Illinois

26-28% by 2025

Relative to 2005 levels

Illinois' Constitution states:

“SECTION 1. PUBLIC POLICY - LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITY. The public policy of the State and the duty of each person is to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations. The General Assembly shall provide by law for the implementation and enforcement of this public policy.

SECTION 2. RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS. Each person has the right to a healthful environment. Each person may enforce this right against any party, governmental or private, through appropriate legal proceedings subject to reasonable limitation and regulation as the General Assembly may provide by law.”

"Environmental justice communities" are the 25% highest scoring census block groups based on factors including environmental hazards, income, race, health, and other environmental and socioeconomic criteria used by the U.S. EPA's EJScreen; communities are also able to request self-designation as an EJ community.

Illinois EPA EJ Start

At least 25% of Illinois Solar for All funding must be allocated to projects within EJ communities.

At least 45% of transportation electrification funding must be directed to environmental justice communities.

Illinois EPA – EJ Coordinator

Illinois EPA – Office of Environmental Justice

Commission on Environmental Justice

Justice40 Oversight Committee

Energy Transition Workforce Commission

Illinois Finance Authority/Climate Bank

100% zero-carbon power by 2045 | 100% clean energy by 2050

Renewable Energy Access Plan

Illinois received a B grade from Freeing the Grid.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) must make periodic updates to the Renewable Energy Access Plan (REAP) that include consideration for ATTs, in 2026 and every other year starting in 2028. As part of the REAP updates, the Commission:

- Must include an evaluation of identified and proposed transmission projects, including proposed advanced transmission technology projects

- Must develop a recommended list of transmission projects and advanced transmission technology projects that support the state's clean energy policies

- May request that utilities identify elements of the transmission system where ATTs would be beneficial

Each utility serving >200,000 customers in the state can (but is not required to) prepare an ATTs integration plan as part of the updated REAP, identifying where ATTs may be beneficial in the utility's existing transmission system, as well as capacity constraints or grid congestion in the prior 2 years where ATTs could reduce or resolve these challenges.

Illinois has an active community choice aggregation program, known as Municipal Aggregation.

3 gigawatts (GW) of installed storage by December 31, 2030.

The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2024 IECC with amendments.

The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is 2024 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2022 with amendments.

The 2023 Illinois Stretch Codes incorporates 2021 IECC with amendments for residential buildings and 2024 IECC for commercial buildings.

The 2026 Illinois Stretch Energy Code is currently under development.

Electric utilities are required to achieve increasing cumulative persisting annual savings 2018-2026, reaching 17.9% in 2026 for utilities serving >3,000,000 retail customers, and 13.6% in 2026 for utilities serving between 500,000 and 3,000,000 retail customers. Savings are relative to average consumption over 2014-2016.

Starting in 2027, utilities serving >3,000,000 retail customers must achieve 2% annual energy savings. Electric utilities serving between 500,000 and 3,000,000 retail customers must achieve annual energy savings equal to 1.4% in 2027, 1.7% in 2028, and 2% annually starting in 2029. Savings targets that start in 2027 are relative to average electricity sales from 2021-2023. Incremental annual energy savings may be reduced if a utility exceeds the requirement that 25% of total energy efficiency spending target low-income households.

Gas utilities are required to achieve annual energy savings of 1.5% each year, with specific low-income energy efficiency spending requirements.

Illinois has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs.

The Illinois Finance Authority can administer a Thermal Energy Network Revolving Loan and Financial Assistance Program to provide capital for TENs. In coordination with the Finance Authority, the Illinois Commerce Commission must initiate a proceeding to establish regulations for a $20 million pilot Thermal Energy Network Grant Program.

The Illinois Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program offers rebates for new and used EVs: $2,000 for electric vehicles, with an additional $2,000 for low-income applicants, and $1,500 for all-electric motorcycles.

The Fleet Electrification Incentive Program provides grants for the purchase of electric trucks, ranging from $7,500 to $120,000 depending on vehicle class. Grant amounts increase by an additional 65% of the base incentive amount for the purchase of a school bus that will serve a public school district.

Requires the state to develop and implement a program for the procurement of zero emissions vehicles for the state fleet

Requires that new residential buildings with designated parking spaces have EV charging capabilities; each residential unit with a designated parking spot is required to have at least one parking space that is EV-capable.

The Illinois EPA is directed to provide funding, consistent with Illinois Commerce Commission-approved utility Beneficial Electrification Plans, to public and private organizations and companies to install and maintain publicly-available Level 2 or Level 3 charging stations. Up to 80% of the cost of the installation of charging stations may be funded.

Food waste ban – In counties with composting facilities, permanent large event facilities with a capacity of at least 3,500 people, such as convention centers and sports stadiums, must offer food and organic waste composting.

The Sustainable Agriculture Grants Program provides grants to implement conservation practices that reduce soil loss and improve soil health.

The Cover Crop Premium Discount Program offers premium discounts to promote additional acres of cover crops that are not covered by other state and federal program incentives.

Funds in the Partners for Conservation Fund and the Partners for Conservation Projects Fund may be used to provide capacity grants to support soil and water conservation districts in implementing soil health programs.

The Illinois Healthy Soils Initiative promotes voluntary and incentive-based soil health efforts.

Funds in the Partners for Conservation Fund and the Partners for Conservation Projects Fund may be used to provide capacity grants to support soil and water conservation districts in implementing soil health programs.