Renewable Energy in Illinois

Illinois

Renewable energy is produced from sources that are naturally replenishing, such as wind, solar, water, biomass (plants, wood, or waste) or heat (geothermal energy), and is used to generate electricity. Renewable energy is the fastest-growing energy source in the United States, increasing by 42% from 2010 to 2020. Much of the recent growth is driven by record-high solar and wind energy production. Renewable energy accounted for 13% of total energy production in 2022, and fossil fuel production made up the rest. Continued growth of renewable energy may help limit the dangerous effects of climate change. 

Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy comes from clean sources and reduces carbon emissions and air pollution. Increasing renewable energy would allow the U.S. to transition away from fossil fuel use and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Generating electricity from clean, sustainable and affordable energy sources can improve health outcomes by reducing air and water pollutants emitted by coal and natural gas plants. Renewable facilities can operate at very low costs once they are built. According to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency, the costs of renewable technologies declined steadily between 2010 and 2020, and the trend is projected to continue. 

Implementing policies at the state level that aim to support producers of preferred energy sources (wind or solar) can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector. States can adopt portfolio standards to establish requirements for electric utilities to produce a certain amount of electricity from clean energy sources.

The White House has set a goal for renewables to provide 80% of total electricity generation in the U.S. by 2030, and to be 100% carbon-free by 2035. Achieving these goals will require significant investment in energy transition at the federal level. Strategies include:

• Financing efficiency upgrades and electrification in buildings.
• Investing in new technologies to reduce emissions associated with construction for high-performance buildings.
• Supporting early markets for low- and zero-carbon products.
• Incentivizing low-carbon innovation to lower the financial burden of energy transition. 
• Keeping jobs local and training workers in new roles.

There are several federal financial incentive programs for renewable energy, including the Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit and the Residential Clean Energy Credit.

Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives focused on promoting healthier environments, including: 

• Reducing the number of days people are exposed to unhealthy air. 
• Reducing toxic airborne emissions.
• Increasing the use of public transportation among commuters.

Bashir, Muhammad Farhan, Muhammad Sadiq, Besma Talbi, Luqman Shahzad, and Muhammad Adnan Bashir. “An Outlook on the Development of Renewable Energy, Policy Measures to Reshape the Current Energy Mix, and How to Achieve Sustainable Economic Growth in the Post COVID-19 Era.” Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29, no. 29 (June 2022): 43636–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20010-w.

IRENA. “Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020.” Abu Dhabi: International Renewable Energy Agency, 2021. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Jun/IRENA_Power_Generation_Costs_2020.pdf?rev=c9e8dfcd1b2048e2b4d30fef671a5b84.