Overview
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act on Jan. 8 at Joliet Junior College after its passage in the fall session.
- Illinois will procure 3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030 and launch virtual power plant programs that pay customers to provide grid services.
- The law lifts the moratorium on large-scale nuclear construction and expands Illinois Commerce Commission authority for long-term contracts and pilot programs.
- A consumer charge to fund storage procurement will begin in 2030, with state and industry analyses projecting roughly $12–$13.4 billion in bill savings over 20 years.
- The measure passed without Republican votes, drawing criticism over potential higher near-term costs and consumer protections as supporters cite reliability and cost relief with rising data-center demand.