COUNTIES-WIND & SOLAR ENERGY

This bill allows counties in Illinois to keep their existing rules about wind and solar energy facilities, even if those rules conflict with recent state law changes. Specifically, it ensures that any zoning ordinances related to these energy sources that were in place before January 27, 2023, can still be enforced. This means counties can maintain their previous regulations without having to adapt to new laws.

IL HB1201 is a house bill in the Illinois 104th General Assembly, sponsored by Jason Bunting (R), currently “Introduced” since January 9, 2025.

We track 10,997 Illinois bills this session, 11 of them sponsored by Jason Bunting.

Supporters of the bill argue that it protects local control and allows counties to make decisions that best fit their communities regarding renewable energy development. They believe it helps preserve established zoning laws that have been carefully crafted over time, ensuring stability for both local governments and energy developers.

Critics of the bill contend that it undermines progress towards renewable energy by allowing outdated regulations to remain in place. They argue that this could hinder the development of new wind and solar projects in Illinois, ultimately slowing down the state's transition to cleaner energy sources and limiting opportunities for innovation in the energy sector.