Illinois Takes Major Step in Clean Energy Transition Following ICC Grid Plans Enhancing Energy Cost-Effectiveness, Equity and Affordability
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2024
Springfield, IL – The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has issued final grid plan orders for Ameren Company (Ameren) and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), taking a significant step toward a more modern, clean, equitable, and affordable energy grid in Illinois. Key recommendations from a coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – including Vote Solar, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Natural Resources Defense Council – were critical in shaping these orders.
The ICC’s orders prioritize grid upgrades that will enable greater usage of local, distributed energy resources like rooftop solar and battery storage. These improvements will lead to lower costs for consumers, greater reliability, and progress toward Illinois’ climate goals under the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). The final order directly incorporates many of the NGO coalition’s suggestions, including reframing how the utilities assess cost-effectiveness, affordability, and data access.
In line with CEJA, both ComEd and Ameren will also work closely with the NGOs to analyze the equity and reliability of the utilities’ grid investments. This will include refining methodologies used to analyze cost, exploring tools like regression analysis, and developing metrics to track progress. The ICC will also require Ameren to address historical disparities and improve service reliability in underrepresented communities.
“The ICC’s approval of the ComEd and Ameren grid plans marks a significant milestone in the transition to a modern, equitable, and clean energy future as envisioned by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA),” said Vote Solar’s Midwest Senior Regulatory Director, Will Kenworthy. “These plans, with modifications, set the foundation for a smarter, more resilient grid that supports the integration of distributed energy resources, improves reliability, and ensures benefits are equitably distributed across all communities.”
“This order lays the foundation for essential grid investments that will accelerate the clean energy transition and maintain reliability while cutting unnecessary costs,” said Brad Klein, Managing Attorney for the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “We appreciate the ICC’s leadership and the utilities’ partnerships in crafting plans that will benefit all customers, not just shareholders.”
“We thank the Illinois Commerce Commission for its continued focus on the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act’s requirement that utilities support efforts to bring at least 40 percent of grid investment benefits to environmental justice communities,” said James Gignac, Midwest Senior Policy Manager for the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Today’s order affirms the progress Ameren and ComEd have made to further develop metrics and tracking mechanisms based on the framework recommended by our expert witnesses and Commission staff.”
“The bold leadership exhibited by the Commission in its 2023 Grid Plan Orders resulted in big progress this year,” said Curt Stokes, Senior Attorney with the Environmental Defense Fund. “Most importantly, utilities must collect the data needed to track progress in achieving Illinois’ climate and equity goals. The orders issued today contain firm commitments to improve affordability and transparency, helping Illinois progress toward its clean energy commitments.”
About Vote Solar
Vote Solar is an energy justice non-profit working towards a 100% clean energy future by bringing solar to the mainstream. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advocates for clean energy in legislative and regulatory arenas at the state level, where most decisions about electricity are made. Despite powerful opposition, we use a winning combination of deep policy expertise, coalition building, and public engagement to get the job done.
About the Environmental Law & Policy Center
The Environmental Law & Policy Center is the Midwest’s leading environmental legal advocacy organization. We drive transformational policy changes with national impacts.
About the Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. We advance equitable science-based solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems, conduct rigorous technical analyses, and mobilize our supporters to build powerful coalitions, educate decisionmakers, and advocate for change.
About Environmental Defense Fund
One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, with more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems.To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action.