HB3758/SB2497 solidifies Illinois’ leadership as national officials back away from clean energy

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., February 25, 2025 – Illinois families and businesses would see lower energy bills under HB3758/SB2497, a newly filed bill by Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) and Rep. Marcus Evans (D-Chicago).

“With energy prices skyrocketing across the country and leaders in Washington opening the floodgates for fossil fuels, our bill makes it clear that Illinois will remain at the forefront of lowering energy costs while investing in clean energy,” Sen. Cunningham said. “HB3758/SB2497 proves to the nation that we don’t have to choose between taking care of our communities, our economy, and our planet.”

Sen. Cunningham and Rep. Evans introduced HB3758/SB2497 at a time when everyday essentials, from eggs to gas, are getting more expensive due to a multitude of factors at the national level. The legislation aims to address an energy crisis caused by rapid inflation, steep tariffs on many goods used to build and maintain energy infrastructure, and a projected energy deficit for Illinois. The bill would also address and rectify significant delays in connecting clean energy projects to regional energy grids.

The bill would save consumers $2.4 billion on energy bills over the next 20 years by establishing a target for Illinois to build 15 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy storage – a battery technology that stores excess solar and wind power to use when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing – and removing barriers keeping newly built clean energy infrastructure from connecting to the grid.

“We have a moral imperative to meet our needs in a clean and sustainable fashion without falling back on fossil fuels,” Rep. Evans said. “HB3758/SB2497 offers a unique opportunity to keep Illinois powered while also staying on track for our ultimate goal of 100% renewable energy.”

Deploying 15 GW of storage would create approximately 115,000 Illinois jobs, prevent more than $7 billion in blackout-related expenses, and generate more than $16 billion in total economic activity, according to a 2024 study by Mark Pruitt, former director of the Illinois Power Agency. 

Further, the bill would create a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program that allows consumers with small-scale energy installations – such as solar panels on a home or a wind turbine on a factory – to combine their energy and distribute it throughout the grid during times of high demand, reducing peak demand stress on the grid and lowering energy costs for all.

“This is not just an energy bill. This is also an economic development and jobs bill that will propel Illinois to the forefront of future technology,” said Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora), a chief co-sponsor of HB3758/SB2497. “Illinois’ power grid needs this legislation to accommodate high-energy emerging industries such as data centers, quantum computing, and AI. This investment will pay dividends and lower energy bills for decades to come.”

HB3758/SB2497 would contribute to Illinois’ goal of an equitable transition to clean energy. New jobs created will be subject to Illinois’ nation-leading equity requirements established by the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), and projects will proceed under labor agreements, ensuring organized labor is at the forefront.

Learn more about HB3758/SB2497 here, or read the full bill text here. 

What is the Clean Energy Industry Saying About HB3758/SB2497?

The clean energy industry is united in supporting HB3758/SB2497, which addresses the projected energy capacity shortfall, saves Illinois families and businesses money on energy bills, invests in the strength of the energy grid, builds momentum to meet the state’s clean energy goals, and ensures the grid is equipped for the future. 

Lesley McCain, Executive Director of the Illinois Solar Energy & Storage Association: “Illinois has the power to be a national leader in clean energy, especially at a time when the federal government is rolling back clean energy targets and climate goals. HB3758/SB2497 is the bill that will get us there, and most importantly, it will do so while saving everyday Illinois residents and small businesses money on their power bills and keeping their lights on.

Andrew Linhares, Central Regional Senior Manager, Solar Energy Industries Association: “Energy demand in Illinois is rising fast, and solar and storage are the fastest technologies to develop and deploy. Investing in energy storage will not only strengthen the power grid, it will strengthen the state economy through good jobs, private investment, and reduced consumer costs.”

Samarth Medakkar, Principal, Advanced Energy United: “This legislation builds on the success of the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act to address both near- and long-term challenges of rising costs and demand. By building new storage resources and leveraging existing distributed energy resources through virtual power plants, this law will save money for ratepayers, modernize the grid, and grow the economy.” 

Laurel Passera, Senior Policy Director, Coalition for Community Solar Access: “Not only will HB3758/SB2497 create new infrastructure with clean energy storage, but it will help thousands of Illinoisans access community solar benefits by removing barriers to projects coming online. This bill will remove critical barriers slowing renewable energy deployment in the state.”

Erika Kowall, Director of Midwestern State Affairs, American Clean Power Association: "15 GW of energy storage would be a game-changer for Illinoisans. Energy storage allows communities and businesses to go about their daily lives without concern over power outages and drastic increases in energy bills while helping local economies expand without threatening reliability." 

Jeff Danielson, Vice President of Advocacy, Clean Grid Alliance: “Building on CEJA’s landmark goals, this legislation will establish Illinois’ energy grid as the nation’s leader in clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. It will positively benefit electricity customers, improve grid reliability, and send a bold message that Illinois is open for clean energy business. We’re proud to stand with Illinois’ new generation of energy leaders who are standing up for clean energy opportunities and showing that a reliable grid and business investments of the future go hand-in-hand.”