Illinois
Clean energy jobs
Chicago program helps people transition from prison to solar jobs
Safer Foundation is using funding from Illinois clean energy laws to give formerly incarcerated people the training and support they need to enter the workforce.
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Batteries
Illinois needs batteries. Will a new incentive program help?
New York has had success with a similar model, though Illinois’ first procurement under the new program resulted in less energy storage deals than hoped for.By Kari Lydersen .
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Solar
How one Chicago program is diversifying the solar workforce
Founded by a former public-housing resident, the 548 Foundation provides training, stipends, and support to build Black generational wealth through clean energy.By Kari Lydersen .
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Clean energy jobs
Illinois revamps clean energy jobs training for a shifting economy
State-funded hubs will focus on skills that can transfer to other sectors, like data centers. That may help workers as Trump policies threaten to upend job markets.By Kari Lydersen .
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Solar
Can the Obama Presidential Center help Chicago embrace community solar?
As an anchor tenant for several off-site arrays in development, the center will help spur investment and educate residents on the benefits of shared solar.By Kari Lydersen .
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Solar
Solar on storage units? Here’s how Illinois is making it happen.
Illinois community solar incentives spurred plans to put 60 arrays on top of Public Storage facilities in the state. So far, 10 are online.By Kari Lydersen .
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Solar
Why Illinois has struggled to turn old coal sites into solar farms
The state’s plan to replace defunct coal infrastructure with renewable energy has fallen short, but the experience holds lessons for future coal-to-solar efforts.By Kari Lydersen .
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Solar
Illinois Solar for All is, at last, taking off
The state’s solar equity program has been in place for nearly a decade, but it wasn’t until recently, after years of grassroots efforts, that participation surged.By Kari Lydersen .
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Batteries
Base Power brings cheap batteries to residents in power-starved PJM
The unicorn startup launched its first move outside its home state of Texas, pitching low-cost energy and backup power in northern Illinois.By Julian Spector .
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EV charging
Installing EV charging at big-box stores is not as easy as it looks
A developer building chargers at home-improvement stores discusses the promise — and pitfalls — of siting EV infrastructure in major retailers' parking lots.By Kari Lydersen .
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Solar
This AI tool helps community solar developers connect to the grid sooner
Startup MeanderX maps bottlenecks on distribution lines in Illinois and seven other states, so projects can avoid lengthy delays.By Kari Lydersen .
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