Illinois

Data centers

Illinois to data centers: Bring your own renewables and skip the line

Proposed legislation offers perks for data centers that invest in clean energy. A broad coalition supports the bill, but details still need to be hammered out.

By Kari Lydersen . 12 March 2026
Utilities

Illinois cities move to cut ties with a massive coal plant

Two communities seeking cleaner, cheaper energy are resisting pressure to extend deals that bind them to getting power from one of the nation’s dirtiest plants.

By Kari Lydersen . 26 February 2026
Solar

Illinois’ booming solar sector entices young job seekers

Thanks to strong state policy, Illinois is a leader on solar installations. That’s creating a lot of job opportunities — and young people are taking notice.

By Kari Lydersen . 14 January 2026
Solar

How community solar turned a Superfund site into savings in Illinois

A new 9.1-MW solar array will help residents of Waukegan, Illinois, reduce energy bills. State incentives for low-income solar made the project possible.

By Kari Lydersen . 5 January 2026
Electrification

Hundreds of low-income Illinois families are going electric — for free

As federal incentives for home electrification disappear, an innovative state law lets utilities meet energy-efficiency mandates by getting people off gas.

By Kari Lydersen . 1 December 2025
Electric vehicles

Chicago-area mayors push ahead on EVs despite federal pullback

Trump funding cuts scrambled the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus' plans to deploy chargers, but the group is redoubling other efforts to boost EV adoption.

By Kari Lydersen . 24 November 2025
Energy storage

Illinois lawmakers just passed another big clean-energy bill

Batteries are the centerpiece of the state’s third major piece of energy legislation in a decade. The governor has pledged to sign the bill.

By Kari Lydersen . 31 October 2025
Solar

Interconnection bottleneck threatens community solar success in Illinois

One of the state’s largest utilities, Ameren, takes years to approve projects. That’s creating headaches for developers racing to use expiring federal tax credits.

By Kari Lydersen . 1 October 2025
Energy markets

Why states are threatening to leave PJM — and why they probably won’t

The grid operator’s high power prices and long interconnection queue have Democratic and Republican governors eyeing an exit, but analysts warn it could backfire.

By Kathryn Krawczyk . 26 September 2025
Virtual power plants

Virtual power plants may soon provide more electricity to Illinois’ grid

The state has tons of solar, thanks to past laws. Now, legislators are weighing incentives for home batteries that can give the grid clean power in times of need.

By Kari Lydersen . 25 September 2025