Statement: Solar Powers Illinois Celebrates Illinois Power Agency’s Energy Storage Procurement
- Solar Powers Illinois
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Solar Powers Illinois, a coalition promoting the benefits of solar energy across the state, released the following statement as the Illinois Power Agency holds a procurement for 1 gigawatt of battery storage:
The Illinois Power Agency's first energy storage procurement marks a major milestone in the state’s efforts to make electricity more affordable for everyone.
At a time when the cost of living is one of the most significant challenges facing Illinois and the rest of the nation, Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois General Assembly, and the Illinois Power Agency are addressing rising electricity prices head-on with affordable, reliable battery storage that will meet skyrocketing demand and lower costs.
The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) was signed less than a year ago, so this storage procurement makes it clear Illinois is serious about moving quickly from implementation to impact.
The Context on Illinois' Energy Storage Procurement:
The procurement puts Illinois on track to have at least 1 gigawatt (GW) of battery storage online by the end of 2029, a critical step toward achieving CRGA’s goals. The Illinois Power Agency estimates that CRGA will save Illinois families and businesses $13.4 billion on energy bills by investing in energy storage, energy efficiency, and Virtual Power Plants (VPPs).
This is the first of several expected procurements that will build toward CRGA’s ultimate goal of 3 GW of battery storage. Storage is among the fastest and most cost-effective energy sources to build and connect to the grid, ensuring Illinois residents and businesses receive energy price relief as soon as possible.
