Illinois Lawmakers Can Fight Rising Energy Costs During Veto Session - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the urgent need for Illinois lawmakers to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) during the upcoming veto session to address soaring energy costs. Illinois is currently experiencing record-high energy prices, with average homeowners facing increases of up to $46 per month due to insufficient electricity supply. Without legislative action, energy prices are expected to continue rising, exacerbated by recent federal policies that reduce clean energy incentives and increase costs for households and businesses. The Illinois Environmental Council warns that these federal actions could add $400 annually to household energy bills and raise commercial power costs by 21%, threatening the state’s economic stability and clean energy job growth. The CRGA aims to provide both immediate and long-term relief by expanding Illinois’ energy supply through investments in energy storage and the creation of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program. Energy storage systems can store excess electricity when prices are low and release it during peak demand, while VPPs aggregate distributed energy resources to support the grid quickly