State of Solar in Illinois: What’s Next for Incentives and Taxation

About the presenters:

Lisa Albrecht
Renewable Energy Specialist, Solar Service Inc. (since 2007)
Vice President/Policy Committee, Illinois Solar Energy Association (2007 – 2010 & since 2012)

Lisa Albrecht designs & sells solar energy systems featuring both solar hot water and photovoltaic technologies> She joined Solar Service, one of the oldest solar installers in the country and a premier design/installation company in the Chicago area. She assists home owners and businesses analyze their opportunities to implement solar hot water and photovoltaic technology.

She is also a volunteer board member for the ISEA, serving from 2007 – 2010 and then from 2012 to present. She served as the Policy Co-Chair for 5 year, working to advance strong solar policy in IL and advocate for solar friendly policies at cities & municipalities. From her first science fair project in the 7th grade, to lobbying in the halls of the U.S. Congress and Illinois State Senate, Lisa’s passion for the environment is only superseded by her commitment to providing families, small and large companies with the best the sun has to offer.

Bill Lyons
Bill Lyons is a Technical Project Lead at Elevate Energy, a nonprofit organization dedicated designing and implementing efficiency programs that lower costs, protect the environment, and ensure the benefits of energy efficiency reach those who need them most. In this role he supports a variety of projects with technical assistance and research. He also supports Elevate Energy’s solar programs with photovoltaic design work and research. Additionally, Bill conducts on-site energy assessments of multifamily buildings, recommends cost-effective upgrades to building owners, and assists these owners through the construction and financing of these upgrades.

Prior to joining Elevate Energy, Bill taught high-school physics at Walter Payton College Prep, a Chicago public school and coached the Science Olympiad team there. He also lead students on international service projects to build houses in Equador and Guatemala in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, International.

Bill also worked for Spire Solar Chicago designing and installing photovoltaic systems in and around Chicago. In this role, has installed ground mounted systems, roof mounted systems, ballasted pan systems, PV awnings, PV shade structures and Building Integrated PV.

Mr Lyons is a Certified Passive House Consultant, CPHC, a LEED Green Associate , a member of the Passive House Alliance U.S., the Illinois Solar Energy Association and the American Solar Energy Society.

Brian Granahan
Brian Granahan is the Chief Legal Counsel of the Illinois Power Agency, an independent state agency tasked with developing procurement plans and conducting energy, capacity, and renewable energy resource procurement events, including the development of the state’s Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan for implementing Illinois’s recently-updated Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard. Brian began his career as an associate with Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago and worked as clean energy advocate and staff attorney with Environment Illinois before shifting to the public sector, and serving as a policy advisor to Chairman Manny Flores and Chairman Doug Scott at the Illinois Commerce Commission. Prior to joining the IPA in 2014, Brian was a Vice President with the strategic consulting firm of Tur Partners LLC working to incubate a startup low-profit, limited liability company (L3C) focused on cleantech adoption by municipal governments. Brian holds a B.S. from the University of Iowa and a J.D. from New York University, is a former board member of the Illinois Environmental Council and Green Economy Chicago, and is a current board member of the Clean Energy States Alliance.