FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2025
Media Contact:
Robin Tung
Director of Public Relations
robin@buildingdecarb.org
Illinois Passes the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act,
Unlocking Affordable Energy Bills with Thermal Energy Network Investment
Illinois legislators demonstrate leadership by passing a thermal energy network pilot program
SPRINGFIELD, IL — During the state’s October veto session, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB25, the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25). The bill positions Illinois as a leader in addressing high energy bills by advancing thermal energy networks (TENs), state-of-the-art technologies that deliver efficient heating and cooling to homes and buildings at scale while sustaining and growing a skilled workforce.
A TENs pilot program, administered by the Illinois Commerce Commission and Illinois Finance Authority, will provide up to $20 million to advance neighborhood-scale TENs while ensuring strong labor standards and customer protections.
TENs use water-filled pipes and highly efficient geothermal heat pumps to heat and cool multiple homes and buildings, which can help reduce household energy bills. Instead of burning fuel, TENs draw steady, low-temperature heat from local sources, like the ground, wastewater, or other buildings. They also cool by pumping heat out of homes back into the network, keeping occupants safe and comfortable in hot weather.
Yami Newell, Senior Policy Manager for Illinois at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, provided the following statement:
“We applaud the work of advocates, labor unions, and legislative leaders for recognizing that thermal energy networks can deliver healthy, affordable heating and cooling to Illinois homes and families while sustaining and creating jobs for Illinois workers.
TENs are up to six times more efficient than gas furnaces, mitigate pressure on the electric grid, and can stabilize or lower energy bills in communities that urgently seek relief from energy price spikes. As infrastructure-scale projects that connect multiple homes and buildings, TENs projects can create family-sustaining jobs in construction, operations, and maintenance. By including TENs in CRGA, Illinois joins states revolutionizing how we heat and cool our homes while relying on local energy and growing our skilled workforce.
“CRGA’s passage was made possible by tireless collaboration among advocates including the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, Citizens Utility Board, GeoExchange, Sierra Club, and the Illinois Environmental Council, as well as labor union partners including the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150, Climate Jobs Illinois, and IL AFL-CIO. These organizations worked alongside leaders in Springfield committed to building an affordable, reliable, and modern energy future for Illinois, including Governor Pritzker, Representative Ann Williams, and Senator Peters.
“We look forward to working together with key partners to bring TENs to enthusiastic communities across the state.”
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ABOUT THE BUILDING DECARBONIZATION COALITION
The Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC) aligns critical stakeholders on a path to transform the nation’s buildings through clean energy, using policy, research, market development, and public engagement. The BDC and its members are charting the course to eliminate fossil fuels in buildings to improve people’s health, cut climate and air pollution, prioritize high-road jobs, and ensure that our communities are more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Learn more at www.buildingdecarb.org.