Illinois’ Clean Energy Economy is Booming
One year ago, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law the most important statewide energy legislation in a generation. To mark the occasion, E2 and the Clean Energy Trust held a celebration of clean energy job growth to reinforce what business leaders and lawmakers in Illinois have come know — what is good for the environment is good for the economy.
Already leading the region in the number of works employed in renewable energy and energy efficiency, the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) stands to make Illinois a model states across the Midwest can follow to increase clean energy jobs and investment to their communities.
Flanked by three Illinois clean energy companies at the event, Gov. Rauner highlighted that FEJA is more than just a commonsense, long-overdue statewide energy policy. It’s also sound economics.
“Clean energy in Illinois is booming, and its growing jobs. Just over a year ago, I signed into law a piece of legislation crucial to the future of clean energy in Illinois,” said Gov. Rauner. “Thanks to the Future Energy Jobs Act, we will be able to compete head-to-head with any state in the nation to attract clean-energy investment and clean-energy jobs while protecting ratepayers and taxpayers.”
With a growth rate six times faster than overall jobs in the state, Illinois is already leading the Midwest in clean energy jobs with nearly 120,000 workers statewide. But the 2016 law sets its sights higher — make Illinois a national leader. FEJA requires Illinois to acquire a quarter of electricity from renewable energy resources by 2025 and significantly increases annual investments in the state’s energy efficiency industry.
“We are especially excited by the growing potential in Illinois for the adoption of solar and the economic benefits that can bring,” said SoCore Energy president Robert Scheuermann after the Gov’s remarks.
Establishing new standards for renewable energy and energy efficiency, FEJA allows state energy companies to have policy certainty needed for long-term growth plans. Trajectory Energy Partners was founded thanks to this certainty and founder and managing partner Jon Carson was on hand to explain exactly how his company plans on taking advantage of the opportunity.
“We have already started work to bring solar power and jobs to communities around Illinois,” said Carson. “One of our first projects will be a 2MW community solar project in East Peoria and we recently hired 2 full-time employees in the last month. We look forward to the growing opportunities in the state.”
The law also mandates $25 million per year in investments to efficiency programs and requires both ComEd and Ameren to significantly reduce energy demand by 2030. These programs ensure that energy efficiency — by far the biggest clean energy employer in Illinois with 93,000 workers — continues to be a large job creator in the state.
Clean energy is crucial to expanding Illinois’ economy. Thanks to FEJA’s renewable energy and efficiency measures — signed into law just one year ago — our businesses are on the cusp of having the policy certainty they need to scale up investments, grow their businesses, hire more workers, and take Illinois to the forefront of our nation’s clean energy economy.
