Press Release: Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act

Lawmakers, Consumer Advocates, Organized Labor and Workforce Equity Advocates, and the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Urge Passage of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act

Legislators must act now to stop endless rate hikes and save Illinois ratepayers billions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2025

Contacts

Solar Powers Illinois (ISEA, SEIA, CCSA): Dan Kowalski, dan@hawthornestrategy.com
Clean Grid Association: Dave Lundy, dlundy@aileroninc.com
Advanced Energy United: Alissa Rivera, arivera@advancedenergyunited.org
Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition: Hannah Flath, hannah@ilenviro.org

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As Illinois' fall veto session resumes today, a broad coalition including organized labor, clean energy industries, and environmental and consumer advocates are calling on legislators to pass the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25) to lower electricity costs and support clean energy jobs across the state.

The CRGA Act will save Illinois families and businesses more than $13 billion on electricity bills over the next 20 years in direct response to the unprecedented price hikes felt across the state. A recent analysis by the Illinois Power Agency found the CRGA Act would save $13 for every $1 invested by consumers.

CRGA is the only bill proposed during the veto session designed to address the ongoing cost crisis. If legislators do not pass CRGA before the fall veto session ends on October 30, Illinois consumers will pay the price. Energy costs spiked as much as 50% across Illinois this summer and are already set to increase in 2026 due to poor regional and federal policy and increasing demand for energy. CRGA is urgently needed to begin reducing costs in the near- and long-term.

CRGA's key policies include:

• Building 3 gigawatts of clean energy storage, which will reduce costs and create thousands of good-paying union jobs
• Establishing a Virtual Power Plant program, which pools energy from already built energy sources like household solar panels paired with battery storage, to deliver rapid savings
• Strengthening energy efficiency programs
• Empowering state agencies to better plan for future energy demand spikes

In addition to cost savings, the CRGA Act will help Illinois cope with the harmful impacts of newly enacted federal policies that are driving costs up and threatening thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic development.

Without state-level action, the Illinois Environmental Council projects the recent federal budget will:

• Increase Illinois household energy costs by $400 per year and business costs by 21%
• Eliminate up to 52,000 manufacturing and energy jobs in Illinois
• Cancel $16.8 billion worth of in-state economic development
• Put up to 105 facilities at risk of closure

CRGA is the only bill on the table during veto session that will address Illinois' growing energy cost crisis and mitigate impacts of harmful federal policies.

Quotes About CRGA:

Sen. Bill Cunningham (18th Senate District): "No one has been spared from Illinois' high electricity bills this summer, and the trend is clear that prices will only continue to increase unless the General Assembly takes action. Illinois has long been a leader in delivering clean, affordable, and reliable energy – and we have the chance to be the first state to directly respond to the Trump administration's devastating rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act."

Majority Leader Robyn Gabel (18th House District): "CRGA makes good on the promises we made when we passed CEJA in 2021. This legislation builds upon Illinois' legacy of creating an equitable clean energy economy that lowers prices for everyone, protects our environment, and creates jobs and economic development opportunities that benefit historically disadvantaged communities across the state."

Rep. Jay Hoffman (113th House District): "As lawmakers, the General Assembly has a duty to guarantee our state has access to plentiful, affordable, and clean energy. I am proud to stand behind the CRGA Act as a solution that delivers all of the above and sets our state up for future economic success."

Stephanie Burgos-Veras, Senior Manager for Equity Programs, Coalition for Community Solar Access: "After Illinois families and businesses weathered a summer of unprecedented energy cost increases, CRGA will deliver cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy. A vote for CRGA is crucial to expanding access to clean and affordable energy for all Illinoisans, especially
low-income households and renters, who will have more opportunities to utilize cost-saving programs such as community solar and energy efficiency initiatives."

Lesley McCain, Executive Director, Illinois Solar Energy & Storage Association: "Thousands of solar workers and their families are facing an uncertain future as the Federal Government attacks our industry. Passing the Clean and Reliable Grid Act will give them much needed relief, protect all Illinois families from rising energy costs and secure billions of dollars in economic investment for communities across Illinois."

Andrew Linhares, Central Region Senior Manager, Solar Energy Industries Association: "Inaction is not an option. The Illinois grid urgently needs all the electrons it can get, and solar and storage are the fastest, most cost-effective forms of energy to build. CRGA will save Illinois families money on their bills, create good jobs and economic development, and solidify Illinois once again as a clean energy leader."

Jeff Danielson, Vice President of Advocacy, Clean Grid Alliance: ""Illinois must meet this critical moment by investing in proven solutions that promote the stability and reliability of our grid while also lowering costs for homeowners and businesses. CRGA does just that, reducing rates for consumers and ensuring that the state's economic development efforts are set up for success."

Samarth Medakkar, Policy Principal, Advanced Energy United: "CRGA builds energy storage facilities here in Illinois instead of squandering our dollars on out-of-state gas plants or keeping old generators running. Gigawatts of batteries can be online before this decade is over if we pass the CRGA now. Otherwise, the projects that are ready to be built will go to other states—along with the savings, jobs, and tax revenue."

Jen Walling, Spokesperson, Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition: "The CRGA Act is a win for consumers – it gives Illinoisans tools to save money on their utility bills right now through energy efficiency programs and increasing access to rebates. The CRGA Act is a win for our electric grid – it promotes improvements to grid infrastructure and increases the amount of clean electricity power lines can carry. And the CRGA Act is a win for our climate and clean energy workforce – it doubles the investment in renewable energy we made in CEJA, meaning more clean energy jobs, more consumer savings, and less air and climate pollution."

Sarah Moskowitz, Executive Director, Citizens Utility Board (CUB): "Forces outside our state have caused wholesale power prices to skyrocket. As we face soaring electric bills, market architects applaud these high-price outcomes for sending 'strong market signals.' Well, then, it's time for our state to respond to these signals and act now to protect Illinois consumers. SB25 gives us the tools to do that on a system-wide level to cost-effectively help us avoid electric price volatility and also on an individual basis so that regular residential consumers benefit."

Brady Briska, Renewables Program Coordinator & Policy Analyst, LiveWire Construction: "Right now, Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs) are under attack by the federal administration seeking to undercut the growth of small, minority-owned businesses in the solar industry. Illinois can step up. Don't let EECs go out of business, putting contractors that now have their feet in the door out of work. Pass CRGA!"

Joe Duffy, Executive Director, Climate Jobs Illinois: "The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act is a clear example of what's possible when labor, industry, and advocates come together with a shared goal — delivering affordable, reliable, and clean energy for all Illinoisans. This legislation not only tackles rising energy costs but ensures that the transition to a cleaner grid supports good union jobs and strengthens communities across our state. It's a partnership that keeps Illinois leading the way on both climate and equity."