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Legislators Gathered to Celebrate Three Years of CEJA and Introduced New Bill 


Legislators Gathered to Celebrate Three Years of CEJA and Introduced New Bill 

From Left to Right: Rep. Will Davis, Sen. Bill Cunningham, Rep. Barbara Hernandez, Rep. Nicholas Smith


Three years after the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) was signed into law, Illinois state lawmakers and solar energy industry leaders came together to celebrate the legislation’s accomplishments and to discuss how to build on its foundation to realize an energy grid of the future that is powered by 100% clean energy. 


Signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in 2021, CEJA launched Illinois on a path to 100% renewable energy by 2050, sparking  exponential growth in the solar energy industry through programs to expand  clean energy access in Illinois. This forward-looking legislation has helped build family-supporting careers, strengthening the resilience of the Illinois energy grid, and investing in the economy.   


Today, Illinois has nearly 3,200 megawatts of solar power capacity across 94,000 installations, enough to power approximately 500,000 homes. Approximately two-thirds of Illinois’ solar capacity has been installed since CEJA, and the state is projected to be top 10 in solar capacity growth over the next five years. The solar industry employs nearly 6,000 people across Illinois and has invested $5.7 billion into the state economy.    


Last month, Illinois lawmakers and solar industry experts gathered at Magid Glove and Safety in Romeoville, the site of the largest rooftop solar installation in the Midwest, to reflect on the goals of CEJA and a newly proposed clean energy bill that would help expand upon its successes. The event capped off with a tour of Magid Glove and Safety’s rooftop solar installation, which features over 10,000 panels.   


“CEJA made an important promise to democratize energy production and equitably spread the benefits of clean energy,” said Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago), a chief CEJA sponsor. “We have made tremendous progress, but any large-scale bill such as CEJA will naturally need some fine-tuning to ensure it delivers on its promises. We now find ourselves at that moment to make small but important changes that will guarantee CEJA’s goals are fulfilled.”  


With renewable energy being built at record rates, energy storage has surfaced as a clear need in Illinois. To stay on track with CEJA’s goals and maintain its status as a national leader in energy, Illinois must quickly build at least 8.5 GW of energy storage to avoid an energy capacity shortfall beginning in the 2030s, according to a recent study by Mark Pruitt, former director of the Illinois Power Agency.  


“Illinois cannot afford to go backward; that’s why I am proud to stand alongside Sen. Cunningham in introducing a bill that will create a target for the state to build at least 8.5 GW of clean energy storage,” said Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora). “Through this investment, we will not only meet CEJA’s goals, but we will save consumers money, avoid the risk of blackouts, create billions of dollars in economic activity and tens of thousands of family-supporting jobs, and equip our energy grid for the economy of the future.”  


According to Pruitt’s projections, Sen. Cunningham’s and Rep. Hernandez’s bills would avoid the impending shortfall and save consumers up to $3 billion in energy costs – about $30 per month on average – avoid up to $7.3 billion in blackout-related costs, create up to 115,000 jobs and $16 billion in economic activity, and prevent up to 50 million tons of carbon emissions.  


“CEJA has been an incredible piece of legislation for our state,” said Lesley McCain, Executive Director of the Illinois Solar Energy & Storage Association (ISEA). “Every business, worker, and Illinois resident should enjoy the benefits of clean energy. CEJA is making that a reality, and Sen. Cunningham and Rep. Hernandez are critical leaders in advancing this important work to maintain and build upon our current momentum and invest in our state’s future.”  


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