News

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. 

LANSING, MI – Diverse stakeholders today announced the filing of a brief from industry organizations and multiple amicus curiae brief petitions in support of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s actions to implement Public Act 233 (PA 233), which was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Whitmer as The Clean Energy and Jobs Act. The law, and the Commission’s actions, establish a careful balance to allow farmers to use their land for wind, solar, and storage projects while ensuring a thorough review of the projects.

The briefs – filed by a broad set of business groups, renewable energy advocates, labor organizations, legislators, and local landowners  – advocate for the full implementation of the permitting process under PA 233, emphasizing its crucial role in advancing Michigan’s clean energy future, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. 

Increased advanced power generation could deliver millions in tax revenue to local communities, bolster Hoosiers' energy independence, and keep costs down for consumers 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A surge in economic development in Indiana is driving a growing need for electricity, and a new report shows solar power produced in-state would help meet this demand – but only if proposed projects are actually built. Indiana is a Midwest leader in attracting advanced manufacturing and technology-driven economic growth, and the report makes clear that advanced power resources such as solar could power the state’s bright future.  

The new report, from Baker Tilly, “Forecasting the Economic Impact Potential of Solar in Indiana,” shows expanding solar power generation in Indiana would drive millions in additional tax revenue to local communities to help pay for community and emergency services, all while creating new jobs, helping to lower energy costs and enabling the state to maintain its economic development momentum by meeting growing electricity demand.  

The newly passed law, HEA 1194, is predicted to save millions of taxpayer dollars by factoring lifetime operating costs into state vehicle purchases

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Holcomb signed into law yesterday a bill requiring the Indiana Department of Administration to apply a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis when purchasing new light-duty vehicles for their state fleet. TCO considers differences in the average cost of fueling and maintaining vehicles, allowing the state to generate significant savings over the lifespan of a vehicle compared to vehicle purchases based on sticker price alone.

Indiana joins states like Nevada and Virginia in applying this good governance measure, which a report last year from national business association Advanced Energy United found could save Indiana $62.4 million over 15 years.

Michigan’s clean energy law will create jobs, support local communities for generations