Environment and Energy

The United States is facing the worst economic challenges since the Great Depression and Illinois is faring worse than most. A new report from the American Legislative Exchange Council ranks our economic performance among the ten worst states in the country and our unemployment rate typically exceeds the national average. 

In order for this state to get its economy moving again, we must capitalize on our strengths and ensure that regulatory actions balance sound environmental practice with good economic practice. With an energy base that includes one of the largest coal reserves in the world, farmland for biofuels, more nuclear power generation than any state, ample wind for electrical generation, a convergence of natural gas and crude oil pipelines, five area oil refineries, a robust electricity transmission system and much more, Illinois is well positioned as an energy research and production center. 

To realize our full potential – and not lose projects to neighboring states -- we must create a business and regulatory environment that encourages new energy investment.  The Illinois Chamber has pursued and will continue to pursue an Illinois Energy to Jobs Initiative that represents a comprehensive strategy our state needs in order to ensure our existing energy infrastructure continues to thrive and new energy projects move from the drawing board to reality. 

By advocating for new state incentives to build and improve energy production and manufacturing facilities of all kinds- from wind farms to nuclear power plants and from biofuel facilities to clean coal plants- while improving the state’s efficiency and timeliness of the permitting process, the Illinois Chamber continues to champion initiatives that promise to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the Illinois economy, create thousands of jobs, and create a reliable, secure energy supply for Illinois consumers.