Renewable energy saves money and is safer for the environment. Illinois is one of only six states in the country with Community Choice Aggregation.

CCA allows communities to authorize their municipal governments to negotiate energy sources and rates with suppliers and make demand-based purchases. By adding CCA into an existing utility restructuring law in 2009, communities were able to begin shopping for electric suppliers and negotiate energy rates.

The number of towns in Illinois using 100 percent renewable energy grew from zero to 91 in just three years, a larger number than anywhere else in the country.

Source: Leading from the Middle: How Illinois Communities Unleashed Renewable Energy