Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act represents leadership in the face of clean energy rollbacks
SPRINGFIELD, IL—Governor JB Pritzker once again showed Illinois’s national leadership today in signing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA). Comprised of several programs, CRGA ensures substantially more battery storage will be built in Illinois, facilitates more investment in renewable energy resources, creates an innovative virtual power plant (VPP) program, and strengthens energy efficiency programs.
“Illinois residents are dealing with rising energy costs due to historic demand. The solution is to find ways to create new energy resources, and Illinois is showing how all states can get that done,” said Samarth Medakkar, Illinois Policy Lead for Advanced Energy United. “Governor Pritzker and Illinois legislators are setting a national example for how to respond to the energy affordability crisis.”
Energy demand is rising, but regional backlogs for connecting new energy generation projects, as well as federal roadblocks, are slowing or cancelling wind and solar development. These dynamics have led to a supply crunch that is driving up utility bills. Furthermore, new natural gas turbines face supply chain constraints which make renewables and battery storage the only viable near-term solutions to deliver new supply.
“CRGA will spur in-state energy production and make use of the energy resources already in Illinois homes and businesses, limiting the need for importing energy from other states or extending the life of outdated, costly generators,” added Medakkar. Prior to CRGA, Illinois lacked a policy framework capable of supporting energy storage development in its restructured market. The new law sets a target for 3 GW of storage capacity by 2031. The battery storage provisions alone will save utility consumers $13 billion over 20 years, according to the Illinois Power Agency. As large-scale batteries are deployed later this decade, CRGA's VPP program and energy efficiency programs will deliver relief sooner.
A recent report from the Illinois Power Agency highlights the critical role new battery storage will play in meeting the state’s electricity needs, regardless of fossil fuel retirements. The power grid must evolve to meet the moment. CRGA gives the state tools to build the most reliable and affordable system by deploying cost-effective, scalable advanced energy technologies on the grid and in homes and businesses.
Advanced Energy United applauds the Pritzker Administration and the many legislators, including Representatives Jay Hoffman, Robyn Gabel, Marcus Evans, and Ann Williams, and Senators Steve Stadelman and Bill Cunningham, who convened hundreds of stakeholders to craft comprehensive legislation to move the state forward.