ICC releases first draft of Renewable Energy Access Plan for 120 days of public input, review

As part of obligations to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), the Staff of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) released a first draft this week of a new Renewable Energy Access Plan (REAP) for 120 days of public review and comment.

This plan is an action plan meant to clarify policy requirements for the decarbonization transition and clean electricity system in Illinois. It calls for the prioritization of closing fossil-fueled electric generating units near environmental justice communities, identification of renewable areas for resource development, incorporation of equity in land use, optimization of existing transmission systems to deliver clean electricity, proactive planning of new transmission that considers public policy needs, improvements to regional transmission organization markets and more.

“The transition to 100 percent clean energy requires tremendous and active collaboration between state agencies, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), consumer advocate groups, and industry experts to get the job done right,” ICC Executive Director Michael Merchant said. “We want to hear from all interested stakeholders and encourage all to review the first draft of the REAP and provide comment for consideration into the second draft to be finalized in the Fall.”

The draft also clarifies that both MISO and PJM will have to substantially improve their existing markets and expand their efforts to properly support the implementation of Illinois’ clean electricity policy implementation. If those improvements are not implemented, conflict with policy mandates and less cost-effective transitions emerge. However, for a second draft, the ICC hopes to include a more thorough account of the required RTO market reforms needed, based on input and analysis from MISO, PJM, and other stakeholders.