Springfield, IL — Today, after passage in the State House yesterday, the Illinois State Senate passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (SB25), which accelerates Illinois’ clean energy progress and gives consumers tools to save money on their energy bills. In response, Illinois Environmental Council Chief Executive Officer Jen Walling released the following statement:
“The passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act marks the biggest climate action by any state since the Trump administration rolled back the federal Inflation Reduction Act, and further cements Illinois’ legacy as a national leader on climate. While Trump and his cronies in the federal government dismantle climate- and cost-saving policies, Illinois is stepping up to fill the gap.
“The CRGA Act doubles the investment we made in renewable energy in the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act while also investing in new programs like battery storage that meet the urgency of the current moment. With constant attacks from the federal government on clean energy progress and new challenges as a result of the influx of energy-intensive data centers, Illinois is taking decisive action with the CRGA Act to expand our clean energy workforce, increase access to cost-saving clean energy, and ensure our power grid is resilient for generations to come.
“The Illinois Environmental Council is proud of the work Illinois’ environmental community has done to make today’s victory possible. This year alone, we came together for three Climate Action lobby days at the State Capitol to fight for critical climate policies like CRGA, mobilized constituents to contact their lawmakers about CRGA thousands of times, and worked closely with environmental champions in the General Assembly to get this bill across the finish line. Together, we have proven for the third time that we can stand up to fossil fuel interests and big utilities – and win.”
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About IEC: Since 1975, the Illinois Environmental Council has worked to safeguard Illinois—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends by building power for people and the environment. Representing over 130 environmental organizations in the state, IEC carries out its mission to advance equitable public policies that create healthy environments across Illinois through education, advocacy, and movement building.