Frequently Asked Questions

Disparity studies are a means of providing a factual basis for determining whether there are equal opportunities for all firms in the procurement process and support the need, if any, for race or gender conscious, remedial procurement programs. The Study will engage in a review of IPA’s solar incentive programs and competitive procurements process, availability and utilization in contracts by all vendors, including Minority-owned and Women-owned business enterprises to analyze whether race or gender has been a barrier in equal access to public contracts for all business owners.

This Study will cover State agency spending (not limited to Illinois Power Agency) within the clean energy sector through State programs, policies, and initiatives. If the actual utilization of firms is less than what is expected based on firms that are ready, willing, and able to perform on clean energy projects (“Availability”), then a “disparity” exists. The Study will also determine whether the disparity is statistically significant enough to suggest whether any action should be taken and whether factors other than race or gender are likely to have caused the disparity.

This Study will also analyze the availability, employment, and advancement rates of workers in the Energy Workforce by evaluating the State’s Energy Workforce and economic development programs.

A disparity study process is broken out into several major parts, including statistical and econometric analysis, legal and purchasing practices analysis, regression based analysis in the public and private sectors, anecdotal evidence analysis, and findings and recommendations. This Study will also encompass an evaluation of the State’s workforce programs. G&S will be collecting data from Illinois Power Agency, and other relevant State Agencies, that will be necessary to determine utilization of firms and workers within the marketplace. Legal Partner, David Maher, and Legal Associate, Morgan Wilson, Esq., will conduct policy review and interviews to understand the internal procurement processes and procedures relative to the State’s clean energy programs and initiatives. Our Data Analysts, Kalvin Walden, and Ala’a Mohammed will then analyze the data to determine the availability and utilization of the study groups. Economist, Dr. Jason Coupet, will then work with available data to determine, through econometric analyses and an analysis of the private and public sectors, whether identified disparities can be attributed to the race and/or gender status of firm owners. Senior Economist, Dr. Gregory Price will be leading the workforce evaluation analysis.

Anecdotal evidence is also crucial to any recommendations we may make to the Illinois Power Agency. Our anecdotal evidence includes the following:

• Survey of business owners across all work categories. Firms throughout Illinois’ clean energy will be contacted; inviting them to complete the survey.
• In-depth anecdotal interviews with businesses and workers in the area, selected randomly from a list of available vendors.
• Focus groups of randomly selected business owners and workers to share their experiences in accessing, participating, and advancing in the clean energy sector.
• Email comments, informational meetings and public hearings which will all be open to the public.

Check the website Events tab for times and locations of scheduled events.

Other relevant study processes include an analysis of the State’s clean energy legal environment, both locally and federally, and a purchasing practices analysis to better understand the procurement process, as well as navigating through the many policies, programs, and initiatives that create the foundation for business and labor workforce access and participation within the State’s clean energy sector. The Study team will conduct interviews with Illinois Power Agency procurement staff regarding their procurement process and the current procurement policies to review whether any barriers to participation exist in the procurement process.

Finally, G&S will compile a final report containing all the findings from the research above and will provide recommendations to Illinois Power Agency and other relevant State Agencies regarding the inclusion and alleviation of barriers for minority business and workers within the Illinois clean energy sector

G&S is a law and public policy consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA, with extensive experience in disparity research, program development and supplier diversity consulting. For more information, see: Who We Are or visit us at gspclaw.com.

It is G&S’s goal to have gathered the most representative anecdotal evidence as possible from all firms currently in businesses and working or desiring to participate within the clean energy sector. We desire to understand both the practical challenges and barriers, as well as the positive experiences faced by businesses and workers within the marketplace. Your participation would provide further insight into the State’s practices and may shed new light on an area for improvement or substantiate those recounted by others. It is only with your assistance that we will be able to provide the Illinois Power Agency with substantive recommendations that can make a real impact on their policies and your experiences moving forward.

G&S will be conducting informational meetings and public hearings that are open to the public as well as several focus groups and anecdotal interviews by invitation. We invite business owners and other community members to attend and share their experiences. We will also be posting information about the Study and all related events on this website. Feel free to share your experiences with us by emailing us at IPAStudy@gspclaw.com. You can also do the following:

• State your experiences at scheduled meetings
  • Attend an informational meeting, public hearings and/or focus groups. We invite all, including non-business owners, that are interested, to attend and share their experiences at public meetings.
• Tell us your story at your convenience
  • For those who may be generally uncomfortable providing their input in public arenas or who are unable to participate in any other way but, would like to share their experiences doing business within the Illinois clean energy economy, G&S welcomes comments and questions regarding the Study via email.
• When can we read the Study?
  • The projected completion date for the entire Study is September 2026. Publication of the Study results will be determined by Illinois Power Agency and not by Griffin & Strong.