Governor Pritzker Signs Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act into Law

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor Pritzker today signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act into law, a major step to rein in rising electricity costs while making one of the largest clean energy investments in Illinois history. 

The following is a statement from Kari Ross, Midwest energy affordability advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): 

“As Illinois families face rising electricity prices, the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act puts affordability front and center by expanding cost-effective clean energy, strengthening energy efficiency programs, and giving the state better tools to plan for reliable power. 

“This law shows what’s possible when clean energy is deployed strategically: lower costs, a stronger grid, and lasting benefits for households and businesses across the state. Illinois is once again setting the pace by leading with practical solutions that protect consumers and build a more resilient energy system.” 

Highlights of the bill:  

• Starts a critical statewide battery storage procurement target of 3 gigawatts by 2030 that will save customers money and speed the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. This battery storage investment is estimated to power at least half a million homes for 24 hours during times of need.
• Strengthens and increases utility electric energy efficiency goals and investment, roughly doubling Ameren’s programs and increasing ComEd’s by 25 percent. The utilities’ minimum income-qualified spend requirement is tripled to 25 percent of total spending, which will be a near $137 million per year investment for ComEd customers and an average of $55.5 million a year for Ameren customers
• Provides initiatives to expand the efficiency of the state’s transmission system and accelerate the connection of energy storage to the power grid.
• Establishes a state Integrated Resource Plan that gives the state more power to reduce skyrocketing wholesale power costs and chart its own energy destiny through rigorous energy modeling, consumer analysis, and the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission.   
• Strengthens gas energy efficiency programs that help Illinois families reduce their utility bills by allowing Nicor, Peoples, and North Shore Gas to pursue increased energy reduction goals. For the first time, codifies robust minimum requirements for income-qualified programs, including a directive to spend 80 percent of said budgets on comprehensive, whole-home programs that provide no-cost rebates on weatherization and highly efficient technology. 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).