Solar Powers Illinois: June Newsletter
Catch up on solar news from across the state with SPI's June newsletter!
Jul 1
Solar Powers Illinois: May Newsletter
Read the May 2025 Solar Powers Illinois newsletter!
May 30
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Illinois Needs Energy Storage Now
Energy storage is the fastest, most cost-effective way to prevent skyrocketing energy costs and create significant long-term savings for Illinois households and businesses.
Energy storage will reduce Illinois power bills up to
New Bill Benefits
per month by 2035.
$20.54
Average Monthly Ameren Customer Savings
$8.52
Average Monthly ComEd Customer Savings
Source: "Senate Bill 40: Illinois Power Agency Analysis of Benefits & Costs" by Illinois Power Agency
$
2
0.
5
4
How Does Energy Storage Provide Savings?
Illinois’ energy supply can’t keep up with demand. Battery storage quickly and affordably adds more supply and saves money when the wind isn’t blowing, the sun isn’t shining, or when demand is high.
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Batteries store excess energy to use when energy is expensive and in high demand, such as during heat waves or cold snaps.
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Battery storage reduces peak energy demand (which causes price surges), lowering costs for everyone – not just those with battery storage installed.
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​Battery storage can pair with a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program to maximize savings.
VPPs combine small-scale power sources, like solar panels, batteries, and smart thermostats, to contribute power to the grid, prevent blackouts, and lower energy prices for everyone.
Energy Storage Lowers Costs Over Time
An energy storage program will deliver power bill savings as early as 2030 and those savings will double by 2035.
$0
Consumers will pay
in upfront costs for an energy storage program.
Once the first wave of storage projects are built and operational in 2028, energy bills would increase by just a few dollars a month — far less than the exorbitant monthly increases we’re experiencing now. Savings would begin in 2030, but price spike mitigation would be immediate.
Cost
Savings
This investment will pay for itself 2 - 4 times over.
Sources: "Senate Bill 40: Illinois Power Agency Analysis of Benefits & Costs" by Illinois Power Agency
"Cost and Benefit Analysis of Energy Storage Resource Deployment in Illinois" by The Power Bureau
Had Illinois deployed 7 GW of battery before June 2024, recent energy price increases would've been reduced by
80%.
Source: "Backward-Looking 2025/2026 Price Impacts Analysis" by Gabel Associates
Why Are Energy Prices Skyrocketing?
Illinois does not have enough energy supply to meet demand, so prices are increasing – this is no different than when egg shortages cause sticker shock at the grocery store.
Demand for energy is growing faster than ever due to artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, data centers, and increasing household energy usage.
Under current conditions, Illinois will have a
15.6 GW deficit by 2039.
Unless this supply-and-demand issue is solved, energy prices will continue to increase.​
It's not too late to prevent this.
​Battery storage offers the fastest and most cost-effective way to meet Illinois' energy needs and provide long-term energy savings for households and businesses.
Tell Your Lawmaker:
Stop Skyrocketing Energy Prices!
Lawmakers are proposing energy legislation to deliver long-term energy savings of up to $20.54 per month for Illinois households by building energy storage, creating a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program, and implementing other energy enhancements.
Make your voice heard!​​
More on
Energy Storage
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR
ENERGY NEWS
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have energy costs increased? Illinois faces an energy shortage. Much like how egg shortages increase prices at the grocery store, Illinois' energy shortage is causing bills to skyrocket. Building more energy will help avoid major price spikes and work to lower costs over time.
Is there any legislation to address energy costs? Yes, lawmakers in spring 2025 introduced SB 40, a bill that would build energy storage to help reduce costs over time. Solar Powers Illinois and other clean energy industry partners support SB 40 as the fastest, most cost-effective solution to create long-term savings and stabilize price spikes.
What are the benefits of storage for Illinois residents? Storage will lower energy costs over time and help prevent future significant price spikes similar to the ones seen in summer 2025. Building storage helps Illinois close a projected energy supply shortfall.
Why is energy storage so important for Illinois? Storage is the fastest, most cost-effective solution to Illinois' energy cost crisis.
How would storage legislation help Illinois’ energy grid? Storage reduces stress on the grid because it stores excess power for when it is needed most, such as during a heat wave or cold snap. This prevents the grid from tapping into more expensive and polluting forms of power. A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program would additional pool energy from distributed sources like solar panels and battery storage systems to dispatch to the grid when needed, further reducing grid stress and saving everyone money.
