Chicago Sets Sights On Acquiring 100% Renewable Energy By 2025

The city of Chicago in the USA has committed to acquiring 100% renewable energy by 2025 for use in all city facilities and activities, and as the first step in that process, has reached an agreement with electricity provider Constellation for the purchase of renewable energy.

A 593MW solar PV plant will be built by developer Swift Current Energy and utility Constellation to initially supply electricity to Chicago-area facilities.

Construction on the installation, which is among the biggest in Illinois to date and will be situated in the downstate Sangamon and Morgan counties, is anticipated to begin by the end of this year.

By 2025, the solar power plant will partially provide clean electricity to several Chicago structures, including the city’s airports, the Harold Washington Library Center, and the Jardine water filtration facility.

According to the contract, Constellation will start to provide electricity to Chicago in January next year for a five-year starting period.

“The signing of this agreement demonstrates that the City of Chicago is leading by example and driving high-impact climate action, building the clean energy workforce of the future, and equitably distributing meaningful benefits to foster the local clean energy economy for all,” said Lori Lightfoot, Mayor of the city of Chicago.

“Over the past few years, more than 200 people have gone through our solar panel installation training program,” said Karen Freeman Wilson, president, and chief executive officer of the Chicago Urban League. “Some of our graduates were incredibly proud to be part of the team that completed one of the largest solar projects in Chicago earlier this year—the installation of a solar roof and carport at our headquarters.”

Additionally, the partnership with Constellation and Swift Current Energy will aid in funding programs that will be centered on the growth of renewable energy, such as apprenticeships and job training.

Additionally, the city has earmarked funds through the Chicago Recovery Plan to hasten energy retrofits and the production of renewable energy, beginning with libraries in historically underprivileged neighborhoods on the South and West sides.

Chicago will also buy renewable energy certificates (RECs) from other renewable sources to cover the rest of its energy needs, including streetlights and small and medium-sized buildings.

Rahm Emmanuel, Lightfoot’s predecessor, had previously committed to having Chicago’s buildings run entirely on renewable energy by 2025.

By 2035, Chicago plans to run all of its activities using only renewable energy, and all of the city’s electricity will come from clean, renewable sources.