Education + Resources

Beginning January 1, 2026 , new Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) compliance rules will fundamentally change how U.S. solar and storage projects qualify for federal incentives — and reshape project economics across the commercial and industrial energy market. Until then, the industry is operating in a rare, high-value window. Current federal, state, and utility incentives can still offset 70–120% of total project costs , but that equation is starting to shift. FEOC restriction

For Illinois manufacturers and commercial operators, the Energy Community Bonus  represents one of the most under recognized — and financially powerful — additions to the federal solar incentive stack. If your facility is located in an eligible census tract, you can add an extra 10% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on top of the 30% base credit. Combined with state programs like Illinois Shines and utility rebates, this bonus often pushes projects from “strong ROI” to “net positi

In our previous post , we detailed the unprecedented financial opportunity available to Illinois manufacturers — a rare alignment of Federal, State, and Utility programs that can offset 70–120% of solar project costs before 2026 . The economic “why”  is clear, but the execution “how”  determines whether your facility captures full value or misses the optimal window. This post breaks down the realistic 6–8 month timeline, key milestones, and next steps every Illinois manufactu

Illinois manufacturers can currently offset 70-120% of solar project costs through stackable incentives. Manufacturing facilities across Illinois are executing projects right now  where combined federal, state, and utility incentives exceed net system cost — creating immediate capital improvement while locking in fixed energy costs for 25+ years. Starting in 2026, FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) restrictions will apply, potentially increasing project costs by 15-20% or more

The objection:   "We don't have enough tax liability to use the 30% Investment Tax Credit." The reality:   You don't need it anymore. Since the Inflation Reduction Act introduced tax credit transferability in 2022, manufacturers can convert federal solar tax credits directly to cash — regardless of tax position. The numbers speak for themselves: The transferability market reached $60 billion in 2025 , with solar and storage projects dominating transactions. Corporate buyers a