Evaluating CEJA Impacts

The Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) established a variety of programs to prepare people for clean energy careers, incentivize clean energy development, and support workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuels. The Climate Jobs Institute’s research explores how state clean energy investments have benefitted Illinois communities and workers–and how CEJA and FEJA program implementation can be improved to maximize benefits and minimize risks.

Solar and Wind Economic Analysis

Since FEJA and CEJA passed, Illinois has seen unprecedented growth in solar development, from 40 Megawatt (MW) cumulative solar capacity in 2019 to 4500 MW solar capacity in January of 2025 (see Illinois Solar Map). Cumulative wind has increased at a more modest pace, from approximately 5,200 MW cumulative capacity in 2019 to 8,200 MW in 2024 (U.S. Energy Information Administration).

What are the economic impacts of this expansion? How have communities benefitted, in terms of tax revenue and employment? How have household electricity costs been impacted by renewable energy development? Our research seeks to quantify this impact and the distribution of the economic benefits across regions and populations.

Assessing the Assessments: Carbon-Free Public Schools

CEJA established a Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment program to support K-12 schools in identifying ways to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. Since 2022, Ameren Illinois and ComEd have been administering the program, delivering assessment reports to hundreds of public schools throughout Illinois. Our research seeks to support this program by analyzing the recommended measures and identifying the challenges associated with implementing these measures. We are surveying and interviewing participating schools to explore how they have utilized the assessment reports.

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