (per the introduced version’s stated effective date).

Who would be affected

Developers and investors proposing utility‑scale wind or solar generation projects seeking “High Impact Business” status and related incentives under the Enterprise Zone Act.

Municipal governments and county boards (they gain an explicit approval role).

DCEO (administration of designations) and contractors/unionized labor (via Prevailing Wage Act conforming changes).

Local communities, which would have greater influence over whether large renewable projects receive state high‑impact benefits.

Potential impacts and considerations

Increases local control and community input for siting large renewable energy projects that seek state incentive designations.

Could slow or complicate the process for developers if municipal or county approval is withheld or delayed.

May shift negotiating leverage to local governments in exchange for incentives or community benefits.

The Prevailing Wage Act conforming changes could affect project labor cost obligations and contracting.

Procedural status (selected)

Introduced (Illinois) 02/05/2025 by Sen. Sue Rezin; first reading and referred to Assignments. Companion: HB 2767.

Sponsors and committee actions may vary; confirm current status with the Illinois General Assembly docket.

If you want, I can:
- Pull the exact, final amendment language from the Illinois General Assembly website;
- Compare the introduced and any amended versions; or
- Produce a one‑page checklist for developers or local governments describing steps required under this change.