In an op-ed for Crain's Chicago Business, United's Samarth Medakkar discusses the passage of Illinois' Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), which will expand battery storage, facilitate more investment in renewables, and strengthen energy efficiency programs statewide, highlighting Illinois as a dominant and leading force in building a modernized, affordable, and equitable power grid.
Topics: United In The News, Economic Impact, Illinois, Samarth Medakkar, Virtual Power Plants, Battery Storage
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.
Topics: Press Releases, Illinois, Samarth Medakkar, Battery Storage
The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act will allow for more energy storage and create a virtual power plant program
SPRINGFIELD, IL—Illinois legislators today responded to rising utility bills and growing energy demandby passing theClean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), paving the way for substantially more battery storage in the state.
Topics: Press Releases, Illinois, Battery Storage
Energy prices are at record highs and will rise again in 2026. Legislators must pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act to prevent future increases.
SPRINGFIELD, IL—Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association (ISEA), the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), and Advanced Energy United applauded the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) for approving key updates to the 2024 – 2026 Illinois Power Agency’s Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan (LTRRPP) to expand solar capacity and protect Illinois consumers from rising energy costs.
Topics: Press Releases, Illinois, John Albers
Energy prices are at record highs and will rise again in 2026. Legislators must pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act to prevent future increases.
ILLINOIS—Illinois clean energy advocates are calling on the Illinois General Assembly to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) during the legislature’s October veto session to help protect families and businesses from rising energy costs. Numerous studies and real-world examples from other states demonstrate that provisions in CRGA will provide both immediate and long-term energy savings for Illinois.
Topics: Press Releases, Illinois, Battery Storage
Canary Media reports that Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill (HB 4120) that would establish a basic virtual power plant (VPP) program and require the state's two largest utilities to propose their own VPP programs by 2027. United's Samarth Medakkar spoke to the benefits of VPPs in lowering electricity costs and reducing strain on the grid during times of peak demand.
Topics: United In The News, Illinois, Samarth Medakkar, Virtual Power Plants, Battery Storage
Inside Climate News reports that the Illinois state legislature failed to pass a comprehensive energy bill—aimed at advancing clean energy technologies and renewable energy projects—before adjourning their Spring legislative session. Concerns over increased load growth and rising electricity rates overshadowed the legislature's consideration of the bill. To combat these concerns, Illinois lawmakers and advanced energy experts, including United's Samarth Medakkar, engaged with stakeholders to find common ground on measures that will accelerate battery storage deployment to help relieve grid strain and reduce costs.
Topics: State Policy, United In The News, Illinois, Samarth Medakkar, Battery Storage
Canary Media reports that Illinois lawmakers are pushing to pass legislation that would jumpstart large-scale battery storage deployment to meet the state's clean energy goals and growing energy demand. United's Samarth Medakkar called on state legislators to swiftly pass the proposed bills, emphasizing that prompt action would enable Illinois to procure energy storage projects—enhancing grid reliability, stimulating economic growth, and lowering electricity costs for consumers.
Topics: United In The News, Illinois, Samarth Medakkar, Battery Storage
In an opinion piece for Crain's Chicago Business, United's Samarth Medakkar and Climate Control Group’s Joe Parsons highlight the cost savings and grid benefits of geothermal heating and cooling, urging lawmakers to expand access to these proven technologies by passing House Bills 3399 and 3609.
Topics: United In The News, Illinois, Samarth Medakkar, Building Electrification, Geothermal
Groups unify and urge Illinois regulators to align storage roadmap with 1,500 MW clean energy target
CHICAGO, Ill., April 14, 2025 – Illinois clean energy trade associations are unifying and calling for the Illinois Commerce Commission’s (ICC) consultant to make critical revisions to its upcoming report on clean energy storage procurement.
The report, currently in draft form and prepared by an ICC-appointed consultant, is intended to guide the state’s path toward deploying 1,500 megawatts (MW) of energy storage as part of Illinois’ ultimate clean energy and grid reliability goals, a benchmark set by recent legislation. However, the early draft indicates a recommendation of approximately half that amount, prompting a unified response from Illinois’ clean energy industry urging course correction.
Topics: Press Releases, Illinois, Trish Demeter, Procurement