What is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program? A VPP program allows many smaller energy sources, such as home solar panels or battery storage, to pool their power and dispatch it to the grid.
What are the economic benefits investing in storage, VPPs, and other solutions? Thousands of clean energy, construction, and manufacturing jobs will be created by a storage program. Additionally, it will equip Illinois with the energy capacity it needs to continue to attract emerging industries such as AI, quantum computing, and data centers.
How much storage is needed? SB 40, introduced in Spring 2025, sets a target of 6.5 GW of energy storage capacity for Illinois. This means creating enough storage to hold and distribute large amounts of energy, which will stabilize the grid, reduce the chances of power outages, and lower costs for families and businesses.
Aren't there better or faster solutions, like continuing gas or coal development? Solar and storage are 2-6 times faster to get online than fossil fuel plants and nuclear energy. Illinois is already retiring these aging, expensive, and polluting power sources, so it is imperative to meet energy demands in a fast, clean, and cost-effective manner through battery storage and clean energy development.
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Workforce Programs NEW
CEJA Workforce and Equity Provisions
In September 2021, Governor Pritzker signed CEJA. This nation-leading legislation positioned Illinois as a clean energy leader with provisions to create an equitable clean energy workforce.
The job creation programs created by CEJA were intentionally designed to benefit people who have historically faced barriers to enter the clean energy economy, whether that be financial status, time investment, education history, historic marginalization, or other factors. Collectively, the job training programs are designed to recruit from communities where jobs are needed most and equip trainees with the skills and resources needed to succeed and find a career. HB 5856 / SB 3959 will further stimulate the clean energy economy, leading to more job creation and growth for Illinoisans and further leverage the workforce programs established and bolstered by CEJA.
Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program Delivers a curriculum that prepares trainees for jobs in energy efficiency, solar and wind energy, energy storage, and electric vehicle industries. It also includes job readiness skills, certification test preparedness, the development of soft skills, and relevant technical skills.
Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program Provides eligible contractors with access to low-cost capital, support for obtaining insurance, assistance registering to become vendors for state incentive programs, connections with firms hiring contractors and subcontractors, and other vital services. Participating contractors will receive training, mentoring and support to build their businesses, connect to projects, compete for capital, and execute clean energy-related project installations and subcontracts. The 13 incubators will be geographically distributed across Illinois. $21 million is allocated to this program each year, subject to appropriation.
Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program Provides training to prepare people to succeed in apprenticeship programs in construction and building trades that are expected to see clean energy job growth. It will create a qualified, and diverse pipeline of clean energy workers, offering training, credentials, support with enrollment in apprenticeship programs after completion, barrier reduction services, and more. Subject to appropriation, $10 million per year will be allocated for the program, with an additional $6 million per year for distribution of Energy Transition Barrier Reduction Program services and funds.
Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program Provides multi-year, one-on-one coaching to assist contractor participants in developing five-year business plans and growing their businesses. This includes review of monthly metrics and advice on achieving participant’s goals. Participating contractors will also be eligible for operational support grants and will have access to capital for upfront costs and pre-development funding. Participants will also receive mentorship, assistance for preparing for bids and Request for Proposal applications, assistance connection to state and federal programs, and more. $9 million is allocated to this program each year, subject to appropriation.
Energy Transition Navigator Program Provides outreach, education, and recruitment to eligible individuals to participate in CEJA workforce programs and collaborates with local job markets and workforce organizations to help place trainees in careers. $6 million is allocated to this program each year, subject to appropriation.
Solar Training Pipeline Program Establishes a pipeline, or pool of trained installers, for projects authorized under the Illinois Solar For All Program and the revised Renewable Portfolio Standards. This program includes funding for programs that provide training to individuals who are or were foster care alumni or returning citizens transitioning into the workforce. $3 million in funding is allocated to this program, subject to appropriation.
Returning Resident Clean Jobs Program Provides training within Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) correctional facilities to prepare people for entry-level clean energy jobs. Participants will receive essential employability skills training as part of vocational or occupational training, and the training will lead to certifications or credentials that prepare candidates for employment. $6 million is allocated to this program each year, subject to appropriation.
Multi-Cultural Jobs Program Provides $4 million to fund multicultural jobs programs which are related to solar installation or similar sectors. The programming is run by diversity-focused community organizations that have a record of successfully delivering job training.
Craft Apprenticeship Program Provides $3 million in funding for accredited or recognized apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship programs are offered for particular crafts, trades, or skills in the electric industry.
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NEWSLETTER
Clean energy industries are united in support for clean energy storage.
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