In a significant milestone, Chicago has become one of the largest cities in the United States to power its facilities and operations entirely with renewable energy, as announced by the city’s Mayor, Brandon Johnson, the Department of Environment (DOE), and the Department of Fleet and Facility Management (2FM).
Following years of collaboration between various stakeholders, including the city, nonprofit partner Elevate, retail electricity supplier Constellation, and Swift Current Energy, the transition was officially launched on January 1, 2025.
The launch fulfills the long-term advocacy campaign “Ready for 100”, spearheaded by Sierra Club and local community organizations to boost the city’s transition to renewable energy.
Leveraging Innovative Partnerships
Chicago’s innovative strategy has facilitated energy supply and community benefit agreements that support the residents of Chicago and Illinois.
Seventy percent of Chicago’s renewable energy will be sourced from Double Black Diamond, a 593-megawatt solar generation installation developed by Swift Current Energy in downstate Sangamon and Morgan counties, while the remaining 30% will be drawn from procured renewable energy credits.
Commenting on the initiative, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson stated, “Chicago is committed to taking bold steps as the world faces climate crises.”
Johnson highlighted the city’s achievement in renewable energy transition, fulfilling the promise of generating clean jobs for Chicagoans while establishing a sustainable future.
Driving a Sustainable Future
With Chicago’s annual energy use of approximately 800,000 megawatt hours, the strategic transition takes a bold step toward reducing the city’s carbon emissions by 290,000 metric tons–equivalent to removing 62,000 cars from the road.
This substantial reduction, outlined in Chicago’s 2022 Climate Action Plan, supports the city’s ambitious goal of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 62% by 2040, setting a powerful example of dedication to achieve sustainability agendas.
Angela Tovar, Chicago’s Chief Sustainability Officer and DOE Commissioner said, “From both an environmental and equity perspective, this is a major achievement for the city. As one of the nation’s largest cities, we have a responsibility to lead through climate action that benefits the people and the planet.”
Tovar emphasized that the transition will bring Chicago a step closer to achieving its goal of sourcing all consumed energy from renewable sources by 2035.
Establishing Economic Opportunities
The milestone highlighted not only a significant reduction in GHG emissions but also the creation of jobs and economic opportunities for the residents of Chicago and Illinois.
Organizations like Chicago Women in Trades have been instrumental in providing training and career pathways, while the construction of Double Black Diamond created job opportunities, leading the city to become one of the first to receive the Clean and Equitable Jobs (CEJA) self-direct credit.
“Making Chicago greener and more livable is a process that requires collaboration and a shared vision,” 2FM Commissioner, Julie Hernandez-Tomlin said. “We are proud to have collaborated with Mayor Johnson, DOE, other city departments, and our partners–Constellation, Swift Current Energy, and Elevate–to make city facilities renewable, and we look forward to continuing to work together to support energy efficiency and greener operations.”
Chicago’s renewable energy achievement demonstrates the significance of collective action between the government and community partners to drive an equitable climate action forward.