Illinois passed a battery storage incentive program as data center demand rises

Illinois passed a battery storage incentive program last fall, Canary Media reported, as data center development pushes electricity demand higher. The state has lagged on batteries, the report adds.

Canary Media's Oct. 19 report says Illinois has built out large amounts of renewables over the past decade toward its 2050 clean-energy mandate. Advocates cited in the report say storage is especially necessary now that data center development is driving up demand.

ComEd's approved scheduled-dispatch program pays battery owners for capacity made available during certain peak periods, this publication reported in October. The utility also plans to file a virtual power plant framework beyond batteries by 2027, according to our reporting.

This publication argued in September that state-led procurement gives long-lead generation a counterparty the merchant market will not supply. It called Illinois the live test.