Advanced Energy Perspectives

Illinois has made major progress towards a clean energy future over the last several years, but its journey to clean, affordable heat is just beginning. The state’s landmark energy bill, the 2021 Clean and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), was a major victory for decarbonizing the electric grid, though it did not directly address or create new policies aimed at decarbonizing heating systems. On this front, more work is needed to fully achieve 100% clean across the electric and building sectors. The good news is that key regulators, thought leaders, and decision makers in Illinois have already gotten started on grappling with this complex topic.  

Last month, Illinois became the first state in the Midwest, and one of the few states outside the coasts, to establish a state-run incentive program for medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicles (EV) that are part of a fleet, such as commercial trucks, transit, and school buses. The primary purpose of the legislation is to support fleet owners and operators who wish to go all electric; although MHD EVs show strong market growth, their adoption has been slow in part due to their high up-front cost. EVs represent less than 1% of new MHDV sales currently and incentives for vehicle purchases are proven to help increase EV adoption. Rebates and tax incentives for light-duty vehicle (LDV) EVs have captured a larger share of the LDV market overall, accounting for roughly 10% of new LDV sales. It’s no surprise that most MHD EVs are sold in states offering a purchase incentive program.  

Imagine having an abundance of cheap, advanced energy resources at your fingertips, but instead proposing to build another natural gas plant. This is what Nevada utility NV Energy is proposing in its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). 

Earlier this summer, thanks in large part to the leadership of Senator Dawn Euer and Representative Arthur Handy, Rhode Island took a significant stride towards meeting its clean energy goals by passing the 2024 Energy Storage Systems Act, which Governor Dan McKee signed into law on June 26th. In doing so, Rhode Island joined many of its neighbors in making energy storage a key part of its energy transition strategy. 

Making the transition to a 100% clean, fully electrified economy will help cut emissions, lower costs, and increase reliability—but it will require more critical minerals and rare earth elements (REE). As we make this transition, the United States will become more energy secure, but will face a new landscape of commodity exposure. Today, we rely too often on tenuous supply chains, some of which are effectively monopolized by geostrategic competitors, for those resources. Despite record electric vehicle sales in 2023 and solar + storage topping all new energy deployed across the U.S., the advanced energy industry contends with highly concentrated sources for critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and copper, that power their technologies. Supply chain transparency, coupled with onshoring and friendshoring critical minerals production, diversified sourcing, and recycling play important roles in fortifying supply chains and reducing risk.