Illinois Green Policy Update: November 2025
Welcome to the November edition of the Illinois Green Policy Update. We're incredibly excited to share some important updates about Illinois' recent climate policy achievement and more!
Illinois Just Passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Act: Here’s what the Building Industry Needs to Know
A few weeks ago, Illinois legislators took major action to address rising energy costs and add clean energy to the grid through the Clean and Reliable Grid Act (CRGA). Over the last year this issue rose in prominence as residents across the state have seen their energy bills rise due to rising capacity costs and increased demand from data centers.
The 1,000+ page bill focuses on addressing these challenges in a number of ways, focusing on clean energy generation and grid capacity solutions, while also creating new opportunities for green buildings across the state. We put together a summary of these key components!
What does Chicago’s Latest Budget Proposal Mean for Green Buildings?
Recently, Mayor Brandon Johnson released his 2026 Budget Proposal for the City of Chicago. Here are some key elements that industry professionals should be aware of:
- The Department of Environment would receive a major increase in budget and responsibility. The proposal returns the power to the Department of Environment by transitioning existing inspection, enforcement, and planning roles from other departments to the Department of Environment and allocates over $52 million to carry out these responsibilities.
- The Department of Planning and Development is set to lose a significant amount of funding due to the expiration of federal grant funding.
- The Department of Buildings would receive a minor budget cut and prioritize updating their permitting and inspection system.
The Mayor, City Council, and key stakeholders will be negotiating the budget through the rest of the year. We’ll be tracking any changes impacting buildings and decarbonization through this process. Find the current proposal here

In Other Sustainability News
Illinois Electricity 101: The Grid, Solar, and What Comes Next
Read more – Vote Solar
Inside the push to turn vacant city lots into affordable homes in Chicago
Read more – CBS News
As the Data Center Boom Ramps Up in the Rural Midwest, What Should Communities Expect?
Read more – Inside Climate News
Boston Is Piloting Window Heat Pumps in Affordable Housing
Read more – Next City
Simpler Solar Regulations would Save Americans $1.2 Trillion
Read more – Heatmap
16 Northern Illinois Communities Take Steps to Become EV Ready
Read more – Metropolitan Mayor’s Caucus
Court Upholds Furnace Efficiency Standards Set to Cut Household Bills
Read more –
Appliance Standards Awareness Project
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