Illinois

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Illinois team prepares solar house for national competition

Students at Northwestern University in Illinois prepare a fully solar-powered home they built as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon.

By Kari Lydersen . 22 August 2017
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Video: How the smart grid is changing the job market in Illinois

As clean energy job growth outpaces conventional energy sectors like coal in Illinois, new opportunities are being created in both rural and urban areas of the state.

By Guest Contributor . 18 August 2017
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Fracking debate ramps up again in Illinois with first permit application under new rules

This summer, the filing for the first permit under new regulations has reignited debate over fracking in Illinois and concerns over the law’s ability to protect citizens and the environment.

By Kari Lydersen . 17 August 2017
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Ameren request for lower energy efficiency targets stokes division in Illinois

Ameren Illinois’ request to scale back energy efficiency targets under a sweeping energy law passed last year is rooted, in part, in the longstanding divide between the Chicago area and “downstate“ Illinois.

By Kari Lydersen . 8 August 2017
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'Solar for All': Can Illinois energy bill live up to ambitious promises?

After months of negotiations and surviving a contentious budget battle in the state legislature, the hard work of enacting Illinois' comprehensive energy bill is underway.

By Kari Lydersen . 2 August 2017
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Illinois advocates urge EPA not to roll back coal ash regulation

Illinois environmentalists testified before the Environmental Protection Agency this week, urging officials not to roll back an Obama-era regulation limiting discharge into waterways from steam powered electric plants.

By Guest Contributor . 1 August 2017
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In Illinois, smart thermostats seen as key energy management tool

Illinois’s largest utility, state regulators, environmental and consumer advocates recently rallied together in Chicago in support of an inconspicuous but powerful gadget: the smart thermostat.

By David J. Unger . 1 August 2017
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Navigating smart meter privacy a challenge for smart grid innovators

As smart meter usage expands, so do questions about the ways utilities and other companies can harness energy data to advance grid technology.

By Douglas J. Guth . 12 July 2017
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Illinois shows examples of 'integrated approach' needed for climate targets

The global energy system is evolving, but not fast enough to meet decarbonization goals aimed at curbing the worst impacts of climate change, according to an International Energy Agency report released in Chicago last week.

By David J. Unger . 5 July 2017
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Report finds no immediate concerns about grid reliability

The North American power grid is reliable and resilient despite the growth of variable, renewable energy sources as well as an increasing risk of both cybersecurity and physical threats, according to a new analysis.

By David J. Unger . 22 June 2017