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Prior to 2007, wind energy devices generating electricity for commercial sale were assessed differently depending on where they were located. Some counties valued the entire turbine structure (tower plus generation equipment) as "real property", subject to taxation, while others deemed only the tower portion as taxable property. This difference in valuation procedure meant that the taxable value of identical wind turbines could vary by as much as 75% from county to county, creating dramatically different tax loads and complicating projects that cross county lines.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering grants for community-scale solar and wind projects located in Illinois. Eligible businesses can apply for up to 30% of project costs for solar thermal and wind and 25% for solar PV, and government and nonprofit entities can apply for up to 40% of project costs. Business photovoltaic (PV) projects are limited to $1.50/watt, and nonprofit and government PV projects are limited to $2.60/watt. Business wind projects are limited to $1.70/watt, and nonprofit and government projects are limited to $2.60/watt.

In 2002, Cook County enacted an ordinance requiring all new county buildings and all retrofitted county buildings to be built to LEED standards. Specifically, all newly constructed buildings and all buildings scheduled for capital improvement must be built to the LEED Green Building Rating System Certification requirements, and all retrofit projects must meet LEED Certification for Existing Buildings. All buildings must set a goal of obtaining 8 or more points in the LEED Energy and Atmosphere category.

Corn Belt Energy, through the Wabash Valley Power Association, offers business, school, and farm customers a variety of energy efficient rebates and incentives through its "Power Moves" program. Rebates are available in equipment areas such as:

Corn Belt Energy Corporation (CBEC), in association with the Wabash Valley Power Association, provides its customers with the "Power Moves" energy efficiency rebate program. Through this program, customers of Corn Belt Energy can receive rebates for geothermal, air-source, and dual fuel heat pumps, as well as electric and heat pump water heaters. To qualify for a rebate customers follow all program procedures and comply with all efficiency standards. Check CBEC's website for specific program guidelines and rebate terms.

'''The most recent application period closed April 30, 2012. Check the program web site for updates on future solicitations. '''

''Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the [http://www.energycodes.gov/states/ DOE] and [http://bcap-ocean.org/ BCAP] websites.''

The Chicago Energy Conservation Code (CECC) requires residential buildings applying for building permits to comply with energy efficient measures which go beyond those required by the [http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=I... Illinois Building Energy Code].

The City of Chicago encourages building design, construction and renovation in a manner that provides healthier environments, reduces operating costs and conserves energy and resources through their Green Permit Program. The Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) Green Permit Program provides developers and owners with an incentive to build green by streamlining the permit process timeline for projects which are designed to maximize indoor air quality and conserve energy and resources.

In June 2001, the City of Chicago signed an agreement with Commonwealth Edison and the Environmental Resources Trust to purchase 20% of its electricity from clean, renewable resources by the end of 2005. The city reached this goal in 2008, the city with a purchase of 215 million kWh of wind and biomass energy from MidAmerican Energy.