Overview
- SB 25 cleared the legislature during the veto session, passing the Senate 37–22 after a 70–37 House vote, and is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for signature.
- The package subsidizes utility-scale battery projects with a new line item projected on customer bills in 2030 and includes plans cited to reach roughly 3 GW of storage.
- Utilities are directed to establish virtual power plants and adopt time-of-use rates while energy-efficiency programs expand under heightened Illinois Commerce Commission oversight.
- The bill lifts the state’s 1987 moratorium on constructing large nuclear plants, building on a 2023 law that permitted small modular reactors.
- Republicans and business groups warn of higher costs, including an $8 billion claim, while supporters argue storage and long-range planning will bolster reliability and reduce long-term bills.