Panel #5: History and Future of Chicago’s Grid

Chicago’s electricity system has become substantially cleaner over the past two decades, driven by the retirement of in-city coal plants, Illinois’ unusually large nuclear fleet, and integration into the PJM regional power market. Today, Chicago’s power supply is already relatively low-carbon compared with peer metros, shifting the focus of the energy transition from generation to infrastructure. The next phase centers on grid capacity, transmission expansion, and maintaining reliability as electrification and data-center demand accelerate. This panel will explore how Chicago’s grid evolved, the roles of public and private investment, and why transmission, nuclear preservation, and peak-load reliability now shape the city’s energy future.