As of January 1, 2025, Chicago has transitioned to fully supplying all of its more than 400 municipal buildings with energy from renewable sources. This number includes two international airports as well as nearly 100 fire stations.
According to global media reports, the majority of this energy is sourced from Illinois’ largest solar power plant, which has a capacity of 593 megawatts and generates enough electricity to meet the needs of over 100,000 households. Chicago powers 70 percent of its municipal buildings from this plant, while the remaining energy is obtained through renewable energy credits.
However, it is important to note that the city remains connected to the regional grid, which still heavily relies on nuclear energy. In 2022, Chicago signed an agreement not only to purchase renewable energy but also to leverage its purchasing power to finance new renewable energy projects. This initiative helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions and contributes to the development of new energy sources.
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It is estimated that by transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy, the city will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 300,000 metric tons annually. To put it in perspective, this reduction is equivalent to removing more than 60,000 cars from the roads each year.
With this decision, Chicago positions itself among the leading U.S. cities in the fight against climate change.
This transition began approximately ten years ago, and Chicago now has an even more ambitious goal—by 2035, all buildings in the city should be powered by renewable energy.
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