Illinois officials pledged to take on new green energy projects and step away from fossil fuel reliance, but the state has hit a major roadblock in that pledge – the federal government.

In 2021, Illinois became the first state in the Midwest to pass legislation creating a roadmap for the state to ban coal and other fossil fuels, while dedicating over $1 billion to rapidly boost the state’s wind, solar and nuclear energy production.

By 2030, the state’s existing coal plants would have to emit zero carbon emissions or be shut down. By 2050, the state would mandate only clean energy sources for electricity.

"We can't outrun or hide from climate change – not to the north, where the Boundary Waters burn; not to the south, where [Hurricane] Ida swallows lives and livelihoods in the blink of a

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