Illinois Can Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets in 3 Steps

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute (WRI) outlines how Illinois can achieve its Clean Power Plan (CPP) emissions-reduction targets through a three-step approach involving existing policy implementation, operational efficiency in fossil plants, and the expansion of clean energy standards.

• Under the Clean Power Plan, Illinois is required to lower its power sector emissions by 34-35 percent relative to 2012 levels by the year 2030. WRI analysis indicates that by utilizing existing clean energy policies and optimizing current power plants, the state could reduce these emissions by 27 percent below 2012 levels by 2030, achieving over 75 percent of its target.
• Illinois can meet or exceed its CPP targets through three specific steps: first, fulfilling existing clean energy policies (which could reduce emissions by 18 percent below 2012 levels by 2030); second, increasing the capacity of natural gas combined cycle plants from 18 percent in 2013 to 75 percent and implementing operational improvements; and third, removing spending caps on efficiency programs and raising the renewable energy standard to 35 percent of sales by 2030, which would cut CO2 emissions by 76 percent below 2012 levels by 2030.
• The transition to clean energy offers significant economic benefits for Illinois: the energy efficiency standard is estimated by the Natural Resources Defense Council to save customers $500 million annually starting in 2015 and over $1 billion annually by 2025; the Illinois Energy Now program created over 17,000 jobs between 2008 and 2014; and the state's 23 largest wind farms are projected to generate nearly $6 billion in economic benefit over their construction and 25-year operational periods.
• If Illinois exceeds its CPP emissions-reduction targets, it could generate an average of more than $300 million per year between 2022 and 2030 by selling unused emissions allowances to other states, based on an assumed allowance price of $10 per ton.

APA

Igusky, K. (2016). Illinois Can Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets in 3 Steps. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/illinois-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets-3-steps

Chicago

Igusky, Kristin. Illinois Can Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets in 3 Steps. World Resources Institute, 2016. https://www.wri.org/insights/illinois-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets-3-steps.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Igusky |first1=Kristin |title=Illinois Can Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets in 3 Steps |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=28 April 2016 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/illinois-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets-3-steps |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{igusky2016illinois, author = {Igusky, Kristin}, title = {{Illinois Can Meet its Clean Power Plan Targets in 3 Steps}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2016}, month = apr, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/illinois-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets-3-steps}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }