New clean energy bill is good for Galesburg and Illinois | Opinion

Starting this past summer, residents in Galesburg and across the Ameren territory saw double-digit price increases on their monthly electricity bills, and it is guaranteed prices will increase again in 2026.

Fortunately, our state leaders responded in October by passing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), which was specifically designed to reduce costs in the near- and long-term. Under this new law, Ameren customers will save almost $10 on their monthly power bills by 2028 and more than $20 per month by 2035, according to an independent analysis.

As Mayor of Galesburg, a climatologist, and a solar owner myself, it brings me great pleasure to say CRGA will save us money by continuing down Illinois’ path to 100% renewable energy. Electrification through renewable energy (aka “RE-electrification”) provides benefits for everyone, even if 100% renewable energy is not a personal priority of yours.

The renewable technologies that CRGA supports are critical in our pursuit of a fully RE-electrified future. RE-electrification lowers net energy use, improves efficiency, and lowers overall costs because renewables are far more efficient and cost-effective than fossil fuels. With CRGA, the Illinois General Assembly has recognized clean energy is a catalyst for lower energy costs, more jobs, and more economic development – not an obstacle. 

One of the bill’s primary mechanisms to lower prices is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program. VPPs follow the same philosophy as Galesburg’s own successful Energy Aggregation program that has saved our residents millions of dollars across more than a decade. 

Just as our municipal program bundles different energy loads to get a lower rate, VPPs also combine power from many different sources. Under a VPP program, energy sources like solar panels, storage, or electric vehicles combine their output to push power back to the grid and lower prices for everyone.

Our residents know how well Energy Aggregation has worked for Galesburg, so I am excited for other Illinois communities to get a similar opportunity with upcoming VPP programs. 

The bill’s other major provision is to build energy storage across the state, filling the gaps solar and wind energy have historically experienced when the sun is down or the wind isn’t blowing. 

Storage is proven to deliver significant savings by charging up when it’s very sunny or windy and sending stored energy to the grid when it would otherwise be more expensive, such as during a cold snap or heatwave. Look no further than Texas, where storage has saved residents $750 million since 2023. Simply put, this technology works, and I have full faith it’ll provide real results for Galesburg and our neighbors as it’s constructed in our area.

And let me be clear, without CRGA, it’s very unlikely Galesburg and other communities would enjoy these benefits. CRGA’s significance cannot be overstated given the current political climate in which the federal government has dismantled many crucial policies that advanced clean energy.

These federal policies have helped fuel incredible growth in clean energy in Galesburg and greater Knox County. Today, more than 475 solar projects are online in Knox County, with about a quarter of those located in Galesburg. About 500 Knox County residents work in clean energy, according to Clean Jobs Midwest, many of them building projects in their own community.

Not only have these investments reduced our community’s emissions and lowered energy bills and created jobs, but they have also brought major economic benefits to the area at large. Even just one major solar project can generate millions of dollars in additional tax revenue over time – funding that goes directly toward supporting vital city services like our parks, schools, and public safety.

As mayor, I have had the privilege of overseeing tremendous clean energy growth in Galesburg, such as the Blue Grama Community Solar farm that held its ribbon cutting earlier this year. Projects like Blue Grama are a quadruple win for our community – they generate tax revenue, lower energy costs up to 15%, reduce our emissions, and show that our city is welcoming of economic investments. 

Without CRGA filling the void in leadership left by the federal government, we can be certain that we would lose the positive momentum Galesburg and Illinois have established. I applaud our leaders in Springfield for not backing down from the goals they established with prior clean energy laws. 

No one ever said the path to 100% clean energy would be easy, but Illinois is showing other states how it can be done, and it is my intention for Galesburg to be at the forefront.

Peter Schwartzman is the mayor of Galesburg.