Illinois and the Chicagoland region are at a critical inflection point for energy policy. Here’s why: At the same time that we are making a societal push to combat climate change and decarbonize our economy, which has meant the planned closures of fossil fuel plants, our energy needs are soaring.

From the growth of technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to industries like manufacturing, data centers, and electric vehicles, to the larger shift towards electrification, all of this requires more power.

This need could very well lead to a rise, or resurgence, in the usage of nuclear power, which has provided Illinois significant loads of carbon-free, reliable power for decades. As expert panelists discussed during Wednesday’s Chicago at a Crossroads, the developments around nuclear power have been spurred by our rapidly growing energy needs driven, in large part, by society’s increasing reliance on data and new technologies.

From recommissioning decommissioned nuclear plants, to building new nuclear plants altogether, to the development of new technologies like small modular reactors, to the significant level of support coming from the federal government for nuclear development, the panel dove deep into all that is happening in the space and what it means for Illinois and the Chicagoland region moving forward.  

The event, hosted by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Chamber President and CEO Jack Lavin, brought together three notable leaders from the energy space in Illinois:

• Kathleen Barrón, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Constellation
• Jonathan Feipel, Executive Director, Illinois Commerce Commission
• Greg Metcalf, Director of Global Design, Equinix

“Our energy needs are increasing in ways thought unimaginable just several years ago,” said Lavin as he began the conversation. “This will require more power, perhaps like never before. That’s why power, energy, and economic development have begun to be inextricably linked, and the states that get that right today will be the beneficiaries through jobs and investment tomorrow.”

ICC Executive Director Feipel, the head of the State’s chief energy regulatory agency, level-set the conversation by providing an overview of Illinois’ energy landscape and detailing the state’s transition from regulated monopolies to competitive markets. He stressed that the need to meet demand has combined with a need for higher power loads, which led to the need for energy discussions.

“Removing excess demand, making sure that we’re meeting load demand centers. The resurgence in manufacturing. Both of those have significant increases in demand, so we have to try to find ways to match increases in loads and match that demand — and that’s where we find ourselves today,” he said. “And this conversation is a perfect one, especially for the business community.” His remarks helped establish a historical backdrop for this conversation and gave the audience perspective into how the ICC approaches its role in the industry.

Barrón noted that market demand has led to this increased interest in nuclear energy, but that an overly restrictive regulatory environment can stifle progress.

“We are seeing a market signal for new generation that we have not seen in the last several years, which I think is important to match up with our economic development,” Barron said. “And we have some strides here in Illinois – such as, in the most recent session, lifting the moratorium on nuclear energy — but there are other states that are actively pursuing it, and so I have to ask how can we reduce these regulatory barriers.”

She also noted the relevance of the discussion about nuclear energy in light of Microsoft’s desire to recommission the Three Mile Island plant to further its AI technology, and said Constellation plans to have the plant back up and running in 2028 – if not sooner.

Indeed, while the conversation around nuclear has rapidly evolved in recent months, the timelines that are required, she noted, will necessitate collaboration with state agency and federal regulators. While the need may be now, projects and agreements take time to take effect.

Offering the perspective of a commercial/industrial energy user, i.e., the largest consumers of energy in the country, Metcalf emphasized the increasing energy demands of the data center industry and AI technology; for instance, he noted that a simple AI query is 10 times more energy-intensive than a standard Google search.

“If the United States is to remain the leader in the AI revolution, we’re going to need all of that energy at low cost,” he said. “We’ve met our demand with renewable energy, but going forward, renewables are not going to be enough. And bringing back projects like Three Mile Island is a great way forward.”

The talk concluded with a sense of urgency about addressing energy needs to maintain economic competitiveness, particularly in emerging technologies. As Lavin summarized: “We want to be the lead on AI and quantum and data. We need to have the energy. The states that get it right, they’re going to create jobs and opportunity and investment.”

Check out more photos from the event!