Illinois Bets on Batteries to Combat Soaring Energy Bills

Illinois is taking bold action to address electricity costs that have skyrocketed by one-third over five years, with some regions seeing nearly 50% increases. The state’s response? A groundbreaking energy reform package that makes a massive bet on battery storage technology and lifts a decades-old ban on new nuclear reactors.

The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act will add 3 gigawatts of battery storage capacity to Illinois’ power grid—enough to store excess renewable energy when it’s cheap and release it during peak demand. While ratepayers will face surcharges starting in 2030, state analysis shows the $1 billion investment will save consumers over $13 billion during the next two decades. The legislation also ends Illinois’ 40-year moratorium on large-scale nuclear construction, building on the state’s existing nuclear infrastructure that already provides half its electricity.

The timing is critical. Federal climate incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act have been eliminated, and President Trump canceled nearly $600 million in grid modernization grants for Illinois. Meanwhile, power-hungry data centers are driving up demand—with northern Illinois expecting a 40% increase by 2040. Energy experts warn that without action, households could face an additional $250 annually in energy costs due to lost federal support.

Illinois becomes the first state to pass major climate legislation since Trump’s return to office, positioning battery storage as a key solution for managing renewable energy’s variability while keeping costs manageable for consumers facing an affordability crisis.