Chicago runs on renewable energy certificates (RECs)

As of January 1, 2025, Chicago has achieved a monumental milestone: becoming one of the largest cities in the United States to power all city operations with renewable energy. This historic shift underscores the city’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and climate action, setting a precedent for cities across the nation. But how did Chicago achieve this ambitious goal? The answer lies in a combination of local solar energy installations and the strategic use of renewable energy credits (RECs).

Chicago’s journey toward renewable energy is rooted in its dedication to combating climate change and reducing its carbon footprint. All city-owned buildings, from schools and libraries to government offices and the O’Hare airport, are now powered entirely by renewable energy sources.

This remarkable feat is made possible through a two-pronged approach:

Local Solar Energy Production:

Seventy percent of the city’s renewable energy needs are met by solar installations based in Illinois. These installations not only provide low emission energy but also contribute to local economic growth by creating clean energy jobs.

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs):

The remaining 30% of the city’s renewable energy comes from purchased RECs. By purchasing RECs, Chicago ensures that its energy consumption supports renewable energy production, even when direct local sourcing isn’t feasible.

This effort not only serves to bring the city closer to its goals of the entire city running on renewable energy by 2035, it brings about the creation of clean jobs and an annual reduction of over 35% of the city’s current emissions (equivalent to removing 62,000 cars from the road). 

The city’s success demonstrates the potential of combining local renewable energy generation with strategic tools like RECs. By leveraging both approaches, Chicago not only reduces its environmental impact but also builds a resilient and sustainable energy future. RECs are a clear tool into realizing the clean energy future, reducing emissions, and supporting economic activity. 

At Innovo, we’re proud to be making RECs even more accessible and easier to manage. Our solutions streamline the workflow and settlement processes, empowering organizations to adopt RECs and accelerate their transition to clean energy. As Chicago’s example shows, RECs are a powerful tool in realizing a clean energy future, reducing emissions, and driving economic growth.