(525 ILCS 55/1)
Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Pollinator-Friendly Solar Site Act.
(Source: P.A. 100-1022, eff. 8-21-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
(525 ILCS 55/5)
Sec. 5. Definitions. In this Act:
"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.
"Exotic weed" has the same meaning ascribed to the term in Section 2 of the Illinois Exotic Weed Act.
"Noxious weed" has the same meaning ascribed to the term in Section 2 of the Illinois Noxious Weed Law.
(Source: P.A. 100-1022, eff. 8-21-18.)
(525 ILCS 55/10)
Sec. 10. Site management practices. An owner of a ground-mounted solar site may follow practices that: (1) provide native perennial vegetation and foraging habitat which is beneficial to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators; and (2) reduce storm water runoff and erosion at the solar site. To the extent practicable, if establishing perennial vegetation and beneficial foraging habitat, a solar site owner or manager shall use native plant species and seed mixes that are free from noxious weed or exotic weed seeds.
(Source: P.A. 100-1022, eff. 8-21-18.)
(525 ILCS 55/15)
Sec. 15. Recognition of beneficial habitat. An owner or manager of a solar site with a generating capacity of more than 40 kilowatts implementing site management practices under this Act may claim that the site is "pollinator-friendly" or provides benefits to game birds, songbirds, and pollinators only if the site adheres to guidance set forth by the pollinator-friendly scorecard published by the Department in consultation with the University of Illinois, Department of Entomology. The scorecard shall be posted on the Department's website on or before 6 months after the effective date of this Act. An owner making a beneficial habitat claim shall make the solar site's pollinator scorecard, and where available, related vegetation management plans, available to the public and provide a copy to the Department and a nonprofit solar industry trade association of this State.
(Source: P.A. 100-1022, eff. 8-21-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)
(525 ILCS 55/99)
Sec. 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.
(Source: P.A. 100-1022, eff. 8-21-18.)