City of Chicago - Green Power Purchasing
Administered by City of Chicago
This program does not directly benefit individual homeowners—it is a municipal purchasing initiative through which the City of Chicago commits to sourcing 100% clean renewable energy (solar, wind, and landfill gas) for city buildings and operations by 2025, with at least half from new regional renewable sources. Homeowners may indirectly benefit from reduced local grid emissions and potential job creation in renewable energy.
This program is not designed for contractor participation in the traditional sense, as it is a government-level power purchasing agreement between the City of Chicago and energy suppliers rather than a residential or commercial retrofit program. Contractors may find opportunities as the city's renewable energy infrastructure expands to meet its 100% clean energy goal by 2025.
The City of Chicago announced in April 2021 a commitment to purchase 100% renewable energy for municipal buildings and operations by 2025, with a minimum of 50% sourced from new renewable generation in the region (solar photovoltaics, wind, and landfill gas). This builds on the city's prior achievement of maintaining 20% renewable power purchases since 2008, supporting the broader Chicago Climate Action Plan and its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Program details
- Program ID
- 416
- Last updated
- 12/12/2024
Eligibility
- Sectors
- local government
- Technologies
- solar photovoltaics wind (all) landfill gas wind (small)
Program summary
On August 8th, 2022, Mayor Lightfoot announced an agreement to purchase 100% clean, renewable energy starting in 2025. They also have implemented the Chicago Climate Action Plan with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
History
In June 2001, the City of Chicago signed an agreement with Commonwealth Edison and the Environmental Resources Trust to purchase 20% of its electricity from clean, renewable resources by the end of 2005. Chicago reached this goal in 2008 with a purchase of 215 million kWh of wind and biomass energy from MidAmerican Energy. The city's plan is to maintain that 20% level for the foreseeable future. As of October 2011, the City was purchasing 20% of their power from renewables.
For more green power purchasing program listings, visit the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
On April 22, 2021 Mayor Lightfoot announced the the city will sign a new contract to power buildings and operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, with at least half coming from new renewable energy sources in the region.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- aornelas@cityofchicago.org
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
