Illinois e-News Release

July 29, 2024

Cayli Baker

Office: (312) 793-8841

Springfield, IL – Last week, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) was awarded $8.3 million from the Department of Energy (DOE)'s Grid Deployment Office to improve the review process for several transmission projects running through the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) territory. High voltage transmission is a critical piece of America’s energy infrastructure that works to send power from where its generated, out to homes and buildings all over a region. The state of Illinois’ project was one of 20 selected from across 16 states as a part of the Transmission Siting and Economic Development grant program and will help to build out a more resilient and reliable power grid.

“America’s power grid was designed decades ago and isn’t fully up to speed with today’s modern energy demands and fuel sources. Investing in a more coordinated and efficient transmission permitting process will help to strengthen our existing grid infrastructure and keep power safe and easy to access for all Illinoisians,” said ICC Chairman Doug Scott.

"Modernizing our transmission permitting process will improve our power system's efficiency and reliability while cutting costs for consumers and creating the next generation of clean energy jobs," said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13). "I'm glad to see more than $8 million coming to the Illinois Commerce Commission to bolster our electrical grid and improve our ability to incorporate public feedback."

The ICC’s winning project is intended to streamline the transmission line siting review and approval processes in Illinois; ensure better protection of natural resources and historical sites; and better incorporate community-identified needs into the transmission siting approval process. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the project will also digitize records and upgrade public-facing databases that house data on environmental and cultural resources along lines under review.

“This grant will enable IDNR to conduct surveys of endangered and threatened species and historic and culture resources, create conservation guidance, and assess species’ status,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “We are grateful for the opportunity to modernize lagging databases, processes, and workflows for vital cultural-resource reviews within the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office, which is part of IDNR.”

The improvements and the data collected will be used to inform siting review for future transmission projects, and lower the costs and time tied to project development and review.

More details about the state of Illinois’ project can be found here.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is a quasi-judicial body made up of five Commissioners. Through its Public Utility Program, the Commission oversees the provision of adequate, reliable, efficient, and safe utility services at the least possible cost to Illinois citizens served by electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and sewer public utility companies. Through its Transportation Regulatory Program, the Commission oversees public safety and consumer protection programs with regard to intrastate commercial motor carriers of general freight, household goods movers, relocation towers, safety towers, personal property warehouses, and repossession agencies. The Commission’s Rail Safety Program also inspects and regulates the general safety of railroad tracks, facilities, and equipment in the state.

To learn more about the Commission, its offices, and bureaus, click here. If you are a consumer who needs help resolving a utility dispute call 800-524-0795 or file an online complaint here.  For a complaint related to transportation, call 217-782-6448.

Follow the Illinois Commerce Commission on social media @ILCommerceComm.