Path to 100% Wind and Solar in Illinois: 7 Steps to a Clean Energy Future

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We break down the Illinois RPS (renewable portfolio standard) which could be expanded to 40% by 2030 if we get the Path to 100 legislation. Watch now.

25 by 2025 is Good – but we can do better!
Illinois currently has a 25% renewable portfolio standard that says we will achieve 25% clean power by 2025. Thanks to FEJA (Future Energy Jobs Act) we have strong cash incentives (renewable energy credits) to incentivize the addition of 2800 MW of solar PV and 1000 MW of additional wind power between now and 2025. Now there are several legislative initiatives, including the Path to 100 and Clean Energy Jobs Act that are aiming to make sure the RPS meets its goals and even expand the RPS to 40% by 2030. Join renewable energy industry veteran, Kevin Borgia, Midwest Policy Director for Cypress Creek Renewables, to learn how Illinois is charting a course to a clean energy future.

Seven questions Illinois stakeholders must consider when supporting or questioning these initiatives:

  • What does a 25, 40 or 100% RPS mean for the Illinois economy? Impact on jobs and the environment? Ratepayers?
  • Coal and Nuclear Plants hang in the balance, how do the Investor Owned Utilities view an expanded RPS?
  • Coal plants are closing left and right purely due to economic forces…is there a future for coal in Illinois?
  • What can local residents, business owners and other stakeholders do to support these important initiatives?
  • How to make their voices heard by the IL State Legislature?
  • What happens if we fail to expand the RPS? Does the solar coaster ride again in Illinois?
  • How can we make solar farms more environmentally friendly?

Special Thanks to Kevin Borgia for coming on the show!

Kevin Borgia, Midwest Policy Director | Cypress Creek Renewables

Advocate, organizer, fundraiser, pragmatic progressive. Kevin is an experienced advocate for clean energy at the state and federal levels. In his current role, Kevin manages Midwest legislative and regulatory affairs for Cypress Creek Renewables, one of the nation’s leading utility-scale solar developers.

Kevin has played a leadership role in renewable energy policy in the Midwest for over a decade. He was co-founder and Executive Director of the Illinois Wind Energy Association from 2007-2011, and a Public Policy Manager for regional trade group Wind on the Wires for the subsequent six years.

He has secured significant policy victories for clean power in the Midwest. Kevin played a key role in developing and passing Illinois’ Future Energy Jobs Act, which will lead to over 3000 megawatts of new wind and solar generation, and was deeply involved in shaping Illinois’ Community Solar program. He also has extensive experience in Michigan’s nascent solar market.

Kevin also has significant media relations experience, and he has been quoted in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, the Chicago Tribune, and appeared on Fox News Chicago. His writing has appeared in a variety of business and energy industry publications, including Crain’s Chicago Business, North American Windpower Magazine, Midwest Energy News, Morning Consult and others. In 2018, he was named to Midwest Energy News’ 40 Under 40 list.

Previously, Kevin worked as editor of the federal energy and environmental policy newsletters Energy Washington and Inside EPA. After hours, Kevin is a runner, mountain biker, writer, traveler, wannabe musician, aspiring polymath, and part-time adrenaline junkie.

Support a stronger RPS in Illinois: www.pathto100.net | Short video about the impact on jobs and the environment.