Illinois Commission Unveils Draft Renewable Energy Access Plan

The Illinois Commerce Commission on July 13 published a first draft of its Renewable Energy Access Plan as required under the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The plan lays out a comprehensive direction toward a clean electricity system that is equitable, reliable, and reasonable.

The 2021 law sets Illinois on the path to attaining a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2050. The act sets an intermediate goal of 50 percent renewable electricity by 2040 for most consumers, mandates the phase-out of fossil fuel emissions by 2045, and introduces new support measures for nuclear power. In addition, the commission must initiate an investigation by Dec. 31, 2022, to develop and adopt a renewable energy access plan. The draft identifies gaps in the status quo and lays out recommendations for implementing this clean energy transition efficiently.

The plan also includes the following strategic elements:

• Closure of fossil-fueled electric generating units in nearby environmental justice communities and to identify renewable resources, incorporating equity considerations in land use planning.
• Enhancements to existing transmission system efficiency to deliver clean electricity to consumers.
• Planning of new transmissions with public policy needs in mind.
• Enhancements of regional transmission organization markets to lessen costs and emissions, create jobs, and safeguard state and regional power system reliability to prevent outages while the state transitions to clean energy.

A preliminary assessment of reforms is offered in the first draft, which requires considerable analysis, refinement, and more study to determine the most effective implementation method. Based on input and analysis from PJM Interconnection, Midcontinent Independent System Operator, and other stakeholders, a revised and refined list of required regional transmission organization market reforms will be included in the second draft.

The draft was co-authored with Brattle Group and Great Lakes Engineering and outlines key areas of work and next steps for a transmission and land use analysis. The commission will host a series of workshops with the Brattle Group to gather further information about the draft for 120 days. A final draft will be submitted to the commission in the fall of 2022.