The Illinois Power Agency published a Stakeholder Feedback Request for the IPA’s Equity Database (“Request”). A PDF version is available.

Per Section 1-75(c-25) of the IPA Act, the Energy Workforce Equity Database should be publicly available, “searchable database of suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors for clean energy industries” that may be organized by company specialty or by region, and should include “contracts for suppliers, vendors, or subcontractors who are minority and women-owned business enterprise certified or who participate or have participated in any of the programs” created by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (“CEJA”). Additionally, the Agency is tasked with creating a public-facing online tool that, among other features, includes job postings and recruiting opportunities [and] a means by which recruiting clean energy companies can find and interact with current or former participants of clean energy workforce training programs.

The agency requests feedback on what functionality and data collection regarding Equity Eligible Persons and entities are seeking to hire Equity Eligible Persons should be included in the Comprehensive Database. This is meant to help ensure that the Comprehensive Database can facilitate entities’ efforts related to meeting the Minimum Equity Standards.

This is a preliminary request for feedback and the Agency anticipates seeking additional feedback based on the initial responses received. Stakeholder feedback received on the proposal discussed will be considered for the development of the initial Energy Workforce Equity Database with the target of having that initial database available by the end of 2022 to provide core functionality to the clean energy market.

Written responses to the Request for Stakeholder Feedback should be submitted to the IPA by October 26, 2022, via email to IPA.Solar@illinois.gov with the subject “Responder’s Name – Response to Energy Workforce Equity Database Feedback Request.”