Leading from the Middle: How Illinois Communities Unleashed Renewable Energy

Cities in Illinois have harnessed a little-known local energy model called Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) to switch to clean power and save their ratepayers millions of dollars. Since 2013 more than 90 Illinois towns, representing 1.7 million people, transitioned to 100% renewable electricity by using Renewable Energy Credits.

Their freedom of choice increased demand for energy sources like wind and solar by over 6 terawatt hours—reducing pollution levels equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road or 250,000 homes off the grid.