Illinois has enacted Senate Bill 25, known as the “Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act,” which is projected to cost taxpayers and electricity ratepayers $8.1 billion. The legislation includes provisions such as subsidies for battery storage and energy efficiency programs, aiming to accelerate the state’s transition to renewable energy sources.
Previously, Illinois was set to receive about $1 billion in federal incentives from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to support renewable energy development. However, these incentives ended with the passage of H.R. 1 (“One Big Beautiful Bill”) on July 4, 2025. The tax credits primarily benefited renewable energy developers, large corporations in manufacturing and energy sectors, and higher-income consumers purchasing electric vehicles or solar panels.
Illinois responded by passing SB 25, which will require funding for the construction of 3 gigawatts of battery storage by 2030. The law does not cap costs for battery storage projects and allows expenses to be passed on to consumers through a surcharge on electricity bills starting in 2030.
An analysis by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) estimates that the program will cost approximately $1 billion to implement but could save consumers more than $13 billion over two decades. However, questions remain about the reliability of these long-term projections.
The bill also introduces an “integrated resource plan” process that enables the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to review and potentially override local government decisions regarding approval and siting of battery facilities.
State Representative Steven Reick commented: “So once again, you have the very same government that’s screaming about ‘affordability’ saying that your short-term costs are going up so that you can ‘save’ a few bucks 20 years from now, with no guarantee that it will ever happen. It’s government telling you that ‘I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.’ We know how well that’s worked with all the similar promises to save money that never seem to materialize.”
Reick added: “We’re now facing the prospect of having a battery facility built right here in McHenry County, and there are a lot of questions that need answers. I’m going to split this conversation up into two more installments so I can focus on problems with the technology and then talk about the company making the application. Talk to you soon.”
Steven Reick has represented Illinois’ 63rd House District since his election in 2017.
