Illinois — Today, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act into law, continuing Illinois’ legacy as a leader on clean energy, workforce development, and climate progress. In response, Illinois Environmental Council Chief Executive Officer Jen Walling released the following statement:
“Nearly exactly a year ago today, President Trump declared a national energy emergency and pledged to ‘drill, baby, drill.’ Thankfully, Illinois knows that subsidizing expensive fossil fuels is not the answer to our energy affordability crisis, and is officially stepping up to protect consumers and our climate from the Trump administration’s attacks on clean energy while simultaneously addressing the burgeoning challenges posed by poor regional grid planning and an influx of energy-intensive data centers. 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.
“This victory is possible because of the leadership of climate champions like Governor Pritzker and his office, Deputy Governor Bria Scudder, and so many members of the Illinois General Assembly who trust science and are fighting for Illinois’ future. We were proud to work hand in hand with these champions, the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, and advocates and activists from across the state to prove yet again that Illinois prioritizes people over polluters. Illinois can continue that legacy this spring by passing legislation that ensures data centers pay their fair share for the extensive energy and water they use. National-leading climate policy is what we do; let’s get to work.”