Governor JB Pritzker has signed Senate Bill 25, known as the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), into law. The bill focuses on battery storage and energy policy changes in Illinois, but it has drawn criticism for its potential financial impact on consumers.
A recent study by three state agencies warned of a “credible risk” of electricity shortages in Illinois over the next five years. This backdrop has fueled debate over the state’s approach to energy reform.
House Minority Leader Tony McCombie criticized the bill’s language and its projected costs for residents. “Governor Pritzker signed an $8 Billion energy bill today and called it ‘affordable.’ Illinois families will call it what it is when their bills arrive: expensive,” McCombie said. She added, “Labeling this legislation the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act doesn’t make it affordable; it makes it misleading. This bill expands mandates, bureaucracy, and regulatory control while offering no guaranteed, near-term relief for families already struggling with some of the highest utility costs in the Midwest.”
McCombie also commented that past promises to lower bills have not materialized: “For years, Illinois Democrats have promised that the next energy bill would finally lower bills. Instead, today’s new law keeps them waiting.” She further stated, “The Governor’s claims of ‘savings’ over decades relies on unknown assumptions, but Illinoisans don’t pay their electric bills in projections.” She concluded that House Republicans would continue advocating for an all-energy strategy aimed at reliable power and lower costs.
State Representative Kevin Schmidt also voiced concerns about SB 25. “Under the guise of ‘green energy,’ Illinoisans will see higher rates, less production, and a less reliable energy supply,” said Rep. Schmidt. “While there is some good in this bill, such as the repeal of the nuclear construction ban, it’s crammed between handouts for special interests and rate hikes for consumers. Instead of focusing on expensive and unattainable green energy pipe-dreams, we should focus on preserving our energy from sources like natural gas, coal, and fossil fuels that work and utilize a strong workforce.”
Schmidt argued that SB 25 will increase burdens on families already facing high utility bills.
He suggested alternatives including several House Bills (HB1544–HB1547) which propose extending deadlines for reduced or zero carbon dioxide emissions under amendments to the Environmental Protection Act. Another proposal referenced was SB76 which aims to expand new nuclear power plants.
Schmidt was elected as a Republican representative to serve Illinois’ 114th House District in 2023 after succeeding LaToya Greenwood.
