Illinois Supercharges Clean Energy with New CRGA Bill
Illinois CRGA Bill Boosts Solar & Energy Storage Market - Discover how the new Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) in Illinois is expanding community solar, funding battery storage, and driving clean energy growth.
Illinois is taking a major step forward in its commitment to a sustainable future. The state has passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), a comprehensive energy bill designed to expand renewable energy development, strengthen the power grid, and create significant opportunities for the clean energy industry. This landmark legislation is a huge victory, paving the way for substantial growth in solar power, energy storage, and equitable energy solutions across the state.
For developers, landowners, and clean energy advocates, the CRGA opens up new avenues for investment and innovation. This act not only accelerates Illinois's transition to clean energy but also provides the clear, supportive framework needed to get projects built. Let's explore the key provisions of this bill and what they mean for the future of clean energy in Illinois.
“The bill is linked here in this blog post - be warned, it’s a hefty 1,000+ pages!”
A Bigger, Bolder Community Solar Market
One of the most exciting aspects of the CRGA is how it directly supports the expansion of community solar and unlocks new opportunities for agrivoltaics. The bill allows for larger and more economically viable projects that can serve more residents and businesses while also empowering farmers and landowners to participate in the clean energy transition like never before.
Co-location Provisions Expand Dual-Use Opportunities
A significant change is the provision allowing for the co-location of community solar projects up to 10 megawatts (MW) on a single parcel of land or adjacent properties. This is a game-changer for both developers and agricultural landowners. By enabling larger, dual-use project sizes, the CRGA makes development more efficient and profitable, while allowing landowners to maximize the productivity of their property by generating clean energy and maintaining active agricultural operations—a core principle of agrivoltaics.
With these new parameters, Illinois farmers and landowners can now benefit from dual revenue streams: leasing land for solar while continuing to grow crops or graze livestock beneath and around the panels. This innovative approach, championed by Lightstar, improves land use efficiency by up to 60-70% compared to single-use methods, enhances crop resilience against extreme weather, and conserves water—all while boosting on-farm income and financial stability.
New Rebates for Solar and Storage
The CRGA introduces a powerful financial incentive to bring even more value to community solar and agrivoltaic projects. The new $250 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) rebate applies to both community solar systems paired with battery storage and standalone storage installations, lowering upfront costs and making clean energy investments more accessible.
This investment offers the ability to further scale solar, storage, and agrivoltaics across the state—demonstrating that clean energy doesn’t have to displace agriculture. Instead, Illinois can become a model for how clean energy and regenerative farming can thrive together, delivering environmental benefits like improved pollinator habitats, reduced carbon footprint, and better soil health, alongside strong financial returns for rural communities.
At Lightstar, we’re excited to continue leading the way by developing community solar and agrivoltaic projects designed to maximize the value of your land, support Illinois agriculture, and build a more resilient, equitable energy future for everyone.
Massive Boost for Battery Storage
Beyond the community solar rebate, the CRGA makes a historic commitment to energy storage. The legislation mandates the procurement of 3 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage by 2030. This is a massive undertaking that will position Illinois as a national leader in grid modernization.
To kickstart this effort, the bill requires an initial procurement of 1.038 GW by September 1, 2026. This aggressive timeline signals the state's urgency in deploying storage to support its renewable energy goals. This large-scale procurement will create a robust market for battery storage projects, driving investment, innovation, and job creation in the energy storage sector. A grid fortified with 3 GW of storage will be more flexible, reliable, and capable of integrating the next wave of wind and solar power.
Strengthening the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
The CRGA also reinforces the state's primary mechanism for driving renewable energy growth: the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The bill makes a crucial adjustment by allowing the RPS budget to increase with inflation.
This may seem like a small tweak, but its impact is enormous. An inflation-adjusted budget ensures that the state’s purchasing power for renewable energy credits (RECs) does not erode over time. This provides long-term stability and predictability for the market, giving developers the confidence to invest in new projects. According to initial analyses, this change is estimated to help bring an additional 1.8 GW of solar energy online by 2035, ensuring a steady and sustained expansion of Illinois's clean energy portfolio.
Streamlining Processes and Supporting Equity
The CRGA goes beyond procurement targets and financial incentives. It also includes important reforms aimed at making the development process smoother and more equitable for everyone involved.
Reforming the Interconnection Process
Anyone who has developed a renewable energy project knows that interconnection can be a major bottleneck. CRGA repeals the existing interconnection working group and replaces it
with a new, more formalized process. Critically, the bill also provides for the hiring of an interconnection ombudsperson.
This new role will serve as an independent advocate and mediator, helping to resolve disputes and cut through red tape. By creating a more efficient and transparent interconnection process, the bill will help get clean energy projects connected to the grid faster, reducing costly delays for developers.
Incentivizing Equity and Fair Labor
The CRGA also contains provisions designed to ensure that the benefits of the clean energy transition are shared widely. The bill incentivizes developers to work with Equity Eligible Contractors (EECs), helping to build wealth and create opportunities in historically disadvantaged communities.
Furthermore, the act strengthens labor standards by requiring Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) on community solar projects larger than 3 MW. This ensures that the jobs created by this expanding industry are good-paying, family-sustaining careers.
The Path Forward for Illinois
The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act is more than just an energy bill; it's a strategic plan for Illinois's economic and environmental future. By expanding the market for community solar, making a historic investment in battery storage, and streamlining critical development processes, CRGA sets the stage for a decade of unprecedented growth.
This legislation provides the certainty and support that the clean energy industry needs to invest, innovate, and build. For landowners, farmers, and communities across Illinois, it promises new revenue streams, a more resilient power grid, and a cleaner environment for generations to come. The future of clean energy in Illinois is bright, and CRGA is the blueprint for making it a reality.
Lauren Skirball
Policy & Strategy Manager, West
Contact Meghan Welborn, Director of Marketing & PR for press inquires and speaking enagagements for Lauren and the Lightstar team.
